Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-12-08

blushed. much too delighted with my
first compliment TO be fastidious with
its wording. Apparently, too, this very
new friend of mine was. in his own
fashion, a man of the world. He lost no
time in detours.
You're not going to walk forever.
are your he asked me.
mo" / answered as simply as I had
before. II came out to do some shop
ping for my mother and 1 must go
back presently"
Don't you want some tea?" he sug,
gested.
hesitated., questioning him with
my glance.
There's a good place down here just
a few blocks" he continued. They cali
II tea but you can have anything you
want. Don't you want to go there ano
dancer"
I'D like to go with you I said, ''bul
/ don't know how to dance"
My young mans eyes widened a.
that.
"Geer he said and laughed. 81 though
everybody knew how to dance"
and then. as he realized he had mao
me uncomfortable:
But you would learn quickly enough.
dancer"
We'll, will you go?" my companion
asked "Come on. My name is Fred
Ellersley."
MY names DIANA told him.
DIANA" he repeated. "She was the
dame that went on the hunt, wasn't
she? Well, that's pretty good just now.
Wen go hunt for some eats"
"All right" 1 agreed agreeably, and
walked with him down the avenue to-
ward the place that he had indicated.
It was my first experience with this
form of gaiety. II seemed to me as 1
followed Mr. Ellersley TO a table, after
he had checked his overcoat and hat.
that had wandered into fairy land. All
about me was the background of black
and gold and polished mirrors. while
seated in groups or dancing in twos
were the gaily-dressed and laughing
habitues of the place. 1 thought. in my
ignorance and ineXperience, l had never
known there were so many handsome
young men and well-dressed girls in the
world And for the first time in my
life It was brought home TO me that
there was something wrong with my
own clothes. That they were dowdy-
vaguely foreign; that my hair was not
arranged in a conventional manner, and
that my hat was over large and lacking
in style.
But I was too engrossed to notice
my own difference from the others very
poignantly. ! watched the high heeled
dainty feet Of the girls moving so pref
tily in time to the music. 1 saw the
casually ardent eyes of the men.
caught the nervous excitement OF the
atmosphere and il poured into my veins
like wine. As I recall il now l can not
imagine why Fred Ellersley ever should
have asked me TO meet him again. To
him that afternoon must have seemed
a not very attractively dressed girl with
shy, awkward manners and stupid ST.
lences. And yet he was kind and pleas
ant to me. He chatted on this and that;
explained to me what the various dances
were, and even urged me to try one of
the simpler ones with him. But this l
could not bring myself to do. Not yet.
And when at last I felt dared stay
no longer lest my mother suspect where
I had been. I did not leave Fred FL
Iersley until I had promised to meet
him again next afternoon. But though
was silent my brain was far from
still. 1t seemed to me, as I walked home
that my thoughts were flying ahead OF
me-far. far ahead of me into the
weeks and months to come. Fred Ellers-
ley had opened a door.