After the Ball

A little maiden / Climbed an old man's knee, / Begged for a story. / Oh, Uncle please. / Why are you single? / Why live alone? / Have you no babies? / Have you no home? The story he tells her follows: John Dale is an eminent bachelor lawyer who has never felt the sting of Cupid's dart. A millionaire friend of John's invites him to join a yachting party. The girl that John may have been waiting for appears in the person of Louise Tate, who is accompanied by her father, James Tate; it is love at first sight. John is made a welcome visitor at the Tate home. The family consists of four persons: Mr. and Mrs. Tate, their daughter Louise, and their son Gerald. While at college Gerald played card games with the other students which caused them to be expelled from the institution. Gerald's father, learning of his son's disgrace, is enraged beyond measure and is about to order Gerald from his home when Louise and her mother intercede for him. Gerald finds his mother's necklace upon the library floor where it had fallen in her attempts to shield her son from the father s attack. Gerald takes the necklace to a pawnbroker and pledges it, intending to gamble and try to win enough money to pay his debts and have sufficient left to redeem the necklace. Gerald soon loses the money on the races. After missing her jewels the mother summons detectives, who find the missing jewels in the pawnshop. While the pawnbroker is receiving his check from Mr. Tate, Gerald walks into the room and is recognized as the one who pawned the necklace. He is ordered from his father's house forever. For his reckless dissipation he is sent to prison for four years. After escaping from prison, he returns to the city to obtain honest employment but is found by one of his former pals, who forces him by threats of exposure to join them again. In the meantime John Dale and Louise have become engaged. The annual Charity Ball is announced. This item comes to the attention of Gerald's underworld friends who select him to go to the ball to play his supposed trade of a thief, yet in his heart, he had made up his mind not to do anything dishonest. He goes to the ball where he meets his sister, Louise, who nearly faints when she sees him. As she totters Gerald places his fingers to his lips to indicate silence, and John just turns in time to catch Louise and assist her to an ante-room. While he goes for a glass of water Gerald appears, and while fondly kissing his sister, is discovered by John, who becomes s