A GIRL OF SPIRIT.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 8, Issue 13, 12 February 1907, Page 7

A GIRL OF SPIRIT.

BY ELLA LAMDERT.

Something new was being planned, nml after a great deal of thought, land more discussion) the Whitmore Club derided to hold a masked hall. Not a real ball, of course, for the Whitanore Clubmen were merely mischievous, fun-loving boys and girls, and such things wen* not for them, hut “masked hall*’ - sounded better than the regular weekly meeting of the Club with its members masked. All conventionality was to be set aside that night—girls choosing instead of being chosen, taking their partners in to supper, seating them first., and paying them all the small attentions the stern sex usually delights in showing the fair. .It would have been Jots of sport if it had all happened as it should have done-hut, it didn’t. For weeks beforehand an air of deepest mystery prevailed the Club ; conversation was 'carried on in whispers about the ro"no,rs of I he room. All were busy planning costumes each striving for .something original, and no one telling even their best friend what they had decided upon. In all good Christian societies there is the proverbial black sheep, or, in oilier words, a well-meaning but evildoing member, who contrives by some means to upset the best-laid pl'ans in the. world. In this particular Club the evil-doer was , Jack Lovering, leader in all mischief that transpired in his neighbourhood and the biggest tease that ever tormented mankind. Meeting the boys one evening, be suggested the lark of taking his father’s coloured coachman to the party, and they, scenting fun as keenly as dogs scent a rabbife, agreed at once. James was a thoroughly honest, trusty, old negro, and a faithful friend of the boys when their mischief got them into trouble, and it was seldom that it didn’t. When the boys told him of the part they had decided ho should play, ho opened his groat, wide month in a speechless grin. But t'hcn, it was not necessary for him to talk ; they had .settled it all beforehand. In fact, he had stringent orders to keep "mum.” At the ball he appeared in full evening costume, patent-leather gaiters, high silk hat and all, with a white mask to hide his double row of ivories and the woolly crop upon his head. Five minutes before the hour of unmasking, hu was to slip out leaving his fair partner to ponder his identity. What a scene the old club-room did present that, night ! All the buried ages of the world seemed to have risen as if by magic. There was Harry Rlanck as king’s jester of the Fifteenth Century in garments be bad made for himself, and of which ho was rigidly proud, his cap jungling with bells at every motion of his head. Alexander the fJrcal was there in company with a Creek Slave The Father of His Country in the person of Dick Jones, side by side with the Chinese Emperor. Julius Caesar, in his purple ; Richard Occur de-Lion and a North Americas Indian were there, each with a white muslin mask concealing his features, and each wondering whom his neighbour could be. r I hen the girls! Feminine taste was expended on all the gay, fluffy, airy materials made in all sorts of shapes and fashions that have hedeeked the daughters of Eve since the days of Ellen, Cleopatra, Joan Arc : Mary, Queen of Scots ; Hieen Victoria, a Drench peasant, a rural English maid, the prim little Durban, a black Dinah, and the Queen of fairies were among the cha rad iT's. Wium th.-v had all arrived the boys were lined up in ord a amorist the walk and the girls stepped timidly forward to select partners from

among them. First on the list was the beautiful Queen of Scots, who gazed nervously up and down the course of ages before her ; then in a desperate hurry signalled the North American Indian to follow her, and took her place at the head ol the grand promenade. Queen Victoria slipped her arm through that of the Yankee, and amid peals of laughter from the others who declared she recognized him, followed the Queen of Scots. But the merriment rose still higher when black Dinah bowed herself up to Julius Caesar, and the countenance of that august monarch perceptibly fell. Thus the choosing went on until it came to the turn of the Queen of Fairies, and (be most, beautiful girl in the room. Hearts whether under the purple and line linen of Caesar or the sackcloth of the prilgrim, beat quicker then in expectation and silent hope ; but no ! on past them all, straight to the negro James she went. The real effect of their joke went suddenly home to the boys then, when they saw the pretty Lillian Morris walking arm in arm with her companion in unconscious ignorance of his colour. Harry Blands was for ending the joke then and there, but Jack would not hear of it. The selection of partners was over at last, and up and down the long room they promenaded and danced, happy, laughing and gay, unconscious of the lapse of time until the first stroke of 12 sounded. The time for unmasking was at hand, and the master of ceremonies ordered the removal of all masks. Imagine the discomforture of Julius Caesar when Ins black Dinah was found to bo a member of his own sex The boys screamed with laughter, and the gids were scarcely less quiet in their demonstrations. There was one, however, who had not unmasked and at first remained unnoticed ; but when the excitement attending the discovery of Dinah’s personality had abated somewhat, all eyes were fixed upon him. The master of cereWionies requested hiun to remove his mask, but he still remained immovable. Mis quaking now became visible and he sent beseeching looks to Jack. That, gentleman, thoroughly nonplussed by the turn events had taken, could only look in helpless misery at the others, none of whom knew how to settle the matter. They had all forgotten to put; James out, and their joke seemed about to have a tragic ending, when the master ordered the nemoval of the mask by force and the ebony-luted coachman was discovered. 'Surprise, consternation and anger spread over the group, and every glance was levelled at Lillian. At first she had turned deadly pale then anger flushed her face scarlet. Tears rose to her eyes, and she seemed about to indulge in that great feminine cure for all ills—a good crythen with a quick glance at those around Inn', she laughed 1 This astonished the group, for even the boys had forgotten to smile, and (he girls in valorous defence of their sex had no desire to do so. It broke the silence that: bad fallen upon them, and .lack, with the others, hastened to apologize. She listened in silence, and then turned abruptly away to her negro companion, dark wanted to release her, and to send damns home, but, to his surprise she firmly refused to let him go, as she had chosen him for partner. Whe did not, dance.with him again, but neither did she dance with the others. She smiled more bright lv then ever throughout the remaind-r of the evening, but when tint gids an'd boys were leaving she slipped quietly, unattended, away to her home. And thus, by her spirit, she cured .hack of his larking habit, on which all paternal sermons had been ineffective.