Evening star., 1914-11-15

1t takes on the aspects OF a persoiidi
prejudice
-ohw exclaimed the young lady. And
she repeated again: "Oh.'
Slowly the Observer bent his gaze
upon her. He had known her years
and years before. when she was a
young girl. generally resembling a
contented apple dumpling. He could
not account for this change.
Where once a look of fattened peace
bad overspread her peachblow cheeks
now there were the harassed wrinkles
of a chronic boarding house keeper.
Her eyes. which formerly had the un-
emotional look of a feeding COW, now
had a feverish restlessness about them
the look of one who is seeking the
unattainable. and yet. with desperate
fortitude. continues the search unto the
end
81
What" asked the Observer. 'in the
name of goodness is the matter with
you?''
1t was the young woman's turn to be
surprised. =
Matter with me?" she repeated
Nothing that I know Of"
There is a strained look" the OBJ
server began.
"You are absolutely offensive" said the
young woman. Indignantly. Il never felt
better in my life"
Them said the Observer, this case
must be looked into"
Why" interrogated the young woman
Mainly" replied the Observer. "be-
cause If you can look like that and feel
well. you will break up the whole works
II you ever get sick"
Properly offended, the dancer prepared
to move away.
1.-THE dansant?" suggested the Cbserv-
cr, conciliatingy.
Go by yourself!'' ordered the young
woman. shortly. y.
The Observer did.
found.
Imagine a plunkety- -plunk orchestra
with no idea beyond the excessive use of
the bass instruments and the drum-beat-
ing wildly and persistently.
Imagine this and you will have fair
idea of what the Observer faced when he
first entered the portals Of the dansant.
1t was an orgy of racket, scraping chairs
and swaying bodies. Gradually the OBJ
servers perception cleared and he was
able to distinguish individual faces.
And 1t struck him at once that all of
these faces had more or less the same
expression. There was the wide-awake
eve the tense mouth and the nose which
seemed always to be twitching in an
eager, rabbitlike fashion. Men and wom-
on alike had succumbed to the facial ex-
preston of the dance. If they were
happy 1t certainly must have been IN
ness about them that belied the jovial
strain Of the music
Across from the Observer sat three
women, drinking tea and watching. with
rowing eye. for possible partners of their
acquaintance. Without warning. the
young matron who was hostess at the
table hurried over to the Observer. whom
she knew slightly. She reached his table
and grasped his hand before ne knew
what had happened.
Come over to my table" she urged
whats the use?" asked the Observer.
"I don't dance and 1 don't talk. and 1
can't be the slightest particle OF value TO
your party
Il know that" replied the young ma.
tron But it will look better if one of
you men are sitting there"
The Observer sighed.
AS long as | don't have to drink
tea" he said. Il suppose that every
thing will 60.
He arose and walked to the table
where the three women were sitting.
During the promenade the young ma
tron spoke to him throbbingly-
Such a triumph, she said. Il have
persuaded Mrs Marcellus Hunkling, the
wife of Representative Hunkling, to sit
at my table
How does she help the table?' asked
the Observer.
Again came the pregnant whisper:
She is the wife of a member of Con-
sress"
Gazing toward the table, the Observer
beheld a large, fattish woman, who was
buckled up like an ancient knight,
drinking great cups of tea and making
moist sounds Hardly had he glanced
at her than the introductions were in
order.
My dear Mrs Hunkling." began the
young matron, this is And SO
forth and SO on.
"Pleezemeetchu." said Mrs. Hunkling,
The Observer bowed profoundly.
Il am overwhelmed. madam said the
Observer. Especially since 1 have
learned that you are the wife of the
celebrated Representative Hunkling.
who has done such great service in his
party's cause"
'Uh-huh." agreed Mrs. Hunkling.
The Observer was beginning to ad-
ers when she suddenly changed the
subject
My skirt is too tight" she said you
will have to wait a minute while l go
out in the other room and fix it
The Observer famed himself. Say
what you will. Mrs. HunkIing was no
prude. She didn't believe in this silly
notion of false modesty.
Have some tea?" asked Mrs. Hunk
ling, as she prepared to depart. II
tea N
matter. She was a free-minded woman
When she had gone the Observer put
the matter up to his hostess.
Oh said one of the other women al
the table. didn't you know that Mrs
ITunkling was member of the New
Freedom League
Haven't you ever read her paper Oh
The Equality of the Sexes chimed IN
the young matron, reproachfully.
The Observer answered negatively.
But" he added. 81 will freely admi,
that she is the greatest little freedom
ist that | have ever met in my life"
Then the recollection of her face
came to him.
What is the matter with her express
sion?' he inquired. Does she keen
late hours?'