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Show P l"" ' W -1 The Wearing of the Yellow By Dorothy Blackmore Copyright, 1910, by AsiocUtcd Literary I'reti Just why Mrs. Thompson Carding er decided to usa yellow as her color schemo at tho last of tho scries of brldgo parties sho was giving Is not known. It may havo beon that It was her favorlto shado; It may havo been that It harmonized with her costumo of the afternoon, or, It may havo been simply becauso yollow spring flowers, Jonquils, daisies and tulips were plentiful in tho florists' Bbopa In March. But thevvcry fact that sho had selected se-lected yellow Instead of any othor huo In tho rainbow mndo all tho diffcrenco In tho world to hor faithful cook, Norah. Norah was a daughter of tho Emerald Em-erald Islo and sho novcr lost an op portunity to go to a St. Patrick's ball whonevsr tho anniversary of that good saint's birth rolled around. And In all the five years that sho had beon In tho country nho had novcr failed to dnncq tho oponlng waltz with big Pat Deasy from her own County Cork. Norah's mistress had chosen tho afternoon of St. Patrick's day for her brldgo party, and whon tho last guest had gone and Mrs. Cardlngor's duties du-ties ns hostess woro over, Bho steppod Into tho kitchou to glvo a word of praise to her cook for tho extra effort sho had made to havo tho pastries and coffee toothsome and dainty. "And, Norah, I want you to wear a bunch of thoso lovely Jonquils to your ball tonight. Thoy will add m.uch to your appearance. Also, you may servo dinner nt 6:30 Instead of seven, bo as to bo In plenty or time," eho said good nnturcdly. Norah eang over hor cook Btovo, and when dinner was over Bho mounted the stairs to her room to dress In her finest frock. And In hor hand sho i I carried a bunch of tho lovely yollow flowers her mistress had given her. She pinned them this wny and that, and It wns not without a thought as to how Pat would like them best that site tinnlly arranged them In hor belt, pinned thoro by a sharmrock Pat himself had given hor tho year before. On hor way uptown to tho ball Norah stopped to call for her chum, Kntlo Malone, who was mald-of-all work to a family In tho next block. "An' you must shnro my bouquet, Kntlo, my darlln'," 6he Bald to tho girl Tholr tongues wagged buBlly as they climbed tho stairs to the elevated ele-vated road In great hasto lest they miss oven ono strain of tho fiddler's music Their hearts wero beating quickly In anticipation of tho evening's eve-ning's pleasure for Katie, too, had a son or u.rin wno awaited her coming with anxious eyes. It was not tho custom In tholr set to bo called for by tholr beauxIt was a wasto of time, nnd the dnnclng and th escorting escort-ing homo again were tho Important things. Bright lights strenmed ro.a each of tho great ballroom windows as the girls appronched tho building where tho Irish ball was an annual soda' function They entered tho clonk-room clonk-room to dispose of tholr outer garments gar-ments Just as tho orchestra Inside began be-gan an Introductory number. Flushed and smiling, Norah and her chum made tholr appearance In tho wide doorway or the ballroom to scan the assembled crowd for familiar faces. No sooner bad they stepped onto the shining flor than they were pounced upon by hair a dozen strange young nmn who demanded by what rjght they camo to St. Patrick's ball wearing the colors of tho Orangeman? And, without further ceremony, the beloved bouquets woro torn from the belts of tho two girls and trampled under foot by the young Irishmen. Norah had been Innocent of the breecli of etiquette sho was making In wearing the flowers and her chum had been as guiltless or error. Now, as thoy retired to tho dressing room, rod faced and not knowing whether to bo angry or merry, thoy looked nt each other and broko Into laughter. "Faith, and I never thought of It at all, at all, Katlo," said Norah, fld Justing her disarranged bolt "I'm sorry I was so generous with my bou-ouot." "It's nothing nt all," retorted Katlo, "but I saw Pat Deasy and Michael O'Flanngln standing on tho other side or tho room takln' In the whole thing. It's mad they are, or I'm not Katie Mnlono this, night." Now, Pot Deaay, though well fft yored In tho eyes of Norah, was not hor only admirer, and she bad seen tho timo when his blue eyes flashed at tho presence- of nnothor young roan In hor spotless kitchen. "Perhaps," "Per-haps," tho thought now, "ho thinks 1 am after getting the flowers from Tom." At IcaBt, whether tho two swains took tho wearing of tho yellow flowers flow-ers as a personal insult or whether they had othor reasons for Ignoring their hitherto adored ones, Norah and Kntlo heard tho opening strains of "Come Back to Erin" warted from the orchestra without noticing the approach of their usual partnors. Novor long alono at a ball, Norah waB soon whirling about tho room In ho arms of another ndmlror. And from tho way In which hor soft IrlBh laugh rippled In rcsponso to bltB of witty blnrney her partner whispered In her ear sho was conscious of no othor man In tho room. Sho was possessed of tho Inherent Irish quail ty of bolng all things to all people for tho time bolng. The ball waxed merry and wnltzes and Jigs nnd two-steps nnd barn dances wero called off ono after another, an-other, but Pat Deasy never onco Bought Norah as his partnor; and sho did not know that his eyes followed her through every turn of tho dance. If, as ho believed, sho had deliberately deliberate-ly Vorn flowers and yollow flowers at that sont her by his hated rival Bho must Indeed havo rorgotton nil that ho believed had been botween them. It was tato In tho evening that an Irish reel was proposed, and tho or chestra struck up tho merry muslo to which tho feet of no truo son of the verdant land can remain quiet. Norah, a new-found ndmlror In her wake, was taking hor placo. Hor hair had becomo tumbled, her choeka wero as rosy as apples and hor black-lashed black-lashed blue eyes sparkled llko diamonds. dia-monds. If her heart was heavy Bho did not lot It dnnglo on hor sleeve so that all who pnssod might soo It. In tho Intricacies of tho reel, Norah, by counting ahead, could seo that before be-fore many moments sho must clasp hands with Pat Deasy, and her heart thumped excitedly at tho prospect. Would ho recognlzo her? Would ho press hor fingers never so slightly? It was her turn and she put hor hand In tho great ono Pat extended. Yes; ho held It closely, moro closely than any other pnrtner would dare to hold It. Quick as a flash. Norah detached the green shamrock pin from her belt and, whon noxt sho met Pat In tho dance, slipped It Into his palm. Across tho petals was written lu gilt letters, "Como Back to Erin." When tho reel was ovor and the dnncers stood about tho refreshment I tablo or sat In cool corners, Pat sought out Norah, tho message of the pin having beon too much for him to resist. And, perhnps, aftor all, he had been mlstnkcn. "Norah, Is It all ovor between us?-he us?-he asked, his color rising to the roots of his well-brushed black hair. "An' why should It bo?" asked the girl, saucily. "Sure, you wore tne yellow flower to the ball and who but that hateful Tom Horton could havo given thorn to you to splto me?" ho asked. "It'B a silly Mick you aro, Pat-she Pat-she retorted, making room for him boslde hor on the bench. "It wnsc my lady who gave them to mo off her own tablo to wear to tho ball tc charm you with. Oh, Pail" And, on tho way home. Pat and Norah decided to visit the priest be- x fore another St. Patrick's ball should tako place. But bo busy were they, in their own affairs that they dli not see Katie and her beau deciding the same thing in the other end of th elevated coach. |