The Little Immigrant | Page 3

the
curtains of her bed to look at it and get the effect of it. Then she got out
her little white satin slippers and began the ceremony of the toilette for
the ball.

Carriages were coming and going before the brilliantly lighted Colonial
house owned by the Good Fellowship Club. The colored drivers sat
proud and erect on their boxes and held in their restive horses while
their masters and mistresses alighted. Young dandies in ruffled shirts
and flowered velvet waistcoats came on foot and sprang eagerly up the
steps and vanished through the double doors swung back by colored
attendants. Strains of music reached the street and ceased when the
doors opened and shut and the sound of many voices in conversation
and happy laughter burst upon the ear of the passer-by. Inside, all was
gaiety and animation. Festoons of greens hung from the chandelier of
kerosene lights and garlands and wreaths decorated the walls of the
wide hall and rooms where there was dancing. In the ballroom five
colored musicians were the orchestra and the leader "called out" the

figures of the lancers and quadrilles. "Face your pardners," he called
out as the square dance was begun. Several sets of four couples were
formed ready for the first strains of the lancers music and the prompter.
"Forward all," and all the couples advanced to the center. "Swing your
pardners," "balance corners," the lady and gentleman faced to the right
and took steps to the music. "Swing," and they swung around.
The next figure was the "Grand right and left," called out by the
prompter and the couples circled around and after a large ring was
formed by taking hands and going first to the right and then to the left,
amid laughter the dance broke up.
Standing near the window on the porch were two young men. They
were smoking cigars and commenting on the guests and the
surroundings generally.
"There's a little Queen Esther with her black hair braided and folded
over her shell pink ears. Look at her graceful walk. Do you see the one
I mean?".asked the taller of the two men.
"Do you mean the one with the rosebuds on her gown?"
"Yes, the very one. She has the most beautiful black eyes I have ever
seen."
"Yes, she is a beautiful girl," assented his companion.

"Where have I seen her before? I recognize those eyes."
"You are not captured, are you, Jaffray?"
"Well, I don't know." And they both laughed. "Let us go inside."
They threw away their cigars and went in.
"Miss Jewel, Mr. Starr would like to be presented to you, may I bring
him to you?" Renestine looked up and found a friend speaking to her,

but before she could answer the tall stranger was at her friend's elbow.
"This is a great pleasure for me," said the newly introduced guest. "But,
Miss Jewel, it has been an impression of mine since I first saw you this
evening that we have met before. Can you help me settle upon the place,
time and occasion?"
"Why, no," laughed Renestine, showing two rows of small, white teeth
that enhanced her charm.
"I am sure if we try hard enough we shall soon discover," Jaffray said.
"May I sit down?" Renestine drew sideways to allow him to draw up a
chair, her hoop skirt spreading her tarlatan flounces some space around
her.
"Why, yes, indeed, now that I look at you, the woods, gray moss, three
frightened young ladies; it was in the dusk of evening as I was riding
from McKinney, all of that picture returns," he put his forefinger to his
lips, and looked down at the floor in deep reflection.
For a moment Renestine was silent, then turned rosy red. "Oh, Mr.
Starr, was it you who brought us out of the Wilderness and restored us
to our families? You appeared at the most fortunate moment, we were
really lost," and she laughed heartily. "You are a stranger here, Mr.
Starr?"
"Not altogether. I have visited here before on business. Where I live it
is lonesome for me and I take my vacations with much the spirit of a
school boy. Shall we dance?"
The "Kiss Waltz" was a great favorite and the opening bars were
beginning, "Hun" Williams, leader of the orchestra, putting a good
swing into it. Renestine and Jaffrey glided with the rhythm of the music
and danced until the last strains closed the tuneful composition.
Throwing a lace scarf about her shoulders, Jaffray led Renestine to the
balcony. The moon was bright as day and the early May dew brought
out the fragrance of the jessamine and clematis climbing over the
balustrade.

They stood for a time without speaking, feeling the spell of the
Southern spring