Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-03-19

But his 1urtnor commences "oio III
terrupted by the arrival OF Mr.. Mar
rinder in search of his wife.
"You don't care to stay any longer, l
suppose?" said the newcomer.
''Oh, no; l am quite ready. Twas en-
gagged for this dance---the tenth, isn't
il? But am tired and it doesn't mat
ter. My partner, whoever he was, can
find some one else. Goodnight, Mr..
Norreys."
LET me go with you to the door at
least" he replied. "Pll look about Tor
that girl in black on my way, so that II
l don't see her 1 can honestly feel that
l have done my duty.
Then there came flutter and rustling,
and Miss Fforde knew that her neigh
bors had taken their departure.
She waited an instant and then came
out of her corner.
"He was not likely to come back to
look for me in this room," she thought;
but in case he possibly should, II
shall not hide myself. D."
She had had moments sharp con-
fllct with herself before arriving at this
decision; aud her usually pale face was
still family flushed when, slowly making
his way in the direction OF the sofa
where she had now eonspicuously
placed herself, she deserted Mr.. Nor
reys.
''Our dance-the TENTH believe, he
said, with an exaggeration OF indiffer-
ence, sounding almost as if he W he'd
TO irritate her into making some excuse
to escape.
In her place nine girls out Of ten
would have done so, and without
troubling themselves TO hide their in
dignation. But Maisie Fforde was not
one of those nine. She rose quietly
from her seat and took his arm.
YES" she said, sit is our dance"
Something in her voice or tone made
him glance at her with shade more at
tention than be had hitherto cOnde-
seconded to bestow on MRS. Englewood's
protege." She was looking straight be-
fore her; her features, which he now
discovered to be delicate in outline and
almost faultlessy regular in their pro-
tions, wore an expression OF perfect COM
posture; only the slight, very slight rose
flush on her cheeks would have told TO
one who knew her well OF some inward
excitement.
"By Jovem thought Despard, "she's
almost pretty-no, pretty'S not the word.
l never saw face quite like il before.
| suppose l didn't look at her before,
she's so badly, at least so desperately
plainly dressed. | don't, however, sup
pose she can talk, and I'd bet any
money she can't dance"
As regarded the first OF his predic
tions, she gave him no opportunity OF
Judging. He hazarded some common
place remark about the heat OF the
rooms; she replied by monoSyllable
DeSpard began to get angry.
Wont talk, whether she can or not,
he said to himself, when second OBJ
servation had met with no better luck.
He glanced all around the room; all the
other couples were either dancing or
smiling and talking. He became con-
scious of a curious sensation as disagree
able as novel-he felt as If he were look
ing ridiculous.
He turned again to his partner in
sort of desperation.
evil you dance?" he said, and his
tone was almost rough; it had entirely
lost It's usual calm, half-insolent indif-
ference.
Certainly" she said, while scarcely
perceDtible smile family curved her
lips, at is, 1 suppose, what we are
standing up here for, is it not?"
Despard grew furious. "She is laugh
ing at me-" he thought. "Impertinent
little nobody. Where in Heavens name
has Gertrude Englewood uaearthed her
FROM? Upon my soul, it is the very last
time she will see me at her dances.
And somehow his discontinue was not
decreased by a glance, and almost tnvol-
untary glance, at Miss Fforde as they be-
gan TO dance. She was certainly not
striking in APPEARANCE; she was middle
sized, barely that indeed; her dress
was new, he began TO perceive, plain
with the plainneSS Of intention not of
ignorance or economy. But yet, with
10 all-no, he could not honestly feel
that he was right; she did not look like
"a nobody"
There was a further discovery in
store for him. The girl danced beaut-
fully. Mr.. NorreyS imagined him
self to have outlived all en-
thuSasm on such subjects, but now
and then, in spite OF the role which was
becoming second nature to him, a bit of
the old DeSpard-the hearty, unSpoilt
boy-cropped out, so TO speak, I'M
awares. This happened just now-his
surprise had to do with 1t.
you dance perfecty-exquisitely"
he burst out when at last they stopped.
II was his second dance that evening
only; neither he nor Miss Fforde was
the least tired, and the room was no
longer so crowded.
She looked up. There was no flush
OF qualification on her face, only very
slight-the slightest possible sparkle
in the beautiful eyes.
Eyes" she said quietly; 81 believe l
can dance we'll"
Despard bit his lips. For once In his
life he felt absolutely at loss what to
say. Yet to remain silent he would not,
for by so doing it seemed to him he
would be playing into the girls hand.
~ will make her talk" he vowed In
ternally.
1t was not often he cared to exert
himself, but he could talk both intel
lisently and agreeably when he chose
to take the trouble. And gradually,
though very gradually only, Miss
Fforde began to thaw. She, too, could
talk; though her words were never
many they struck him as remarkably
well chosen and to the point. Yet
more, they melted him TO further effort.
There was the restraint Of power about
them: not her words only, but her tone
and expression, the quick play of her
features, the half-veiled glances of her
eyes, were full OF curious fascination
seeming TO tell how charming, how re-
sponsive a companion she might be If