Smyrna times., 1913-03-26

nine feet OF tail behind me, excited the /
laughter not only OF those In the set /
with me. but every one in the room. |
The antics OF the others 10 get out OF /
the way OF my tail feathers were alone |
enough to set the whole company into /
a babel OF hilarity. One couple after |
another stopped dancing to look at me |
till at last the set l was with was the |
only one remaining on the floor. the |
others forming a ring around US TO |
laugh at me. | made a break TO get /
away. but Sue caught me by the tail
and held me long enough for others to
Interfere and put me back In my place
And 50 I vas forced TO make a spec
tacle OF myself for the others till the
end OF the dance. Sue endeavOred 10
keep me steady by an occasional pres
sure OF the hand or some other method
OF cOddling me- But my modification
and anger were gradually getting the
better Of me. and. though | concealed
II, was vOwing vengeance on her. II
occurred to me that no girl would thus
demean a man she felt any love for
and that she had taken this means OF
showing her contempt for me.
BY the time had finished this first
dance | was ready to leave the room,
take OF my bird costume and go away
In anger. | think I should have done
so had not Dan Wilson. an intimate
man friend OF mine, told me that but
one course remained to me-tO carry
out the Joke as though l enjoyed IT,
/ "a OILS ff tfrsr trs.
the matter worse. | saw the sense of
this advice and resolved TO act upon It.
Having taken this resolution. l did
the best / could 10 play my part, and
II might have been after all quite a
successful plot on the part Of Sue and
her abettOrs had not her recklessness
spoiled II all. l gradually recovered
my equanimlty so far as to dissemble
with her and conceal the bitterness
felt against her for Leading me into
such a trap. Possibly this encouraged
her to go further Having borrowed
a match from the box OF one OF the
men. she lighted the tissue paper on
the tip end OF my tail.
Very young persons are not Overbur-
dened with common sense. and as the
little flame quickly spread it greatly
amused the company. Feeding a
warmth, / turned my head and. sec
ing the flame. my body. In an effort to
put out the fire. giving a swish that
famed II into a cOnfiagratiOn.
The laughter Of the lockers on sud
denly gave way to anxiety. and sew
eral men rushed 10 my assistance
But by this time the flames had ac.
quired considerable headway. and the
task was a difficult one. My tail
feathers were all afiame and those on
my back were being ignlted \ thrill
OF horror passed over those standing
about me The women. In their fiimsy
costumes. drew back. while the men
, pushed forward toward me. One. who
> was dressed as an Indian. took a blan
2 ket from his shoulders and wrapped II
about me. while the others kept pluck
! ing the burning tail feathers. This
: saved me from death, but not from
0 burning My back and my legs were
I seriously scorched. l was led out OF
q the hall. and remember seelng
J. among the throng Of horror stricken
1 faces that OF Sue Gwinne. the very
j. picture OF remOrse and despair.
a The incident finished the ball befOr,
Il had well begun. I was told after
= ward that a few persons remained
. ana attempted TO carry on the dances
r but the fact that was known 10 hav,
= been badly burned took the spirit ou
OF the affair. and before midnight al
Il was dark which should have been
= brilliantly Illuminated scene OF gayety
. Il was a month before | left IN
!. room. l confess acted very badly TO
ward the perpetrators OF what thOugl
q intended for an innocent Joke, yer,
Is nearly became a frightful tragedy. Su
3 sent me word OF her distress and beg
[ ged that she might be permitted Z
ri do something for me But. believing
/ that her action toward me had been In
4 tended 10 be cOntemptuOus. DID no
+ find 1t In my heart 10 forgive her
1. showed my spleen by making no rep
q to her massage. She sent others Z
r intercede for her. but l was adamant
a II was not the burns that restrained m
n forgiveness, but the fact that my Low
4! so ! cOnsidered-had been spurned
g Finally my chum Dan Wilson. who's
opinions had great weight with N,
10 told me. that while Sues act was 10 b
n considered as foolish and reprehens
Df BILE In the extreme. the whole affal
Of had been conceived In a spirit OF mi
ne chief and had no bearing whateve
ST on her feelings toward me, unless
Il. might be construed 10 indicate tha
ee she was favorably inclined toward ms
ID He represented that the poor girl wa
suffering intensely In consequence {
e- her act and my treatment OF her VIZ
r little short OF cruel
10 So I wrote Sue that had come I
In the conclusion she had meant neiths
lie harm nor disrespect In providing n
a with a bird Of paradise suit and firiu
la the tail feathers. and begged that 81
'e would not distress herself furth'
. about Il. especially since my wound