Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-04-12

nine feet OF tall behind me. excited the
laughter not only Of those In the sci
with me. but every one In the room
The antics OF the others 10 get out oil
the way Of my tail feathers were alon,
enough 10 set the whole company int,
\ babel OF hllarity. One couple nftel
another stopped dancing TO look at M,
only one remaining on the floor. III,
others forming ring around US &
laugh nj me. ! made break to gel
away. but Sue caught me by the tai
and held me long enough for others q
Interfere and put me bnck IN my place
And so | was forced 10 make spec
tacle OF myself for the others TIL the
end of the dance Sue endeavored I,
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 tn,
better of me. and. though concealed
IL. was vowing vengeance on her. Il
occurred To me that no girl would thus
deniean man she felt any love fol
and that she had taken this means oi
showing her contempt for me.
by the time had finished this frs,
dance was ready 10 leave the room
take on my bird costume and 20 ava,
in anger think should have don,
so had not Dan Wilson. an intimat,
man friend of mine. told me that but
one course remained TO me-to carr,
out the joke as though | enjoyed IT,
To give way to anger would only max,
the matter worse. ! saw the sense OF
this advice and resolved 10 act upon IT,
Having taken this resolution. did
the best could to play my part. and
IL might have been after all quite Il
successful plot ON the part of Sue and
her abettors had not her recklessncss
spoiled II all. gradually recovered
my equanimity SO far MS TO dissemblc
with her and conceal the bitterness
felt against her for Leading me into
such trap. Possibly this encouraged
hor to 20 further. Having borrowed
a match from the box of one OF tho
men. she lighted the tissue paper on
the tip end OF my tail.
Very young persons are not overbur
dened with common sense. and MS the
little flame quickly spread II greatly
amused the company. Feeling n
warmth. turned my head and. see
Ing the flame. my body. in an effort q
put out the fire. giving a swish that
famed II into conflagrntion.
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 nc
quired considerable Roadway. and the
task was difficult one My tail
feathers We're all ailnme and those on
my back were being ignited. \ thrill,
of horror passed over those standini
about me The women. In their films.
costumes, drew back, while the mel.
pushed forward toward me. One. who
was dressed MS an Indian. took n blan.
ket from his shoulders and wrapped It
about me. while the others kept pluck
Ing the burning tail feathers Thl.
saved me from death. but not from
burning. My back and my legs were
seriously scorched. ! was led out OF
the hall. and remember seeing
among the throng OF horror stricken
faces that of Sue Gwinne. the very
picture OF remorse and despair.
The incident finished the ball before
Il had well begun. I was told after
ward that n few persons remained
and attempted TO carry on the dances
but the fact that was known to have
been badly burned took the spirit out
OF the affair. and before midnight all
was dark which should have been II
brilliantly illuminated scene of gayety
II was "A month before ! left my
room. ! confess | acted very badly to
ward the perpetrators Of what though
intended for an innocent joke. very
nearly became frightful tragedy. Sue
sent me word of her distress and beg
ged that she might be permitted To
do something for me. Hut. believing
that her action toward me had been in-
tended to be contemptuous. | did not
find It In my heart TO forgive her !
showed my spleen by making no reply
TO her massage. She sent others to
intercede for her. but was adamant
II was not the burns that restrained my
forgiveness. but the fact that my love
40 ! considered-had been spurned
Finally my chum Dan Wilson. whose
opinions had great weight with me.
told me. that while Sues act was TO be
considered as foolish and reprehensi
BILE In the extreme. the whole affair
had been conceived In a spirit of mis-
chief. and had no bearing whatever
on her feelings toward me. unless II
might be construed 10 indicate that
she was favorably inclined toward me
lie represented that the poor girl was
suffering intensely In consequence OF
her act and my treatment OF her was
little short OF cruel.
SO ! wrote Sue that had come 10
the conclusion she had meant neither
harm nor disrespcct In providing me