The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-11-13

were moving. Something was being
said.
There is one couple at least that is
utterly lost TO the rest of the world
said Mrs Vance, for of a sudden the
lovely upturned face was bowed almost
upon his arm, aud the deep, dark eyes
were yeiled, and the soft flush seemed TO
lean through the creamy skin to her
very temples.
s.Oh, has that fellow Ridgeway no
sense whatever" she continued, with all
a woman's horror of an interrupted love
scene. for at the instant Ridgeway had
darted forth. watch in hand, with a tri-
umphant shout: Time. My half"
And without a word, with one swift
upward glance into Brewster's longing
eyes-a glance fairly brimming over
with meaning-Winifred released her
self from the half encircling arm and
placed her hand on Ridgeway's sleeve.
Another moment and she was being
whirled away under the guidance of
very different partner.
Miss Berrien's fan" said Brewster,
bowling a moment later before her
mother. Il was charged to place it in
your hands" His heart was beating
high. The music seemed thrilling,
throbbing through his veins. He longed
10 hold forth both hands and say: Read
my secret. Know my heart! love her!
oh. love her." But there sat Mrs. Van
Ness, the bankers wife, with broad SYM
pathy and approval glowing in her good
natured face.
"Ah, Mr.. Brewster, il wasn't easy to
give up half that dance-was it, nowi
Why do you do such things in the
arIny?'
There were only four waltzes. Mrs
Van Ness" smiled Mrs. Berrien. Mr.,
Brewster had had one and had claimed
this, and Mr.. Ridgeway had had none at
all, and Winifred and both thought he
ought not TO be denied entirely. 1t IS
the only round dance he knows"
Saying no word. Brewster had dropped
behind Mrs. Berrien's chair.
He doesn't know that any too well"
said Mrs. Van Ness TO herself. Where
could he have learned TO dance?' The
floor was crowded at the moment and
unusually slippery, so that reversing or
avoidance of collision was rendered the
more difficult even for 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 a slender light battery man
whom he could not have touched had he
tried, tbs young fellows feet flew from
under him, Left 10 herself, Winifred
would no more have fallen than a bird.
Drowning men clutch at straws and
poor, rich Eidgeways 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
her head struck the polished floor and
the room swan around. i dozen men
few 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 facet '.Oh, my darling. my
darling,' he murmured III that little,
shell like ear; and then, with wild anx-
iety in her eyes, Mrs. Berrien burst
through the sympathetic circle.
Ii 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,
ike the little heroine she was, Winifred
was ON her feet and holding out her hand
% poor, bewildered, miserable Ridge
way,
But come, we must finish the dance"
she said. and in 20 saying riYeted the
chains of his serfdom.
Il wouldn't dance with him again."
sid Mrs. Vance, who had an opinion 10
express ON every subject. why. he
almost broke her head
If she didn't shed break his heart,
Mrs. Vance" was old kenyon's reply, as
he watched the scene. That girls
lady"
Am not TO be honored tonight, M
Brewster said low voice in his ear
as he stood silent, anxious, preoccupied
by sirs. Berrien's side, his eyes follow
ing Winifred about the room. The very
intouation made him turn cold.
u beg your pardon, Mrs. Knowles;
saw only moment ago that you We're
here"
She WIS leaning on her husbands arm.
Not half bad fellow if he is a blind
fool" said those Of his own sex who
knew him. Years her senior, he wac
yet her slave. Witness his coming ont
from town this late November night
solely at her behest to attend dance to
which neither was hidden.
All, wonder you saw at all, my
friend, with that vision before your
eyes; and presume that was why you
had no time to come III person with your
invitation"
NO invitations are sent ont for these
little dances, Mrs. Knowles"
There, there, I'm not soing TO up
braid you here. Mr.. Knowles, would
you get me a glass of water: Mr.. Brew
eter, will yOa not present me to Mrs.
BerrienI We have exchanged calls. but
| have not yet had the pleasure.
What could lie dof The request was
as audible TO Mrs. Berrien as to him,
and. even as she spoke, Mrs. Knowles
passed around IN front Of him so as al
most to face the majors wife. taking
the introduction as matter Of course.
He glanced appealingly at Mrs. Berrien
as he muTmured the name. lie blessed
her in his heart Of hearts for the calm
courtesy with which she greeted the
local celebrity. He bit his lips with
yexGtion at Mrs. Knowles very first
words:
Il could not resist the longing to
know you, Mrs. Berrien, for ! am utter
~ lost ia admiration Of your lovely
daughter" She, daring to speak Of pne
50 pure, 50 innocent, 20 utterly beyond
her! Turning impatiently away, he en-
countered Major Berriea's ewes fixed
upon him with a look that was not good
10 see. He stepped forward. hoping 10
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 no; wish
to speak. This was bad enough. lie
had been near the seventh heaven of
bliss. He had almost touched the gates
of pearl. Now they were receding
through clOuds and darkness. fading in
the distance. But worse was TO come.
L