El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-07-03
Pefer'sPorty
A short Story.

H A short Story.
T FLUNG down the paper with a
groan. Looking out of the win
dow a scene of springtime met my
I eyes. And the sky was bIue-ApriI
I was blue. too. but it was another
I sort of blue, the sort you see Wnen
! YOU read that everything has gone
down with a slump, and that the rat
: Ting good thing you put every penny
1 you could sCrape together into few
months ago, expecting contldenliy--on
the word of your pet broker huge
, profit, has gone to ruin Nice thing
/ for man on a gay spring morning to
I look things in the face and read only
one word wherever he lOOks-'ruin.
] Ny sOliIOQuy was rUdely interrupted
I by a ringing feminine voice, following
I hard on the arrested purr Of a motor
"Here.' I shouted. ninging open the
i door. What's wrong FlreE Or
Sybu Manisty laughed, and flung
back her long floating gauze veil.
I From beneath that pretty motor-bon-
net her sparkling blue eyes looked at
me with gleeful amusement.
"A nice welcome for a long lost
cousin she retOrted, presenting TO me
a cheek Of such fragrant pinkness that
what could I do but-kiss it2
/ ling: but I've very little to offer You
in the way Of food. I don't keep a
chef. When we don't know what 10
have, We go out and kill chicken
and eat it, Mind you, it's dull here"
IF that's all. III soon change things.
Wen give party, Peter-ors rather,
you shall"
"a partyT' I stared at her aghast.
Yes; William always says I can't
I be five minutes in the country without
arranging instantly a party Of some
kind Peter. you ought to marry
Marry - on what, pray?"
'On whatever you got. It's enough
Z
'I don't know. I'm not at all sure
that it's going to be enough for one
even.
Peter"
nodded.
True. 7 read the news only today.
Something's gone smash in which I put
the little capital I had But don't look
Ike that, Sybu- If I have to go out
like a snuffed candle, I'll 90 cheerfully,
and as TO a party--why, I'll give one
that the countryside shall talk about
for many a day, Sybilr'
She laughed. I know she thought
my first words were only a joke She
had no conception Of what the words
ruin or poverty" meant. She cid
not know nor was she likely TO know
as long as her stoltd, well gilded Wiz
liam kept his head His was a head
not easily lost
He was an excellent feuow-uuite
excellent But duIl-utterlv wanting
in humor-and pOnderOus both in per-
son and mind. But he adOred Sybil;
and she adOred him
VI tOuEce-LLeEt was Lena DuL WnaL
was I that I should aspire to Leila
and her winsOme charm; could 7 ask
her TO share a gaunt house and-prac-
tiCallE ruin2 ImpOssiblei Besides
there was another fellow in the field
an OdiOus. plausible, good looking Sax
on, with hunters and a motor, and all
the things could never give her. And
Lella's people encouraged him, and /
were cold to me.
Two DAYS later Peter Lembert re-
Quested the pleasure Of his friends
company at a fancy dress dance.
Sybl was marvel The old house I
was transformed; the supper tables Z
the slender resources of the house; and I
Sybu herself dressed in a silvery It's I
sue gown. representing a snow queen. (
was the lOvel1est thing in creation. I J
thought. until 7 caught sight of Leila. :
That Saxon fellow was therein a 4
sort Of Elittering armor- And yeti /
was at me that Leila smiled with such {
softness--such sweetness, as her hand !
fingered in mine.
ooh. I forgot. Peter. let's dance the !
first barn dance together; we always {
we used to-" said. writing my
name on her program May I have /
yes
And supDer2"
Leila looked up at me. Her soft
hazel eyes were very bright: the color
rose to her face
why. of course. Peter" she said
She moved away on an arm Of gilt
went And there was a wistful happi-
ness in her eyes that puzzled me
Are YOU going to SUIT our dance,
Peter. or are you Dreaming"
Leila was beside me. I offered my
arm In silence. We danced Once-tWiCe
around the room. Then I drew her
away into the corridor. where Sybil had I
contrived some wonderfully secluded /
hooks containing Just two seats. no
more For the moment we were alone.
And there we sat-silent. I. plunged
in moody thouEht-Leila. twisting her
fan in restless fingers. Suddenly felt
I couldn't bear 1.-THE truth must
when is it to be. LeiIa?" I asked
roughly.
when is what to be-"
Your marriage
She grew quite white; but looked at
me with smiling eyes
Leila, Are YOU going to marry !
him. Tell me for heavens sakei I I
Shanr be here much longer. the place
must go. I'm off to Canada and"
her Hsr cry cut across my stumbling
Canada. Peter? What do you mean?"
w hat I say I've got TO face ruin !
] can battle with II better somewhere
But Peter. 7 thought imagined
every lnlng was going We'll This party
mad turned for YOU at last; and I was
so Elad-so gladl"
50 that was it! Nv. heart was sud
Cenly ike singing bird.
I've lost everything Leila"
There was a momentary silence. Then 7
"a soft hand stole into mine.
Not everything, Peter" said a very
soft voice, because there stiu remains
me Am nothing
"But-yoUr people, I said stupidity.
ner hand still in mine And. mind you,
she made no effort to get it back.
II marry to please myself-nOt nv
people / marry the man II love or
no one And. Peter, I always wanted
TO go to Canada"
sat there Standardization TO stone
dumb
Peter It's no longer leap year. YOU
know. but all the same
She was in my arms in an instant
held her fast