Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1911-06-02


which surprised her into answering,
81 am going home to dress for a
luncheon at 2 o'clock"
"What're you going to do this after
noon?" demanded Tommy.
after luncheon l shall play bridge
until six. Then I shall go home and
dress again, this time for dinner"
"Whatre you going to do tonight"
Tonight" said Miss Belden, Il
go to a tiresome masquerade at the
house of my friends-the Wander
voorts."
"H'm" said Tommy, masquerade!
Well, I'm awfully sorry you're engaged
all day, but I'll see you then, any
way"
"Why-I'm afraid not" she said
kindly. "It's-it's really quite pri-
vate affair, you see, meant particular
ly for friends of the family"
"Ill be there" he assured her Sc
renely. It'll be all right. / want to
see you tonight, and since you're go
ing to the Vandervoorts, why I must
be there too'
At 1910 p. m, his duties apparently
ended, the ticket taker, who was en-
tering Harvard next year, was on the
point of Joining the gay company
within the Vandervoort villa, when
n tall figure in black domino stepped
upon the berugged veranda and put
his foot upon the threshold.
The orchestra was playing. Every
in bn q
cept an elderly couple, and Sister
of Charity who sat alone opposite the
entrance. Tommy crossed over eag-
erly and bowed before her.
Little Sister," he said, won't you
dance?"
She arose gratefully and as they
moved off he cheerfully ventured.
thought"
Il was she admitted.
Maybe" he hazarded, you're bit
of an outsider like me-
YES" she faltered, 81 am an out
sider." Driscoll laughed. Il don't
know a soul in this room, but one, and
how to find her l haven't the faintest
notion.
Il dol't belong here either" she
replied desperately. I'm a stenog-
rapher from Boston and came here on
my vacation. Then this afternoon
l picked up an invitation to this on
the beach, and l thought I'd come. But
pect me. Pm having-I'm having a
perfectly ghastly time"
He danced next with gorgeous
Princess of the Empire, who knew
that she had never met him before
and flirted with him outrageously. The
third time around his eye fell on the
little Sister seated alone in corner
of the room.
He asked the Princess why this
should be.
Haven't you heard?" she replied
languidly. 'Why. we're almost sure
that she's one of those Ruthvens from
Chicago. That's so like Mrs. Van
dervoort's liberality, isn't it?"
We'll, isn't she nice, then?" asked
Tommy, curiously.
Mice" she echoed. "Oh, suppose
SO, but she's a rank outsider. She's
impertinent to come here at all.
Please tell me who you are!"
Are you sure you don't recognize
me?" parried Tommy, before detach-
ing himself from the Princess and
making his way over to the little Sis
ter for their third dance.
You simply mustn't sit there pol
ishing the wall like that he remon-
strated You must mix among them.
There isn't thing to be afraid of.
Why they all thlnk that you're one of
the invited guests-Miss Ruthven of
Chicago, whom they are cutting"
But can't go about among the
people as you say. | can't Pm afraid
to-"
"Then," said ommy earnestly, you
must give me the rest of your dances"
NO. no. I'm not so selfish as that.
You must not miss such a chance to
dance with these rich and distinguish
ed people,"
Are they better to dance with than
you?"
Why" said the little stenographer
In Ier low scared voice, don't you
want to get into society?"
How do you mean?" asked Tommy,
puzzled. "Bless you, | have all the
society l want. Give me the next one,
anyway. won't you? And let me take
you to supper?"
Ladies of quality gorgeously ap-
pareled, danced the fifth and the sew
enth with him, and he prospered with
them famously. During this his trou-
bles began. A short, stout man waltz
ing with the Princess of the Empire,
circled by him and hearkened to his
chatter.
Why" he exclaimed, hang me if
that black domino isn't young Driscoll,
who made a fortune out of pickles in
New York! I'd know that laugh
among a thousand. Well who will