Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-12-26

/
FELT very uncomfortable in my
plain, dark, high-necked gown the
night of that first party in Ade-
! laide Powells flat. Adelaide herself
after dinner had changed from the skirt
and blouse of her working hours 20
an elaborate spangled costume. Nell
her sister, had appeared in a chiffon
gown cut very low, and with no sleeves.
And, presently, when the two other girls
arrived to complete the feminine portion
of the party, l was made to feel even
more like Cinderella. But it is just
possible that the very costume / de-
plored was the means of my greater
social success. Certainly my frock show
ed up strongly enough in contrast to
the other girls. Perhaps, too, there was
something in the shyness of my man
ner, which appealed to the men who
later came to make the party complete.
Although l must say my embarrassment
was unfeigned.
This was my first real grown-up
party, as l would have called it. l
was very anxious not to make slip;
not to say or do anything that might
let the others guess how IMMERSED in
the ways of the world 1 really was. For
a while 1 sat watching quietly, and un-
sophisticated though l was, was
amazed at the type of young men who
came to mails merry with my girl
friSnas mat evening. 1 don't know
what l had expected. But, certainly,
1 had not thought to meet in Adelaide's
green plush parlor young men whose
dress was in good taste, whose voices
and gestures showed that they came
from homes of far better class than
the one in which they were now dis
porting themselves. For / had no IL
lusions about Adelaide and Nell. Kind
hearted they might be; willing, as they
would have said, ito show me good
time" l was perfectly aware they were
not what 1 must call for lack of bet
ter word "gentlewomen." Their mode
of dress, their coiffure, their speech,
all exaggerated, all went to mark them
as of the imitation class" girls who
copy what they believe to be the mode
of the moment.
1 do not know that 1 sorted all this
out very carefully in my mind. 1t was
more an instinct, something l felt. Nat
urally, then, l had looked to find the
young men who had been invited TO
the party somewhat flashy in their
dress and coarse in their manner OF
expressing themselves. L was sur
prised. Although certainly Adelaide
seemed to know all Of her guests well
enough and they were on sufficiently
good terms with her. Presently a
young man turned to me, sat upon the
window seat from whence 1 had been
quietly making my observations.
adelaide tells me you work in Sill
berstein's with her." he began. This
is the first time you have been to one
of her parties. isn't it?'
1 nodded.
YES" 1 said, and then with a smile,
land l thought I'd better keep quiet
because l didn't know anybody and
didn't know what to do. I'm afraid"
l added shyly, 81 didn't even catch
your name"
That's easily renedie6,' answered
the young man beside me. I'm Howard
Boyd. If you've never been to one of
Adelaide's parties before you must let
me teach you the ropes. I'll tell you
what to do! When they fix the table
for poker, as they will in few min
utes, I'll stake you"
81 don't know how to play poker"
1 had to admit, land l don't think
know quite what you mean when you
say you'll stake me-"
"Goodw cried Mr.. Boyd, with a
hearty laugh. when / say I'll stake
you, 1 mean I'll buy your first chips
for you, and if you don't know how toI
play I'll teach you. Watch and see.
We're bound to win! If you've never
played before we'll have beginners
luck! We can't fall"
SO it happened that very few min
utes later l found myself one of the
group which was forming about the
dining room table. Mr.. Boyd had an
nounced his intention of coaching me
and had bought five dollars worth
of checks. l was excited and interest
ed and confused. My eyes felt big and
my cheeks were hot. Five dollars SEEM
ed an enormous sum to me, more than
l had in my pocketbook; indeed, more
than L had in the world. l wondered
if l lost it in this game if 1 would be
expected to make ii good in some way.
The thought made my hands tremble
At first l was so confused and ex-
cited that the attention 1 paid to Mr..
Boyds instructions in the game was not
very intelligent. l made foolish mis-
takes. And then spurred on by the not
very courteous laughter of the other
girls 1 gathered my wits about me with
a real effort. / resolved 1 would prove
myself as clever as they. And soon,
scarcely realizing how it was happen
ing myself obeying a word or gesture
that Mr.. Boyd would give me l began
to pile the checks before me. My be-
ginner's luck had started. Apparently
1 could not lose.
excellent hands, 1 caught the sugges-
ton of Mr.. Boyd and bet heavily on a
short run Of bad hands. The others
at the table, perhaps thinking my luck
invulnerable refused to play against me.
NY stack of checks grew higher. When
we were at least weary of the sport,
1 found that / had won eighteen dollars
and some odd cents; more than 1 could
make in over two weeks work at Silber-
STEMS! Elated, thrilled, 1 danced in
time to the gramophone that Adelaide
turned on as l had never danced be-
fore. And for the first time in my life
1 consciously used my eyes and mouth
to attract men. Plainly l was the hit
of the party.
Gee" whispered Mr.. Boyd to me as
he dashed me about in fox trot, who
would ever think such a quiet little
mouse would light up the way you did?
1 tell you what let's do! Let's have a
theater and supper party next Satur-
day nightw And in a louder voice.
What do you say, girls and boys, a
supper party next Saturday nightT
Are we there?-We are! chorused
the others.
And my heart beat high at the
thought of so much gayety until sud-
denly, as a cloud passes over the face
of. the sun, 1 remembered-I had no
evening gown to wear!