Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-03
Felt Ashamed.

The dining room was crowded when
I entered it with my guests. and see
Ing that we were much observed Il
flashed upon me that my husband and
| had become subject of gossip
| Partly for that reason ! strangled the
ugly thing that was writing in my
BOSOM and put Alma (who had flown
TO me with affectionate rapture) next
to my husband, and the colonel com
handing ON the Citadel in the seat
Throughout the dinner. which was
very long, | was very nervous, and
though | did my best To keep up con
versation with the colonel knew
quite well that / was listening to what
was being said AT the other side OF
my big round table and as often as
any mention was made of Margaret
Mary ! heard It.
Knowing Chances.
More than once Alma lifted her
glass with a gracious nod and smile,
crying. Mary dearest" and then i'm
another moment gave my husband
one OF her knowing chances, which
seemed to say Look at that foolish
little wife Of yours"
BY the time We returned to the hall
for coffee we were rather noisy par
ty and even the eyes of~the ladies be-
trayed the fact that they had dined.
The talk, which had grown louder.
was also a little more free, and God
forgive me, ! joined in it, being fc-
verlShly anxious to Guido Alma and
be looked upon as woman Of the
world.
Toward II o'clock the red coated
orchestra began to play a waltz, and
then the whole variegatcd company {
ladies, soldiers and diplomats stood up
to dance and the colonel asked me 10
join him
was ashamed to tell him that
had never danced except with
schoolgirl, SO | took his hand and
started But hardly had we begun
when ! made mistakes which |
thought everybody saw q am sure
Alma saw theml, and before we had
taken many turns my partner had 70
stop whereupou | retired 10 my seat
with a forced laugh and a sense OF
confusion
Il was nearly 10 when they began
the Cotillion. when Alma and my hus-
band led, with supreme self posses
sion As one of the hostesses | sat
IN the front row of the square. and
when I was taken out I made fur
Their mistakes. which also Alma saw
and communicated by smiles to my
husband
Before the Cotillion came TO an end
the night was far spent, aud then the
company. which had become very
boisterous, began 10 look for some
new excitement, no matter how fool
lsh. one or other started turkey
trot' and grizzly bear and finally
Alma, with memories OF the winter
sports at 81. Moritz proposed that
they should tobosgdn down the Ereat
staircase.
The suggestion was welcomed with
"a shout and a broad board was i'm
mediately laid ON the first long flight
of stairs for people to slide on
Soldiers went first. and then there
we're calls tor the ladies'. when Alma
took her turn, tuckrng her dress UNI
der her at the top and altghting safe
Is at the bottom Other ladies' fol-
lowed her example with similar good
fortune, und then Alma. who had been
saying, Such FUN such lots of fun"
set up cry of Margaret Mary
! refused mo FIRST feeling ashamed
OF even looking at such unwomanly
folly but something that was con-
Neycd by my husbands glance at me
set my heart atire, and. poor feverish
and entdngled fool that | was, de-
termlned TO defy them.
So, running up to the top and seat
iug myself on the toboggau. ! set il
in motion Rnt hardly had | done SO
when n sw8Ned, reeled. twisted and
ihraw me on. with the result THAT |
luN"d downstairs To the bottom
OF course, there were shrleks Of