The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1911-01-14

Charming escaped from the hall
room with a sigh of relief and wan
oered aimlessly down the softly light
Gu corridor. The alluring strains O
waltz music arose above the slip O
ieet on the polished floor and the
rustic OF silks and satins.
The ballroom provided so man,
coy anterooms for quiet talk OF
irritation, that the corridor was quite
deserted At the farther end. Chan
ming paused abruptly before narrow
doorway hung with dark velvet. A
rant pencil of light shot from be
tween the hangings and from the
opening the music of the orchestra
came softly.
ne pushed the curtains aside and
passing up winding stairway
stepped into small balcony over,
hanging the ballroom. Behind a high
oank OF palms and oleanders he was
screened from the throng below.
Charming looked down on the NOV
ing, shimmering crowd below. now
and then picking out familiar form
as IT whirled along. His hostess, Mrs.
bowring. splendid in violet brocade,
was dancing with Ellery Bee. The
diamonds In her white hair sparkled
with a thousand points of flame as
she nodded and smiled. Her daugh-
ters, Evelyn and Florence. fashion
able prototypes Of a fashionable
mother. waltzed their way under his
vision. flashing aud sparkling and
very gorgeous as to raiment.
IL was not until he looked about
Tor chair that Howard Charming
discovered that he was not alone.
Sitting among the oleanders, looking
wistfully down into the room below,
was girl, slender and graceful and
very lovely, with softly tinted cheeks
cupped in her slender white hands.
Her gown was of some soft green
stun that melted into the foliage of
the oleanders and palms. 1t was no
wonder she had been undiscovered
until now
At the same moment she looked up
and saw him, and a wave of crimson
swept her face from brow to chin.
The wide brown eyes had frightened
look. and Claiming saw that she was
young
II am afraid I startled you," he
said courteously. Il did not see you
II thought was quite alone"
i did not hear you come in" she
said in low. embarrassed voice. TT
did not occur to me that any one
might come here. You need not leave
II shall go away presently"
1T is your retreat by right of prior
occupancy" he said with one of his
rare smiles. Il came to get away
from the crowd" He found a chair
and seated himself behind the green
screen.
The girl turned her small. we'll
poised head away from him and re-
sumed her observation of the dane
ers.
Claiming watched her charming
profile. marveling that one so young
and so beautiful should voluntarily
become an exile from the gay scene
below.
Pardon me. but am sure you are
one of Mrs. Bowring's daughters" he
ventured to say after many minutes
had passed. II am Howard Chan
ming"
She turned quickly. II knew that
Il recognized you at once" She
colored adorably at his surprised
glance.
you are very good" he said puz-
Fled. II know l could not have for
gotten you II we had met"
I'VE haven't met-l have seen |
vour picture" she confessed. Mother
has so many photographs, and Flor
snce has told me all about the origi- |
,als-that is how knew you
Then you are Mrs. Bowring's
he asked once more.
The girl nodded. with a little
friendly smile that went straight to
hitherto impervious heart.
i am Mantle youngest. and not so
1ery young at that! I'm not out yet,
vou see. so ! simply have to steal
hese little pleasures. Mother would
lot hear Of my watching the ball from
Ailc OaA$Oay- hltCE IL HdQ D6Kun. Il |
ust slipped on one Of Evelyn's gowns.
had to have green one so I might
lot be discovered. I suppose you
hink am very deceitful."
Claiming was thinking at that
several highly important
hings. One was that he was glad
hat he had come to the Bowring ball;
mother. that he had stolen away to
he balcony. and again he was think
Nc that Nan herself looked very
much like pink oleander blossom set
a the foliage Of her dark green gown.
Now that you are here, you may
8 well enjoy the ball." he said hur-
iedly Next to the dancing one en-
oys something good to eat At least
do"
Il don't have many opportunities to
aste ballroom fare" said Nan mis-
hievously; but, of course. you know
chool girls are always hungry. and I