Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-02-07

from HIS pace HeNE tue poEt1ere, anu me
attention he had begun to attract seemed
to make no impression on him. The
hostess stood Mt his side for a few mo-
ments. and several men went over and
shook hands with him. Still he stood
there like an a~venging spirit, cold. notion
less, inflexible. AT one time l caught his
eye, and in his gaze was not anger, but
contempt. This circumstance gave me
food for thought. Why had his feeling
toward me so suddenly changed?
"What did the leader say to you about
the next tigurc?" asked my partner.
"He thought l was lying" l remarked
quickly, as the explanation of Rodney's
change Of mood came into my mind on the
instant.
dance. please" said the leader to us
at that moment, and again I was able to
escape the consequences of my lapsus
linguae.
The strain I was under had begun to
wear Upon me. l had not had my usual
amount of sleep the previous night, and I
realized by the ragged of my
dancing that l was played out" as the
saying goes. Under such circumstances
the position l was in became torture. I
watched Margaret closely. How beauti-
full she was. l loved her more passion
ately every moment. l longed to stand
up and cry out: "Move on, gentlemen,
Miss Durand belongs to me!!' To sit
there in such a state of mind and see that
electromagnetic hawk poised to swoop
down on his prey was agony. l alter
mated between hope and fear. Perhaps
he would not get Il chance to speak to her;
perhaps he did not have his device with
him; perhaps, if he thought that I had
lied to him, he would defer his expert
ment until a more convenient time. On
the other hand, why did he come to a
dancing party? And having come, why
did he not ''move on?" What did he
mean by standing in the shadow of a cur
tain, like a stage assassin. making him.
self conspicuous, and worrying Margaret
and me?
1t was not until the first intermission
that l obtained any success from these
tantalizing questions. AS 1 passed
through the hall with my partner on my
arm l saw Rodney going up stairs.
"Ah!" thought l. she has given up the
contest for tonight. He is going away"
l felt like a new a My spirits re-
turned and the nonsensical little crea-
ture at my side seemed to feel my change
of mood, for her voice no longer trembled
when she asked me a question.
Rodney has taken his leave" I whis-
pered to Margaret. and she smiled cheer
fully in return. The joyous notes of a
waltz resounded through the house, and
in my delight l grasped my partner about
the waist end whirled her to a scat.
l enjoyed myself immensely for a time.
l was fond of dancing, and. being popu-
lar, received many favors. With a tickle
ness which has always pertained TO my
disposition l forgot all about Rodney, all
about fatigue and lack of sleep. II re-
membermed only that Margaret was
mine, that music and beauty and sweet
odors affected my senses. and like a lotos
eater l abandoned myself to the moments
pleasure with an enthusiasm that threw
my foolish little partner into ecstasies.
stop flirting" said Margaret to me
during a figure, and L frowned playfully
as though she had wronged me.
Oh, youth and health and pleasure.
what gods We are! my mind cried out.
What care | for men with electro-mag-
nets concealed up their sleeves, as though
they would cheat the world if they could.
Such men cannot dance. Such men must
skulk away as the fun grows apace and
eat out their wicked hearts in solitude.
Currents, did you say? What currents
do we need that the hot blood. the gleam-
ing eyes, the full, flushed checks do not
beget! Currents? Reserve them for the
telegraph, he telephone. h cable, kill
men with them if you like. but come not
to us and measure love by volts and carry
hatred in dynamos.
Such triumphant thoughts filled my
brain as the music ceased and l motioned
a waiter to bring us some lemonade. The
german was we'll led, the favors were
handsome, and l could see by the express
sion on Margaret's face that she was en-
joying to the uttermOst her last appear
ance in the world as a girl heart free. Az
l sat slipping the cooling drink and listen
ing to the gossip of the girl at my side
suddenly Marcus Rodney appeared at the
opposite doorway.
Good God" / exclaimed, and my part
ner jumped as though l had struck her.
Straight across the room strobe my riv-
al. and l observed with dismay that he
held both hands behind him. / could not
stir. To have made a scene would have
been absurd. perhaps his hands are at
his back from force Of habit. Perhaps
but no. He makes straight for Margaret.
Heavens, what shall 1 do? What can
l do?"
Was ever a man placed in such a posi-
ton as / held ut that moment? / knew
that my fiancee was passing from me,
that a power greater than any l could
bring to bear had her in it's grasp, and
there I sat compelled to sip lemonade and
talk nonsense to a light headed girl.
Rodney stopped in front of Margaret,
and smilingly said a few words to her. I
endured the torture of the damned, for I
could see that she was strangely affected,
though the expression on her face was
one of repugnance. His will was strong
er than hers, however, for she arose and
TOOK his arm. Then boldly down the CEN
ter of the room they walked together.
What could / do? The apartment SEEM
ed to be going around in a circle, and the
men and women before me seemed to
dance about as though they Knocked me.
I seized my partners lemonade and swal-
lowed it at a gulp. Perhaps she would
have had me arrested had not a cry of
dismay at that instant rung through the
house. I recognized the voice. 1t was
Margaret's.
/ rushed down the room and tore back
the portiere, behind which Rodney and
Margaret had disappeared. AS l did 80
! my fiancee fell fainting into my arms. I
laid her upon a sofa, ran for water, and
| upon my return found that she had re-