The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-03-17
4 A Virginian Page for Each Member of the Family
THE WEARING OF THE YELLOW
M DOROTHY nLACkmoRE

! men? And, without further cere-
mony, the beloved bouquets asere
torn from the belts of the two girls
and trarnpled under foot 10y the hus-
Ky young irishmen.
Moran had been innocent OF the
breech of etiquette she was making
in wearing the flowers and her chum
had been as guiltless of error Now.
as they retired TO the dressing room,
red faced and not knowing whether
10 be angry or merry. they looked
at each other and broke into
laughter.
''raitn and never thought OF it at
al, at all, Katie" said Norah, ad-
Justing her disarranged belt I'm
sorry was SO generous with my bou-
quet."
It's nothing at ALL" retorted Katie.
hut ! saw Pat Deasy and Michael
O'Flanagan standing on the other
SIDE OF the room takin' in the whole
thing, Its mad they are. or I'm not
Katie Malone this night"
Now. Pat Deasy. though we'll IA
vored in the eyes OF Norah, was not
her only admirer, and she had seen
the time when his blue eyes flashed
at the presence of another young
man In her spotless kitchen. Per
haps. she thought now, he thinks 1
am after getting the flowers from
Tom
AT least, whether the two SWANS
laoA-the- wearing nf-iha -ye!law- ao4.
ers as personal insult or whether
tney had other reasons for ignoring
their hitherto adored ones, Norah
ana Katie heard the opening strains
OF Come Back to Erin waited from
the orchestra without noticing the
approach OF their usual partners.
Never alone at ball, Norah was
soon wihrling about the room In the
arms OF another admirer. And from
the way In which her soft Irish laugh
rippled In response to bits OF witty
barney her partner whispered In
her ear she was conscious of no other
man In the rooms She was possess-
ed of the inherent Irish quality OF
being all things to all people for the
time being
The ball waxed merry and waltzes
and Jigs and two-steps and barn
dances were called off one after an
other. but Pat Deasy never once
| sought Sorah as his partner; and she
did not know that his eyes followed
her through every turn Of the dance,
ff. as he believed. she had deliberate
ly worn flowers-and yellow flowers
| at that--sent her by her hated rival,
she must indeed have forgotten all
that he believed had been between
them
1t was late in the evening that an
Irish reel was proposed, and the or
chestra struck up the merry music
to which the feet of no true son OF
the verdant land can remain quiet
Norah, a new-foHnd admirer In her
wake, was taking her place. Her
hair had become tumbled, her cheeks
were as rosy as apples and her black
dashed blue eyes spanked like dia-
monds. If her heart was heavy she
did not let II dangle on her sleeve so
that all who passed might see 1t.
In the intricacies of the reel Norah.
by counting ahead, could see that be-
fore many moments she must clasp
hands with Pat Deasy. and her heart
thumped exeitedly at the prospect
Would he recognize her? Would he
press her fingers--never so slightly?
II was her turn and she put her
hand in the great one Pat extended
Yes. he held 1t closely. more closely
than any other partner would dare
to hold It Quick as flash. Norah
detached the green shamrock pin
from her belt, and when next she
met Pat In the dance. slipped 1t into
his palm. Across the petals was
written in guilt letters. Come back
to Erin
When the reel was over and the
dancers stood about the refreshment