The Washington herald., 1910-07-31

beyond it, the dark hall. and narrow.
precipitous stair were always adorably
the same. But around them the city
was growing with such speed that each
time I returned had 10 learn 10 know il
afresh. Already there were several
blocks OF houses beyond ours, and the
second year I came home from the con-
vent Halle Ferguson told me her father
was going to move because there was
gambling house going up across the
street from them, and build" Halle
expressed Il. in a more fashionable
neighborhood."
It was at the foot Of Chestnut Street
Hill their new house was building. and
that vacation we used often to walk over
with Abby-Estrella. Halle. and l.
across the city and across the North
Beach district-to play in the building
house. It was going up with the same
furious speed that was accomplishing
the whole city. II seemed that we had
hardly stopped looking through the skele-
ton supports at the bay before the plas-
ter was drying on the solid walls that
we had hardly ceased walking on the
great naked flooring beams before the
smooth floor itself was palpitating under
the feet Of the dancers at the house
warming.
remember sitting up with Halle
through the earlier part OF that evening
and with sort Of worship, looking for
the first time at women with uncovered
necks and arms emerging white as wax
from their diaphanous or giitterlng
gowns. To me they were radiant, trans
ported 70 sphere of existence beyond
my own, something I never would attain
to- recall them as a vague, dreamllke
spectacle. In all OF It there is but one
! incident that I remember clearly; and
that IS. when whirling out Of the crowd
and into empty space, that the dancers
had left clear for a moment. came a
couple--a large blond girl and a young
man. a boy. hardly as old as she, but
so handsome, so dark so full Of life,
and a sparkling sort of mischief. that
| II made one feel quite gay just 10 look
at him. AS they danced past the place
where Halle and I were sitting he was
holding his partners gauzy train in his
long. fine fingers. and they went by us
laughing.
who is that?" ] whispered.
That's Johnny Montgomery" Halle
whispered back.
Who's he?"
''why, don't you know" Halle cried.
She dearly loved to give information.
The Montgomerys were one Of the very
best families here; and he's the last OF
them Old lady Montgomery died the
year we went away to school. and he
had heaps OF money-but he lost It."
Ny sole performance in this line had
been the dropping Of a two-bit piece
down a crack in the board walk, and
before I had time TO ask how Johnny
Montgomery had managed TO lose sight
Of heaps" Mr.. Ferguson came up and
asked, Don't you little girls want some
ice cream?" so forgot to say any more
about II.
That same season there was another
notable occasion, when Halle led me
to the bedroom OF her grown-up sister,
and exhibited TO me with awe-struck
pride the dress her sister was to wear to
the Summer Light Guards ball that
night. II was a blue tulle with a fine
frost Of spangles over the bodice, and
It seemed too dazzling to belong to a
creature less wonderful than fairy.
But when Halle went on. IN a cautious
whisper lest we be discovered, 70 con-
hde to me that when she was grown Up
and out Of school her mother had prom
ised 10 give her a party. and that. since
wac her best friend. OF course she was