Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-05-04

loathed. After the dance she went
with a watery eyed. loose mOuthed
young man. whom Sperry mentally
dubbed a "decadent" to a table, and
drank wine with him.
At this stage of the proceedings her
brother came up to the table, ana
seemed to wish to take her away. But
she did not listen to him. Sperry got
near enough TO the table to Overhear
the conversation without being seen.
The young mans conversation was as
vacuOus and decadent as his looks.
Sperry wondered how she could stand
it. Jack Kemper seemed to be losing
his relish for the festivities. and re-
turned again to his sister. He asked
her to come and dance with him. She
refused. saying:
I'm already engaged for two more
dances tO-to-well l don't know his
nane-the fat gentleman with the bald
head. And this gentleman" pointing
to the man at the table, "has the next
dance"
Here she made an attempt to intro
duce her brother, and the weak eyed
young man gave his name as Letting.
Kemper made no attempt to disguise
his disgust and chagrin, but Dolly was
not to he moved She laughed loudly
at her discounted brother, and cried
out "Now run along 'Buzzy! Have a
good time, and don't bother mel"
1t was plain to Sperry that the
friends" she was going to meet were
not in evidence. She had come there
alone to have her own good time"
and had not expected to find her broth
err AS the evening wore on she danced
with all kinds of men, and drank wine
at the little tables more often than
was good for her. Sperry noticed that
the costume he had thought so ex-
quisite was. when the coat was re-
moved. ultra, freakish, even bizarre.
II drew the attention of many eyes
ind seemed as much out of keeping
with the honest gray eyes, and the
charming feminine brow and mouth as
parrots plumage on dove. Sperry
almost laughed aloud when he thought
% his mothers face could she at that
moment see her model girl, Dolly
Kemper. 1t all seemed rather unreal
and uncanny to him like queer night
mare.
Just then rather loud and excited
voices broke in on his musings.
Kemper was trying to induce his
sister to go home with him, and she
WAS quite as strenuOusly refusing TO
go. He was unusually sober, and was
evidently shocked. mortified. and utter
ly miserable over her conduct.
| Gomez" he urged. "It's horrible
It's disgraceful for you to be dancing
with all these strange men. 1 don't
know one of them. and you don't!"
"Well you come here night after
night! Do these women know who
you are? Do you know one of them?
That's different"
"No it isn'tr' she cried. whats
good for you is good for me!'
Dolly he implOred.
"Well If it isn't good why do you &C
on doing it. drinking yourself into ar
idiot. making me miserable. breaking
mothers heart? But may be it's al
right :" she laughed in maudlin way
I'm going on anyway, having a gOot
time as long as you do. Come on
Have something!"
For an instant he looked utterl!
helpless. then his lips frightened. HI
caught sight of Sperry, and beckOne'
him TO him. He went.
MIR. Sperry." he said. 81 want m.
sister to go home with me. Perhap
you can persuade her."
She actually went pale at sight o
him. Then she said: 1--WE won't hav
a scene. I'll CO."
Outside Kemper caught at her arr
imploringly. LOOk here. sis! If YOU
never go in one of those places AGAR
l won't! I'll promise to try to be dc
cent-to amount to something. Sperr
here is witness"
"All right. Joe. I won't-if you'll kee
your promise. Do you think | enjOye
that orgy? l loathe it,"
Then it dawned upon Sperry she ha
done it all for purpose. 'By JOve
he said, you're brick!'
Some time after this when there ha
come to be very good understandin
between the two. she said: $50 20
liked me when you saw / could B
deviliSh."
NO" he answered. 81 liked 70
when I saw you didn't enjoy bein
, devilSh."
Dear tactlesS Mrs. Sperry still fon'
ly believes she helped to make II
match.