The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-15


wait for, Miss Gilt and Miss Rino. l
know they're coming, for Mr.. Posy and
Mr.. a. Tulip told me they saw them
dressed, and their carriages at the door,
an hour ago."
Blast Miss Gilt and Miss Rinon' -sre-.
turned Crouch. rs the whole company
to be kept waiting for them? Now, sir,
If the tickets are not handed around
In three minutes I'll announce to- the
company that Mr.. Flirt will permit no
dancing until Miss Gilt and Miss Rino
shall think proper TO honor us with their
presence"
"Oh, zounds.' said Flirt, II m not wait
ing for them. l thought 1t was too early
to begin the drawing. It's quite unfash-
ionable in New York to commence draw
ing before o'clock Miss RS father
was computed at cool hundred and
fifty, and Miss G.s at a round hundred
thousand)
In few, minutes the tickets were dis
tributed, and Mr.. Flirt proceeded to call,
NE. 1--First 4Cotillon,' with most inn
posing majesty Then numbers ?, and 4
of the same; then No. / of the second,
and so on. :, =
Five sets of cotillons could occupy the
floor at time. and Flirt had Just called
No. 2 of the ifth. when Miss Rino en-
tered the room. and Immediately after
wards Miss Gilt. Flirt had put two SUI
pernumerary tickets in the hat, in antici-
patton of their. coming, and, forgetting
everything else, he suspended the calling,
and rushed to deliver them as soon as the
ladies made their appearance. ~
He went to Miss Rino first-as she en-
tered first-but she was obviously piqued
at seeing the sets on the floor before her
arrival, She refused to take a number,
declaring very sweetly) that she left
home with no idea of dancing. Flirt in
sisted, earnestly and prettlly up her taxi
ing a number; but she hesitated. looked
in the hat, then looked at Flirt bewitch-
ingly and declared she did not wish to
dance.
In the meantime Miss Gilt began to feel
herself sighted. and she said, in a pretty
audible tone, las for her part, she would
like very we'll to draw a number If she
could be permitted to do So" Several gen.
tlemen, who had gathered around her
FASTENED to Flrt to remind him of the
indisnity which he was offering to Miss
Gilt: but before they reached him Miss
Rino drew No. 8 of the fifth cotillon from
the hat.
Unfortunately, Crouch's patience had
worn out Just before Miss r. made up
her mind to take ticket, and he took
the office which Flirt had abdicated. He
called No. twice, but the call was not
responded to. He then called No. l.,
when Miss Jones appeared and took her
place. He next called No. / OF the sixth
set, when lady appeared, which COM
pleted the cotilon. The last lady had but
just taken her place when Miss Rno, led
on by Mr.. NOZZLE, advanced, and an
nounced that hers was No. 8 OF the fifth
set Miss Jones was instinctively retir-
ing from the august presence of Miss
inn xryha oh cto Inv ~,
with Keep your place, Miss Jones; |
think you are entitled to it,
isn't this No. of the fifth cotilon p
said Miss Rino, holding out her ticket to
Mr.. Crouch
Yes, miss" said Crouch, ''but I think
it has forfeited its place. Indeed, | do
not think it was even drawn when Miss
Jones took her place"
This drew from Miss Rino the express
| sion Of countenance which Immediately
precedes a sneeze.
Justice said Mr.. Boozle, Miss Rino is
entitled to- s.s
'.Music!'' said Crouch.
Hands round.s said the fiddler. and the
whole band struck into something like
The Dead March, sisf-
This matter shall not end here said
NOZZLE, as he led Miss Rno back to her
seat.
"Oh, Mr.. NOZZLE returned Miss Rino,
don't think anything of 1t! declare
| had not the least wish in the world to
lsdance. Surely you would not object to
Eanything the polite and accomplished Mr.
FCrouch would do."
| nozzle walked the floor in portentous
abstraction, wiped his face with terrific
emphasis, and knocked his hair back with
the slap belligerent.
The ladies who were not dancing be-
came alarmed and sedate miss Gilt ex-
cepted); the gentlemen collected in
groups and carried on an animated con-
versation. AS all but myself who could
give a correct version OF the affair were
engaged in the dance, the NOZZLE party
had gained over to their side most of the
company present before the dance ended.
After various inquiries, rumors and cor
rections, the company generally settled
down upon the following statement, as
confirmed by the joint testimony of Rino,
Flirt, and Nozzle:
"Crouch had an old spite against Miss
Rino for nothing, at all; began cursing
and abusing her because che was not the
first lady in the room, refused to wait two
minutes for her arrival; as soon as he
saw her enter the ballroom, usurped Mr..
FIirt's appointment and commenced call
ing the numbers on purpose to cut her
out She, seeing his object, snatched up
a number and rushed to her place; but 1t
was occupied by Miss Jones, who, seeing
the superiority of her claims, offered to
give way, and was actually retiring
when Crouch seized her by the arm,
jerked her back, and said, Keep your
place, miss! You're entitled to it, il Miss
Rino has got the number; and you shall
have it. And when Mr.. NOZZLE was
pleading with him just to look at Miss
Rinos ticket. he just turned upon his heel
and called for the music" This was all
reported to Crouch, as confirmed by the
trio before mentioned. He pronounced
III all an infamous lie, from beginning to
end and was with difficulty restrained
from going Immediately after Flirt, to
pick him UP, as he said and wear him
out upon nozzle.
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