Evening star., 1915-01-24

Silence, eloquent IN It's completeness.
How manv Tom9 Attention, Toni
Tom hastily placed the tray the table, his toes
and heels parted and his great, white pamed hand
rose to the salute 1.-TWO, Little Miss he said, his
eyes the chandelier
The Generals hand rested on him for moment
then blinked.
Remember General, the night is young yet and the
limit three!"
al shall remember" said the General suppressing
smile.
Gentlemen, leave him in your good hands," She
lifted one of her own again in salute.
The veterans responded punctiliously. laugh rang
out and the instant she off with partner IN
the fascinating hesitation waltz her little hand utter-
ing back message.
The Generals dimming eyes held her with difficulty.
RAINBOW in mis' he said but not aloud, and smiled
over his folly. Then into his revere came other music
and another form in strange garb and fashion. 1t was
Miriam the little sister who foaed by On strains
Of dreamy waltz; Miriam whose little llte went out IN
the sunrise leaving for his feet the long path down to
the twilight. How long it seemed! Her coming out
party" had been in the spring also April, 1t was,
April the wenty-second, and the year 1863 And now
it was 1913 and the month April again, April the He
turned slowly to his friend:
"Wloughby a strange thing has happened!
"Ah You have it too,-Nlir1am-the resenl-
blance Your little sister has been in my mind all the
evening"" Willoughby had been disappointed man
in the train of the other Miriam, and believed he was
seeking death when he went to battle.
YES know; but the wonder OF IL all IS Llat without
design this ball has fallen the anniversary of my Sis
tcrs debutfty years ago. the last ball this house has
known"
Willoughby stared and flushed. Eighteen sixty
tHree-1913! And this is April the twenty-second!
His glance swept the circle of faces now turned toward
them with interest. "And of all that company you and
| only are left"
THE silence was broken by the General. ave were
dancing the minuet-you remember!
"Yes. Miriam my partner.
II know. She my right. Some OF you, my
friends he said looking to the others, have probably
heard the story of the tragedy stood just within the
ballroom by the door, facing down the room. Will
loughby dashng young Lieutenant then-not
that he doesn't wear his years gracefully STILL He
ON the right with nv little sister, Did mention that
it was the occasion of her debut? Just fifty years
ago tonight. The dance was minuet,-mennet de Ia
cgml l was here convalescing from a wound and IN
full uniform, all the other officers, except that
most of them had put aside their swords to dance.
"The evening wore along and the last of the Fanneau
wines were being opened Tom attending to that pleas
ing yet melancholy ceremony just inside this room,
and we were the midst of the mnuet, when suddenly
heard tremendous clater out in the street. followed
bv single shot and the appearance of my orderly with
a squad of Federal cavalry his heels 1t daring
raid through lines, my capture being the object
and under the command of a brilliant young officer
whom l had the honor to meet after the war. He
apologized then for his intrusion that night, and then
apologized for the ateness OF the apology 1t evil
dent that he had the instincts of gentleman and
Southern connections. He had an aunt living in Vir-
ginia | think he told me. He to have been given
a captaincy had he succeeded in bringing off. Nat
uraly expressed my sympathy. Only the presence of
mind and the initiative of kept him from
in promotion-the last man that any of you would
suspect.
"The scene was follows: was just inside the ball
room, as stated, with Miriam my right. Someone
had wrecked her dress badly, and Rachel her nurse,
Toms sister, by the way had rushed in to repair it.
7 he sudden attack Of the enemy momenarily stunned