THE STORYTELLER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 24 April 1907, Page 4

THE STORYTELLER.

THE VALENTINE BALL | Atlaiua society was ill a stale of wild t excitement. Mrs Perditn Stan- had is•■turd invitations to a St. Valentine ball. | which every one knew was itho open ' sesame to th- most exclusive circle in i llie world '.f fashion. , Sitting in his office at noon on clay , •Judge Fvcrette Massev twirled the , lu-.irt-shau.-d invitation in his hand, and smiled Validly upon His little steno- ' graphei, who watchid him eagerly and anxioiu from underneath the heavy pompadour aii'.l Marcelle wave upon"which . she had spent half a week's salarv. , •The face of Judge Massey was a kindly one, with blue eyes and sensitive month, and the look of pleasureahle anticipation that illuminated it at that moment made it good to iook upon. "Biggest thing of the season!'' mused the judge. ''JJeeu crazy to got a wedge in the Starr home, and this is a magnificent chance." •'Mrs Starr is a widow!" half aked, naif affirmed the stenographer, breaking in the musing of the- judge. Something in the voice of the girl made the judge turn and study '.he face of his companion for a moment. "Yes, Miss Dangeiiy, Mr* Starr is a very beautiful and cultured woman. Slip is tlie most fascinating woman in my set, and very charming." Hawng delivered this mild rebuke to Miss Dangerly, Judgo Massey gathered up his invitation, pocketed it and lefi i lie office. "Hateful thing," the stenographer said, thumping the l-eyboard of her machine viciously. "J hate her." Meantime the new.y widowed jurist saurftered slowly down the street, still thinking of Mrs Starr and her Valentine party. _- "Now," he to invite" some one to go with me. One can't go to a bail alone, with no one to sit out dances with, or hold hands with in semi-transparent places. Let me see, there's my little friend, Grace Elliott; her husband is nearly always away with his engineering in the mines, and there's Rose Ansley, who is just emerging from* the chrysalis state of widowhood into the butterfly bf prosperity; and last, buit not leist, my favourite and chum, Agnes Belton, the richest girl in the state! Now, which shall it be? "I feci like John's wife when she tried to decide between the children!" So busy was he that he did not hear a quick, light step behind him, until a cheery voice called: "Good morning, Judge Massey!" Mrs Elliott held out a daintily gloved hand. "Speak of angels," Judge Massey began—and then went on, "Seriously, I was at that moment thinking of you!" "Of me? How nice! I love to be thought of. But lam hurrying to the conclusion that the thonghit was nice. Was it?'' asked she, roguishly. "Could so charming a subject be other than inspiring? I was thinking," replied the ga'llnnt judge, "that I would like, of all things in the worid, to have you go wiih me to Mrs Starr's Valentine ball, provided, of course, Mr Elliott is sway." "How perfectly lovely! How very, very sweet of you. Hut here lam at home. Won't you come in to lunch?" "No, T haven't time. I will some other day, though." Tlie two shook hands, and as Judge Massey walked down the avenue, the pretjty little .face of Mrs Elliott disappeared through her front door. "T hope, the judge thought to himself, "that she won't take mat invitation seriously, for I really haven't quite decided which one of my \von;tn friends T would really prefer to take io the bail." He then fell to musing on the color of his necktie and the species of flower he should wear in his button hole, «n the momentous occasion. But before he could come to a definite decision hj» was confronted by Rose Ansley and Agnes Belton, who came suddenly from iiround the corner. "Perfectly delighted (to see you ladies" he said, extending both hands. "How are you?'' "Thanks; well as can he," replied Agnes. "Such Weather is conductive of good spirits. But what's the news. judge! You always know the cream of gossip! You look pleased, too. as though something nice had happened." "Yes," chimed in Rose, sentimentally, "we commented on your happy expresslon as we came close to you," and she snuggled against Judge Masscy's arm w|th a kittenish gesture. IWeH, I was in elation! Look at this," Judge Massey drew the invitation out of his pocket. "They are lovely, those hand-painted Cupids, and no wonder you are pleased. I nearly fell over in a faint when mine came. I wouldn' miss it for the whole of Atlanta!" "They say she has cent to New York for refreshments, and that when she was in Paris last year she bought the valentines. lam crazy to go," said Agnes. "I have been wondering who I would ask to go," replied Judge Massey, • vaguely. "Me! Oh, ask me!" cried the two in chorus. "I did think of asking one of you; but which? Ah, 'tis like choosing between the white rose and the red! How am 1 to decide?" They could not determine for him, and his office having heen reached, Judge Massey bade the two ladies good morning and hurried into the building. "There!" he said impatiently, "I have done itl I've got myself in a devil of a scrape. Now which one of these women is going with me? 1 certainly cannot take the bunch! I will just wait until to-morrow, and write a formal invitation to the one I decide upon," and putting ladies, balls, widows, and other vagaries of the world from him, Judge Massey began dictating some law papers to the pompadoured, eager and anxious little stenographer, who eyed him sorrowfully from the corner of her eye. The day following, the afternoon sun fell in a flood of warm light upon the I form of Judge Massey, as he sat in his I office. He was dejected. He was troubled. His a'ttitude was one of despair. "Was man ever in such a predicament before? Look at this! At this! At this"—and he gathered up several letters from the desk, and began reading them aloud. "My Dear Friend; As Charley is going to be absent from the city on the 14th of the moiijtl], I have decided to accept your kind invitation, and go with yon to the valentine ball. Charlie says you arc the safest man he knows, and don't mind a bit if you flirt with me. Your faithful friend. "GRACE ELLIOTT," He opened another letter with a sigh "Dear Friend: How awfully good you were to ask me to go to tlie ball. Of course I will accept. My gown has been ordered, and you will be proud of your devoted friend, '■ROSE ANSLEY." "Oh!" groaned the judge as he opened another letter. "Mon Chere Amis: I gratefully accept for the ball. lam wild to go, and shall be ready at the first tap of the hell- My dress is coming from Baltimore, and will show me off grandly. AlTeelioiiatelv, "AGNES BELTON." "They have all accepted! Great Scott! And that's not the worst of it. My cousin Maggie Troupe writes me from Macon, that she will be up for 'the ball, and depends upo.i me to escort her. Poor child! How can T disappoint her, and it her first big nail! She writes that she has gone to great expense for her dress. Oh, Lord, what am Ito do? Harris! Harris!" he called, knocking on a door that communicated with the adjoining office. "Yes," answered a pleasant voice, and directly a cheerful face was protruded in the opening of the door. It belonged to John Harris, 'a brother attorney. "Come in, man. I've a case to Isr before you."

He proceeded to put the details of his dilemma before Judge Harris. "Xow what in thunder am T to do?" he asked, having read the notes, one by one. "I see no honorable way out of the scrape. T)o .von';"

He looked hopelessly at his friend. "Well," said Harris, rubbing his hand* thoughtfully together for a while.

"Its a mess you're in to be sure! I see no way hut one for you to frign sudden illness —appendicitus, grip, any oid thing, and go to bed the day of the ball. How"ll that do. TMT' "Capital!"

Judge Massey jumped up joyfully and reached for his overcoat, preparing io put the scheme into operation at once.

"Xot so fast, old fellow," said Harris smiling. "lVa 1 another idea. Can't you find important business down a'i. Jonesboro. or over at Piedmont or somewhere, that will hurry you away at the lurt minute!''

"Good scheme. T always hated to be shut up In a aiek room. ' I'll go down ' to LaGrancc; there's a rich client of! mine there, a young widow, and I can j have a pleasant business trip in a social way. I'll just run down until after the ball. Thanks .for the tip." As Harris left the olliee Judgo Massey j began writing four otters, being cave- , fill that his stenographer should not see ! him engaged with the address, for lie thought. "Confound her. she knows 100 much of my private a flairs to suit me anyhow. She is presumptions to dare lb ink I menu all the agreeable things I say 'to her!" As the sound of low sweet laughter sounded on the air a woman's voice rose above the noise, anil Rose Ansley cried: "There she is now," and three laughing faces were crowned at the front window of Mrs Elliott's cozy sitting room. "Yes, it is she," sahl the other two, and a- the door opened the demons.ration of welcome proceeded with kisses and embraces and feminine ejaculations "Come in, Maggie, and hurry oil' your wraps. Wo have a great secret to tell you." The morning following th" meeting with Judge .Massev. Rose Anslev and Agues Be'llon had hastened to Gi.ue Elliott to tell her of (iheir hiilf-eiigageiu-iit to go to the ball with that diotiuguislied but flirtatious gentleman, and have her decide which one should cOiiiidcr the engagement hers. "f, too, have been invited ito go," said Mrs Elliott, sweetly. "By whom! Your husband?" "No. no. Charles will be in North Carolina, Judge Massey." 'The villian!" "The rascal!" "He's a pill!" "He's punk." These and ot/iev t-1'*"" -were bestowed iipoiil!ie~aiis~ent jurist without compunction. "Yes," agreed Mrs Elliott, "and Maggie Troupe writes me to expect her for a few days, as she is coming up, and depends upon 'Cousin Everette' to attend her at the ball." "Let's have some fun out of him." suggested Agnes Berton. 'We'll make him pay for his flirty ways," laughed Grace Elliott, to it was agreed that they all write notes of acceptance, and the notes were straightway sent. By mutual agreement the ladies were to meet at the home of Mrs Elliott next morning and take Maggie Troupe into the scheme. "Your gallant cousin/' said one of them later, when the new comer was divested of her furs, "has invited each one of us to go to Mrs Starr's Valentine ball, and wo have each one accepted the invitation." "Why, I came to go, depending upon him," cried Miss Troupe, in dismay. "Yes, we know, poor shild. Y'ou, too, are a victim of his wiles. We are going to punish him." "By punishing me," answered a very teary voice. "lis just too .funny," laughed Mrs Ansley. "I do not see the funny side," replied Maggie Troupe, grimly. "Well, we do! Your cousin has been defeated at his game of gallantry, and has left the held. Gone! Flown like a bird in winter!" "What do you mean?" "Judge Massey has run away from four women. He has gone to LaGrange on business. But cheer up, Maggie, my girl. Your Paris gown shall yet see the light of Mrs Starr's brilliant tunc-, tion. Here, read this." Mrs Elliott handed the new arrival a letter, which rend: "My Dear Judge Massey,— "Our little joke is ended. Pardon us for the irresistible opportunity we took to tease you, and laugh. Do not go to LaGrange, or anywhere, but take Maggie to the ball. She is here now, and expects you. Disobey and you will incur our displeasure, and we will tell on you." The names of Grace Elliott, Rose Ansley and Agnes Belton were signed, and with the prospects of the pleasure in view, Maggie entered into the spirit of the joke, and enjoyed it as much as did the other women. The judge hurried around to Mrs Elliott's a few moments later, saying: "All is forgiven, fair ladies, and 1 ! have come for that luncheon deferred a few days." "And my dress is lovely," said Miss Troupe later. "And Chnrfic. is going to return In time for the ball." It' was Mrs Elliott who spoke. « • "I'm going with the. kid," said Agnes I Belton sweetly, springing the catch of I her locket, and showing the judge a very young gentleman's face. "And you," asked Judge Massey of Rose Ansley. "Oil," giggled she with a coqtiftisli twist of her head, "I've promised Judge John Harris to be his steady valentine from this date forward."' "So you see, Cousin Everette, you will have to take me." "For all time and eternity," the gallant judge said with mock gallantry. " I wonder what he did with all those notes in women's writing! I know something is doing, and that, that frump Mrs Starr, is in it." It w r as the pompactoured stenographer, and she was fitting a duplicate key In Judge Masscy's private desk, but she snapped it to later and added: "Old fool. He's taken, them away. I wonder is he really in love with me, or with Mrs Siarr." And she pushed up her hack comb, and pulled out her crimps on top as she heard the judge returning. —Lollie Belle Wylie, in Sunny South.