Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1886-03-19

ing. Just imagine being at a bali
where you haven't a single acquaint-
ance!" y. j
II do imagine it with the deepest
concern, for that, will be my forlorn
condition unless you take pity on me
and give me dance or two. A man
can't 60 to bed at 8 O. clock, and what
to do with himself for the next four
hours is a problem that is quite be-
You'd me-" i
"You'll be down presently-as soon
as you are rested?" he asked, as she
left him at the foot OF the stairs.
"Perhaps."
Two hours passed, and Lawrence,
waiting in the great empty parlor,
found the Denver paper very stupid
reading. He tossed it impatiently
aside and looked at his watch.
,'"Ten o'clock. She not coming.
He walked toward the door and
met her coming in.
II had quite despaired of you," he
said.
81 was very tired and fell asleep"
She wore dress OF black lace, with
Slew eless corsage, that displayed a
pair OF superb arms and smooth white
neck. The sharp contrast of her hair
and dress with the singularly fair COM
plexion made her look like a black
and white cameo, and he thought as
she stood there looking past hun into
the ballroom that no carving could
be more purely classic than her profile.
"Shall we 60 in there?" she asked.
sit seems dreadfully crowded."
''Ihen suppose we stay here"
II believe it is pleasanter here" she
answered.
The floor OF the ball room was full
OF promenading couples, and alongthe
wall sat an unbrol,en line, ot mammas
and other relatives serving in the ca
pacity Of chaperones, and already be-
ginning to exhibit signs OF fatigue
".What q nuisance chaperones are, -
so?"
II know very little about them,"
she replied. II never had one"
Her manner WAS frank, and free
from any suggestion OF priggishness
She displayed fearless candor that
might mean anything or nothing, and
was tantalizing to the last degree.
Why had she never had chaperone?
Did she always travel alone? Was
she as easily accessible to every chance
| acquaintance as she had been to
him? Did she suspect, as she stood
there impressive and demure, that the
| impulse to reach out and gather her
in q compact embrace WAS fast becom-
! ing irresistible? Ii that should hap
pen what would follow? Would she
object to a quiet Irritation? Was she
not even expecting it? Lawrence was
not conspicuous for timidity or undue
reserve himself. Why was he dallyine
with opportunity? These questions
were formulated in his mind, but for
obvious reasons he did not give them
voice. He only said: Il think it is
much pleasanter here" and came a
step nearer.
at that moment the opening meas
ures Of q waltz foated to them from
| the ball room. With a simultaneous
rhythmic movement they fell into po-
sition and glided down the long empty
| room. When the music ceased they
went out on the gallery. Like the
parlor, it was deserted. There was a
rustic seat in an angle where the shad-
ow of a tree made silver fiagree OF the
moonlight on the white-wood floor.
lis it too cool for you here?" in.
CURED Lawrence, with extreme solici.
tude, as he adjusted her scarf.
wrap
so kind OF you to come down to.
| night" he went on. "But l hope you
are not fatiguing yourself in this char.
| liable effort to amuse me-"
"Do I look like a nlartyr?" she ask.
ed, turning upon him with a piquant
| challenge i'll her eyes.
'There is g sublime stoicism that
| enables one to suffer and give no sign, u
| he replied with gravity.
Her eyes were turned in the direction
OF their morning drive She changed
the subject. II wonder why they call
that place the Garden of the Gods.
1t seems a misnomer TO me-"
II suppose" answered Lawrence,
sit was named by some fellow who
CHANGED to be wandering here, and dis.
! covered in it, as I did, daughter OF
the gods, divinely tall and most
divinely fair"
With such rivolity they beguiled the
intervals, waltzing when the music
permitted, until the crowd in the ball
room began to thin and the clock in
the parlor struck l.
II really must go now" said Miss
Vincent, rising. "There's o'clock and
l leave at 8. Good night"
(Which way do yougo tomorrow
asked Lawrence, taking the hand she
offered.
"East. I must be at home by the
GOTH"
"And where is home?''
She gave the name Of village about
fifty miles distant from the town
where he lived.
said. II believe we leave this place
on the same train, so Pinot say good
| bye. And now just one more dance
the last"
Down the long gallery they foated
! into the shadow and out into the light
his clasp gradually tightening as they
went, her face against his shoulder
and his head bent forward until his
cheek touched the high coil OF her hair
The music ceased suddenly, but the
arm about her waist did not relax
She gave furtive glance upward, ther
dropped her eyes. With swift move
ment of his left hand he drew her arm
until 1t encircled his neck, leaned for
ward and kissed her. She darted
away like a swallow, and he caught 8
last glimpse Of her as she turned the
stairway. ..,-
When Lawrence came down to break
fast the next morning it was nearly
8 o'clock. The early train had gone
So had Miss Vincent.
Ia = $50. \