Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-10-24

picturesqueness-m him walk rath-
er Electrically as he passed through
the groups Of humble onlookers outside
the picket fence. Many Of these turn
ed to stare at the belated guest, and
william was unconscious Of neither
their low estate nor his own quality rs
a patrician man about town in almost
perfectly fitting evening dress. A faint,
cold smile was allowed to appear upon
his lips, and a fragment from story
he had read came momentarily to his
Through the gaping crowds the
young Augustan noble was borne down
from the Palatine, scornful in his jew
eled litter" '** ...
| An admiring murmur reached VIII
liam's ear. "Oh, oh, honey, look at
tenn long tail suit! ATS a rich boy.
honey
"Yessum, sol Bet he got his pockets
pack full O. twenty dolluh gof pieces
right ISIS minute!'
"You right, hOney!
William allowed the GOODNESS of his
faint smile to increase-to become
scornful These poor sidewalk crea-
lures little knew what seethed inside
the alabaster Of the young Augustan
noble! What was it to them that this
was Miss Pratt's last night and that
he intended to dance and dance with
her, on and on?
Upon one of the posts of the gate
way there rested the elbow Of a con-
templative man, middle aged or lit
tie worse. OF all persons having pleas
ure or business within the bright in
closure he was that evening the least
important, being merely the back
ground parent who paid the bills-Mr.
Parcher.
One subject was preoccupying both
Mr.. Parcher and William. their two
views, though again founded upon one
thought, had no real congeniality. The
preoccupying subject was the immt-
hence of Miss Pratt's departure. Mel
Their Mr.. Parcher nor William forgot It
for an instant. No matter what else
played upon the surface Of their at
tention, each kept saying to himself
underneath: This is the last night
the last night Miss Pratt is going
away-,going away tomorrow!
The unuttered words advanced trag-
ically toward the gate in the head Of
William at the same time that they
moved cOntentedly away In the head
Of Mr.. Parcher, for Mr.. Parcher caught
sight of his wife just then and went
to join her as she sank YEARLY upon
the front steps.
Taking rest for. minute2' he in
quired. "By George, we're both en-
titled to good, long rest after tonight!
If we could afford it we'd go away to
a quiet little sanitarium in the hills
somewhere, and His staring eyes
followed the movements of a stately
young form entering the gateway.
Look at it!' said Mr.. Parcher In a
whisper. "Just look at it!'
Look at whatY" asked his wife.
J"That Baxter boyv said Mr.. Parch-
err as William passed on toward the
dancers. whats he think he's i'm
itating-Henry Irving? Look at his
walk
He walks that way good deal
lately, I've noticed" said Mrs. Parch-
er in tired voice. 80 do Joe Bullitt
and go. ...
He didn't even come to say good
evening to you" Mr.. Parcher inter-
rupted. Talk about manners nova
days! These young
HE didn't see u.s.
"Wen, we're used to that" said Mr..
Parcher None Of EN- sees us. They've
worn holes in all the cane seated chairs,
they've scuffed up the whole house,
and | haven't been able to- sit down
anywhere downstairs for three months
without sitting ON some dam boy. But
they don't even know we're alive!
Well, thank the Lord, it's over-after
tonight His voice became reflective.
THAT Baxter boy was the worst until
he took to coming in the daytime when
| was downtown. ! couldn't have
stood it If ned kept on coming in the
evening. If ia had to listen to any
more of his talking or singing either
the embalmer or the lunatic asylum
would have had me, sure! see he's
got hold of his daddy's dress suit
again for tonight" .#
SIS it Mr.. Baxter's dress suit?' Mrs.
Parcher inquired. How do you know
Mr.. Parcher smiled "How happen
to know is a secret he said. II for
got about that. His little sister, Jane.
told me that Mrs. Baxter had hidden
it, or something. so that Willie couldn't
wear it, but guess Jane wouldn't
mind my telling you that she told me,
especially as they're letting him use
it again tonight. suppose he feels
grandeur the king O Siam!'
NO." Mrs. Parcher returned thought
fully. 81 don't think he does just
now" Her gaze was fixed upon the
dancing platform. which most of the
dancers were abandoning as the music
fell away to an interval Of silence. In
the center of the platform there re-
NAMED one group. consisting of Miss
Pratt and five orators, and Of the Or
ators the most impassioned snd gestic-
ulative was William.
They all seem to want to dance
with her all the time said Mrs.
Parcher. 81 heard her telling one OF
the boys half an hour ago that all she
could give him was either the twenty
eighth regular dance or the sixteenth
extra
Nothing could have been more evil
dent than Williams difficulties. They
continued r., oxiSt with eullal obvious