Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-11-05

elBnIn-anu summoned next an Old
Virginia belle of the Colonial Period,
who also, pointedly, declined him.
Passing on he presently espied the
Empire Princess among the silent
group Of maskers, and he was quite
sure that she would dance with him.
And then, behind him, suddenly
echoed a note of suppressed laughter.
AS he turned in the direction from
whence 1t came a similar cackle
sprang up from the other side. Then
another and another from the elder
and sterner upholders of tradition un.
til score or more were sharing in the
unseemly mirth Tommy felt that
every eye in the great room was fast
ened upon him.
whats the joker" he demanded
pleasantly. ut seems to be on me.
anyway"
He was standing in the middle OF
the floor, trying absurdly to inspect
his own back, the unembarrassed
cynosure of hundred unfriendly
eyes.
AS his rack was turned to the door
lie did not see the Sister of Charity
when she suddenly appeared at the
threshold. She stood there second.
taking everything in at q glance be-
fore moving swiftly down the room.
plucking at her mask as she walked.
"Why!" she cried in voice very
different from the frightened gurgle
of the little Boston stenographer.
This is geo,S-insufferable!"
Voices rang out all over the room,
why, it's Vespasia!- Miss Belden.
upon my soul!"
She came to Tommy with eyes shin
ing, cheeks flaming scarlet; and be-
fore then. all, knelt down proudly on
the polished floor and removed from
his skirts a 2icture-that of a good
looking young man delightfully."- daily.
ing with gherkin.
Tommy took 1t, smiling, and crump.
led 1t In his hand. as he led the way
Into the dimly lighted conservatory,
leaving behind them a roomful of peo-
pie, astonished, somewhat crestfallen,
and even bit ashamed.
THANK you for coming to the res.
cue," Miss Belden." he said, as the
voices died behind them,
II was frightened" she confessed,
acknowledgement. They had meant to
unmask in another minute and catch
you-with Mrs. Vandervoort at hand
to say that you wasn't invited. want
you to go now.
Col" echoed Tommy. why, I'm
having perfectly ripping time!"
But" she hinted delicately, there
are other things to be considered than
that"
Obi" he flushed, 81 understand.
You mean it would embarrass you
my being here without a card, and all
that. OF course it would never
thought of that! I'll go this minute"
when you 60 home." she said at
last, gently withdrawing her hand
you tell your mother from memo
from little stenographer that you
were kind to one night-that you al
ready are one"
THAT l already am on what?" de
manded Tommy.
Miss Belden turned away and began
slowly unfastening her Sister OF
Charity robe.
II don't want you to CO." she said
then, in curious voice. I've chang
ed my mind. You promised to give
me supper, did you not? Put away
your absurd black domino. | am 60
ing to take you in and introduce you
to Mrs. Vandervoort."
THAT would be NICE" he said cor.
,J har
/ suppose, for coming here unlimited
this way"
Oldcourt is curious community. 1t
runs strongly to fads. to lions. This
time, beyond any doubt, it was Tom
my Driscoll with his splendid alert
ness, his magnificent good looks, his
gay and wonderful innocence, and,
most incredible OF all about him, the
fact that he so obviously did not want
to get into society. who was the sue
cess of the season.
But while his visit to Oldcourt was
prospering, Tommy was not unmind-
full Of his promise to his mother, who
was not sharing these pleasant things
with him. On the seventh day, at
packed and gone, his ticket in his In.
side pocket, his mission in brief, tri-
umphantly done, he rose for the Sec
ond time in the Belden drawing-room
to tell it's single other occupant good
bye.
Goodbye" said Miss Belden and
her voice now was curiously reminis.
cent of the little Sister of Charity.
And now," she went on, that you
have done half of-of what your moth
er wanted of you-for even she must
now feel that that part is finished
splendidly-l hope with all my heart
that you will prosper as we'll with
the rest of it."
Marrying a lady?" laughed Tom
my. "Oh, pshaw! l never think of
that, of course! I've always felt that
those things come in their own time