Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-01-24
(Continued)


What a busy Tavyl She is hurried
from one place to another and from
person to another, until she is all one
white chiffoned little bundle of happy
bewilderment. Sam Langster parades
her out through the gorgeous con-
servatory, and explains Benning's rare
collection. Sam is a fanatic on plants,
and will talk for hours on that sub
ject to any one who will listen. Dolly
Parsons and Bert Hasselton rescue
her from Sans botanical ecstasies,
and they all wander into the library,
where Tommy Tinkle is giving a pro-
found imitation of Socrates, and issu-
ing series of such distorted epigrams
of wisdom as to "eXcite laughter in
all beholders," as he himself gravely
claims. He laughs at his own jokes,
does Tommy, in this imitation, and
elaborately points out their wit, and
extracts more fun out of making fun
OF himself than he does out of making
fun of anybody else. which. though not
SO dignified, is more kindly.
Billy's dance again, his second of
the evening and he is to have one
more, the last one. This is a happy
moment! He is there at the first in
stant in which he can claim her; big,
handsome Billy, by all odds the hand
somest, and best, and noblest young
man at the party. Tavy glows with
pride as they march into the ball
room, and there is no expressing the
pride which swells the bosom of Billy.
Nothing like Tavy was ever created,
and, as he looks down at her daintily
flushed cheeks and her sparkling
eyes, and at what those eyes tell him,
he wonders again how he ever was
so fortunate as to find, and WOO, and
win this marvellous creature! His
arm slips around her waist and hold
ing her hand, he looks down at her
fondly as the music strikes up. Why,
1t is an old-fashioned waltz, introduc-
ed into this evenings program as a
supreme novelty. ravy knows that
dance perfectly. Her mother taught
it to her. Now Billy's strong arm
presses her to him. and they are float
ing In a maze of dreamy rapture. How
1.-THE and flexible are the muscles of
the arm which touches and holds her.
How delicate is that pulse in the vel
Vet-palm where it rests lightly on her
shoulder. Every contact is a caress,
every movement is a mutual exalta-
tion; it is as if they two are one, and
waited, to the strains of ethereal
music. upon zephyrs of celestial bliss.
Inc long lasheS of Tavy are drooped
over her eyes. and, for a moment.
she is half swooning with the happi-
ness and tremulous joy of this night
OF all nights. Billy's warm breath is
on her hair, his low voice is in her
ear. with an inspired tongue he is
giving her a list of all her own re-
inarkable and distinctive charms and
perfections. He had no idea that he
was so poetic. but how could a fellow
help being poetic with such an inspir-
ing girl as Tavy! Why. life is to be
one endless waltz. like this, with no
dlscord in the music, and no dimming
oil the lights, and no fatigue! Clasped
IN thls pulsing embrace, they are to
De ouoyed on and on through etern-
itles OF such felicity, eyes to eyes, and
neart to heart, and soul to souli
On! The music has stopped, the
waltz is done, and now they are going
INTO the supper-room. skipping across
tne iloor, in an eXhilaration of spirit
Whlch is such delicious intoxication
that 1t is pity it cannot have a
monopoly of stimulants.
Ihere are other laughing couples in
the supper-room, and, in a moment
more, Tavy is in the center of a crowd
again. They all know each other.
these friends of Billy's and Tommv's
and Geraldine's, but Tavy is a strang-
eT, ana exceptionally beautiful. and
cieVef IN different little way. and the
girl who is going to marry Biiiv: SO
they are all very nice to her. There
Is no FORMAL supper at the party. for
the dance is too important. There
are Just tables spread with every
thlng IN the world, and you walk in
ana help yourself, and. cast-iron
putier' aided by a porcelain second
DuIier, pours wine and ladies' punch
and serves ices and replenishes tbings
IN general, and it is very wonderful
10 Wlde-eyed Tavy, who neither tries
10 act as If she were used to all these
Ihagnlncent things nor betrays any
undue unfamiliarity: for Tavy has
one glft from her mother which is
tar more precious than any Jewel
ana cannot be bought with gold, and
is an open sesame in any company:
breeding. Geraldine Benning takes
particular note of that quality. and
again there is the little flash of a
glitter in her eye
The fun is never to end il seems
Here comes dapper young man. led
by Dolly Parsons. and introduced as
IaVys next dancing partner. He
dances superbly. though not with that
line strong case of Billy. Nobody can
dance like Billy. Nobody can do anv.
thing like Billy; but, indeed, how
could 1t be expected of them.
Get me some punch, Billy. I'm
dreadfully thirsty to-night!' Ger
aldine. 1t is their dance, but she has
preferred to sit it out. She is nibbline
at peppermint wafer, and she has
given him one. He has it crunched
| in his mouth now.
All right, Sis" and he starts away
think ! saw pitcher of it on
the tabourette behind the palms. "
Geraldine drawls this lazily.
They are in the alcove leading off
! from the conservatory, a cozy little
dimly-lighted corner, with a thick
rug one the floor, and easy tete-a-tete
chairs. Billy brings in the tray with