We set out, I in my rented clothes, and he in his full dress uniform,
which he had no right to wear. On turning the corner we hailed a cab
and had the driver head toward Mr. Ostrand's. We drove swiftly up
the driveway, alighted, and presented our cards of admission. Ten
minutes later found us in the reception hall looking casually about,
smiling and talking pleasantly to one another. I remarked that it was
very strange that our friends were not there to receive us after our
having received such a cordial invitation. Anderson ventured, "Well,
indeed, it is embarrassing for us that our friends have neglected us so
shamefully."
We saw that we were not making any progress standing there so we
entered the big ball room, which was one lovely sight. The floral
decorations were beautiful and the music rendered by the orchestra
was perfect. The ball room was filled with beautiful women, who wore
handsome gowns and precious jewels. We rubbed shoulders with the best
of them and my chance was not long in coming. We were rather to the
side of the big folding doors leading to the reception hall. A couple
of young ladies nearby were apparently engaged in some interesting
topic of conversation. They had only been there a few moments when a
young fellow walked up to them and addressing the brunette, said "Why,
how do you do, Miss Miles, how are you?" She greeted him cordially and
he began to inquire about her people back in Iowa; how long she was
going to be in Chicago, and a number of other questions. I overheard
the whole conversation so I whispered to Anderson, "Well, old man, this
is my chance, lie low and watch your Uncle Dudley."
I left his side and an instant later I was standing face to face with
the young lady whose name was Miles. Approaching her, I extended my
hand in a most familiar manner, and at the same time said, "Why, Miss
Miles, how are you, how are your folks in Iowa? What a delightful time
we had at the last dance."
She looked at me in a doubtful sort of way and replied, "I'm sorry, but
I don't believe I remember you."
"Condon," I volunteered, and then she smiled sweetly and said, "Oh,
yes, certainly I remember you, Mr. Condon, how stupid of me to have
forgotten."
I pretended I had met her out in Iowa at a dance and she never knew
the difference or even suspected me in the least. She introduced me to
the blonde with whom she had been conversing and shortly afterward I
motioned Anderson over to where we were standing and presented him as
my young friend who had recently graduated from the U. S. Naval Academy
and was spending only a few days in Chicago awaiting his assignment to
a ship.
Well, we met these two girls and they in turn introduced us to others,
and before we departed we had sipped and chatted and danced with many.
We avoided the hostess of the evening very cleverly, and as luck would
have it none of our new acquaintances were so rude as to inquire who
invited us.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account