News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1893-08-03
TCONTINUFD.l

"He doesn't know that any too well .
said Mrs. Van Ness to herself. "Where
could he have learned to dancer" The
! floor was crowded at the moment and
unusually slippery, SO that reversing or
| avoidance of collision was rendered the
more difficult even fs<experts. Twice
had Ridgeway bumped into somebody or
| other without grievous disaster, but now,
as luck would have it, came catastrophe
In the effort to check himself sudden
ly just as he seemed shooting into con-
tact with II slender light battery man
whom he could not have touched had he
tried, the young fellows feet flew from
under him. Left to herself, :Winifred
would no more have fallen than a bird.
Drowning men clutch at straws and
poor, rich Ridgeway's instant impulse
on feeling himself going was to clasp
her the tighter, dragging her with him
in his ignominious crash. His tumble
was bad enough, though he was unhurt,
but hers was worse. With violent shock
the room swan around. A dozen men
flew to aid her, but Brewster seemed to
have seen it coming. He leaped through
the air and, bending over the prostrate
Ridgeway, had her up in his strong
arms and over at the window before
another hand could touch her.
Quick, Hunt, some water!" he or
dered, his teeth firmly set. Then how
his eyes softened as he looked down into
her pallid face! "Oh, my darling, my
darling!' he murmured in that little,
shell like ear; and then, with wild anx-
iety in her eyes, Mrs. Berrien burst
through the sympathetic circle.
1t was all over in a moment. The
music never ceased. She was stunned
only for an instant, and then, though
Mrs. Berrien would have interposed,
like the little heroine she was, Winifred
was on her feet and holding out her hand
to poor, bewildered. miserable Ridge
way
But come, we must finish the Dance"
she said, and in so saying riveted the
chains of his serfdom.
81 wouldn't dance with him again."
said Mrs. Vance, who had an opinion to
express on every subject. "Why, he |
almost broke her head"
"lf she didn't she'd break his heart |
Mrs Vance," was old Kenyon's reply, as
he watched the scene. THAT girls n |
lady"
cam | not to be honorcd tonight, Mr.. |
Brewster" said low voice in his ear |
as he stood silent, anxious, preoccupied |
by Mrs. Berriens side, his ewes follow |
ing Winifred about the room. The very |
made him turn cold |
y beg Sour pardor-l-ssrs. Knowles; |
saw only moment arTEhat you were |
here"
She was leaning on her husbands arm.
Not half a bad fellow if he is blind |
fool" said those of his own sex who
knew him. Years her senior, he was
yet her slave. Witness his coming out |
from town this late November night |
solely at her behest to attend dance to |
which neither was hidden.
"Ah, wonder you saw at all, my |
friend, with that vision before your
eyes; and presume that was why you
had no time to come in person with yous
invitation"
mo invitations are sent out for these |
little dances, Mrs. Knowles.
''There, there. I'm not going to up |
braid you here Mr. Knowles. would |
you get 1ne glass of water? Mr.. Brew
ster, will yOu not present me to Mrs
Berrien? We have exchanged calls. but |
have not yet had the pleasure.
What could he do? The request was
as audible to Mrs. Berrien rs to him
End, even as she spoke. Mrs. Knowles |
passed around in front of him SO us al
most to face the majors wife. taking |
the Introduction as matter of course
He glanced appealingly at Mrs. Brrrlen |
as he murmured the name. He blessed |
her in his heart Of hearts for tie calm
courtesy with which she greeted the |
local celebrity. He bit his lips with |
vexation at Mrs. Knowles very first
words:
81 could not resist the longing to |
know you, Mrs. Berrien, for am utter
ly lost in admiration of your lovely |
daughter" She, daring to speak of one
so pure, so innocent, so utterly beyond |
her! Turning impatiently away, he en-
countered Major Berrien's eyes fixed |
upon him with look that was not good |
to see. He stepped forward, hoping to |
explain, but Berrien, who had Just en-
tered the room after an absence of over
half an hour, whirled sharply about. |
plainly indicating that he did not wish |