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

peSOnu measure | saw that she was
secretly laughing as she said:
Our Margaret Mary is coming out,
isn't she?"
Nevertheless | persevered Without
100 much preparation for so perilous
an enterprise, I threw myself into
the gayeties of Cairo, attending polo
matches, race meetings, picnics at the
pyramids, dances at the different ho-
tels, and on the island of Roda,
where, according to tradition, Phar-
Dan daughter found Moses in the
bulrushes.
| think ! may say that I drew the
eyes of other men upon me. partiCu-
Iafiy those Of the colonel commanding
on the citadel, a fine type of Scots
man, VINO paid me the most Worship
iul attention. But / thought of no.
body but my husband, being deter
mined to make him forget Alma and
tall in love with me,
1t was a hopeless task. and 7 had
some heartbreaking hours, One dav
calling at a jewelers. to see a dia
mond necklace which I greatly Gov
eted, | was told in confidence that my
husband had been pricing it, but had
mad to give it up because it was a
thousand francs too dear for him. I
was foolish enough to pay the thou
sand francs myself, under a pledge of
secrecy, and to tell the jeweler to
send the necklace to my husband.
Keeling sure in my simplicity that it
had been meant for me-
Next night / saw it on Alma's neck.
ana could have died Of modification
and shame.
l daresay it was all very weak and
very childish, but I really think my
last attempt, if rather ridiculous. was
also very pitiful.
Toward the end of our stay the pro-
prietors of the hotel gave a cotillion.
AS this was the event of the sea son,
and nearly every woman was giving a
dinner in honor of it, resolved that I,
too, would give one, inviting the gay
est of the gay acquaintances l had
made in Cairo.
Feeling that it would be my last
battle, and that so much depended
upon it, / dressed myself with fever
ish care, in a soft white satin gown,
which was cut lower than I had ever
worn before, with slippers to match, a
tight band of pearls about my throat
and another about my head.
When Price had finished dressing
me, she said:
We'll if his lordship prefers any
body else in the world tonight,
shan't know where he puts his eyes"
The compliment was crude one
but had no time to think of that, for
my heart was futtering with hopes
and fears. and ! think any woman
would forgive me under the circum-
stances if I told myself, as I passed
tha toll mir tho c taiFg that |
too, was beautiful.
Felt Ashamed.
The dining room was crowded when
entered it with my guests, and see
ing that we were much observed, it
flashed upon me that my husband and
| had become a subject of gossip
Partly for that reason l 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
mandng on the Citadel in the seat
beside me.
Throughout the dinner, which was
very long, / was very nervous, and
though l did my best to keep up con-
versation with the colonel, | knew
quite well that l was listening to what
was being said at the other side OF
nv 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 in
another moment gave my husband
one Of her knowing glances, when
seemed to say Look at that foolish
little wife Of yours
BY the time we returned 10 the han
for coffee We were rather noisy pa
tv. and even the ewes OF the LADIES' pc
trayed the fact that they had dined.
The talk. which had grown louder,
was also little more free. and GOD
forgive me. I Joined in it, being fe-
verisblv anxious to Guido Alma, and
he looked upon as woman OF the
world.
Toward II o'clock the relocated
orchestra began to play waltz and
then the whole variegated company CT
ladies. soldiers and diplomats stood up
ia dance, and the colonel asked me TO
I was ashamed to tell him that !
had never danced except with
scIooieirl so took his hand and
started But hardly had we begun
when made mistakes Which !
thought everybody saw q am sure
Alma saw them, and before we Lad
taken many turns my partner mad 10
ston. whereupOn I retired to my scar
with a forced laugh and a sense OIL
confusion. 49,. t.oo.o,,
II vas nearly - when they began
tho cotillion. when Alma and my nus
hand led, with supreme selt-posses.
sion AS one Of the hostesses ] SAT
in tho front row of the square, ana
when I was taken out | MADE fur-
tber mistakes. which also Alma saw
and communicated by smiles TO my
husband. o,,d
BEFORE the cotillion came to an end
rho night was far spent. and then the
company. which had become very
boisterous. began to look for some
Ho,y excitement, no matter how fool
ish one or other started TURKEY
trot" and grizzly bear" and nnalIy
Alma. with memories Of the winter
snorts at St. Morit2, proposed tilat
tbev should toboggan down the great
The suggestion was welcomed with
a shout and a broad board was I'M
noediatelv laid on the first long night
of stairs for people to slide on.
Soldiers went first, and then mere
we're calls for the ladies, when Anna
tool, her turn, tucking her dress IN