OUR STORYETTE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 265, 5 April 1917, Page 4

OUR STORYETTE.

(all Riomti Btmra*.) A BALL-ROOM FLIBTATKWi. Mrs. Dane-Barton looked up with a vexed expression from the letter she was reading.

'How annoying!" she ejaculated.

"What is the matter?" asked heT husband, unconcernedly, chipping the shell of his second egg. He was used to his wife's little worries, and did not intend they should spoil his breakfast.

"Young Montgomery has written to say that, owing to a tiresome old uncle's death, he cannot come to the ball; and there is absolutely not another dancing man available!" "Couldn't you order a few men wholesale from somewhere?." asked Mr. Dane-Barton, vaguely. VO , Mrs. Dane-Barton looked thoughtful. "You are absolutely brilliant for once, Edwin. I believe, now you mention it, that Blackley's do supply men."

"Very well, your whole difficulty is solved," said Mr. Dane-Barton, rising and pushing his chair back from the table.

"I think we will order one," said Mrs. Dane-Barton, as if she . were speaking of a leg of mutton for dinner. "I don't at all like doing it, but we must haw somebody to take Montgomery's place." So the letter was written, and in due time the answer arrived.

A young man would be sent down to Great Muddleton early on January •iOth, in time for the ball. Mrs. Dane-Barton breathed a sigh of relief. "We must introduce him as a friend of Cecil's—a tea-planter, or something of the sort, justoyer from Ceylon."

Cecil—a phlegmatic youth of wash-ed-out complexion—was the DaneBartons' eldest son. It was in honour of his coming of age that the ball was being given. Mrs. Dane-Barton cherished a secret scheme in her mind. She hoped that this ball would be the means of settling matters between Cecil and Xesta Dcllow—an only daughter and an heiress. .'Now, remember Cecil, you must propose to her, or you will find she has slipped through your fingers, said Mrs. Dane-Barton.

The day of the ball arrived, and with it the young man from Blackley's.

He was tall, dark, and of distinguished appearance. Mrs. DaneBarton decided on the spur of the :iK>ment that instead of the tea-plan-ter, he should be Captain Ferguson, un leave for a few weeks. "1 will introduce you to one or two ladies," she said, giving him a few parting instructions before she went to dress. "Of course you will do your best to be agreeable and—er—all that?''

The young man bowed, and resolved that the labourer should be worthv of his hire.

Xesta, radiant in white, with diamonds in her hair and round her neck, was de*:idediy the belle of the ball. 'Who is that man over there?" she asked Cecil.

"Oh, him !" said Cecil, whose grammar, or lack of it, did not do credit to a 'Varsity education. "He's Captain Ferguson, home on leave, you know!"

"He looks awfully distingue," said N'esta, "and he dances divinely. Introduce me.'' "I- I don't know what the mater would say," faltered Cecil. • Xesta opened her eyes. "In-decd," she said haughtily. "Well if you won't introduce me, I shall get somebody else to do so. I am going to have one decent dance tonight," which was cruel of her. There was nothing for it, so Cecil brought the soi-d sant Captain across, and went through the nece?iary mumbling of nnmes, which is supposed to immediately place people ori a friendly footing. Nesta plunged into conversation, and kept him by her side, whereat the young man trembled inwardly. He was there for the purpose of making himself agreeable to "wall-flowers," not to a beautiful rosebud of a girl like Xesta.

"You are the only man in the room who can dance," said Nesta. What could he do then less than ask her "for the pleasure," etc?

'•You shall have as many as you like," said Xesta. generously, obvious of Cecil's lowering brow. So he scribbled his name down on her programme for a waits and a quadrille. They danced the former and sat out the latter in the conservatory. 'Do you know," Nesta observed, softly waving her fan to and fro, "I am sure I have seen your face before, but I can't think where."

He certainly possessed a strikingly handsoruo face, and a small mole just. above his left brow was not in the least disfiguring. "Perhaps you have seen someone like me," suggested Captain Ferguson, happily. Nesta shook her head.

"Tell me about your adventures. Have you been abroad ? Have you ever been wounded?"

"Oh. I haven't seen much active service.'' He had not, except behind a drapery counter. "But I've been abroad." He had—to Boulogne, and was dreadfully sea-sick coming back. '•Are you staying with the DaneBartons for long?" went on Nesta. "No, I onlv came down for the ball." "Wc are Riving a little dance next week. You must come down, will vou?" "Should be delighted," murmured the younfi man from Blackley's. "Only you see, I am rather a wandering star; 1 haven't a settled address at present." "Well, we could send the invitation to your club." She produced a pretty pink pencil to write down the address. "Yes, of course."' What should he say? "The—the Junior Conservative," he stammered. Meanwhile, Cecil had gone in search of his mother, whom he called aside for a minute. ''Xesta's carrying on a deuce of a flirtation with that Blackley's man." he said, plaintively. Mis. Dane.Barton looked horrified. "How dreadful! It can't be permitted ! Cecil. I will ko and get him away , a, ~, | i,i'i I',. , rtitiM manner

to be alone with! Kesta* and i»ropose.* When Mrs. Dttne-Barton entered the conservatory, stie surprised the fhan from Blackle/s. in the act of picking' up a Hower,Siesta He pressed it to hhs rips, and she actually gave him a finite and a blush.

Mrs. Dane-Barton nearly let the secret out then. She* was -only saved from doing so by (tye fact that if it became known she wkdd be ostracised 'V Great Muddteton.

;• "Nesta. dear, I k|ve been looking ior yon everywhere,'* she mßrmnred. "Captain Ferguson, I believe Mr. Dane-Barton wants to.- speak to you." The "Captain" murmured some excise, and vanished! precipitately. "Poor Cecil is feestag so miserable," said Mrs. Dane-Barton. Nesta elevated her*nese disdainfully. When Cecil proposed to her half-an-hour later, she saiil "No," politely.

Perhaps if she bad asked her before she met "Captuin Ferguson," her answer might have been different. The man from Eflackley's took his departure early tbet.next morning"l believe ins alttSris beastly fault," growled Cyril, mewing to bis rejection.

Mrs. Dane-Barton -jwrung her hands in distress.

Should she teß Nesta? But she dared not face her indignation. A few days later Nesta went up to town on a shopping expedition with her mother.

They sauntered through Oxfordstreet and Regent-street, when Nesta fell in love with a charming little coat in Bird and Edward's, and dived into the shop.

An obsequious shop-walker conduct, ed her to the mantle department, and placed chair for her with a flourish. A young man came forward, bow ing gracefully. "What may I shew you, madam?"

Nesta wondered if her eyes deceived her. She almost imagined she was back in the Dane-Bartons' ballroom. The dark, good-looking face, with the little mote-mark above the left eyebrow. But he evinced no sign of recognition- Somehow or other, Nesta selected the coat, and got out of the shop.

Mrs. DeUow found her daughter strangely absent and irresponsive during the rest of their business transactions.

When they returned to Great Muddleton NesU lost no time in seeking out Mrs. Dane-Barton, and demanding an explanation of the mystery. "Who is Captain Ferguson? And has he a double?" she asked, confronting Mrs. Dane-Barton, who turned red and looked agitated. "Nesta, don't be angry," she begged, and confessed the whole story. Nesta drew herself up, looking «»• tremely dignified. "I consider I have been insulted, Mrs. Dane-Barton," she said, turning on her heel and marching out of the house. •

It was only in consideration for her own feelings that Nesta did not make the truth about "Captain Ferguson" public. For a long while she cherished her indignation against the Dane-Bartons. But in the end she forgave them, and decided to accept Cecil. Mrs. Dane-Barton does not seek to augment the number of dancing men at her balls by hiring from Bbckley's now. The End.