The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1897-02-11

~ ~ W oNAAA -
him from head to foot; they stepped
forward into the great ballroom, hung
with mirrors and gany colored flags,
n brilliant with a thousand lights
that threw a dazzling sheen upon the
broad xpans Of polished floor. h
talked with animation, and he answered
almost mechanically; the i~ntox!cation
of pride mounted to his head and
numbed his senses as he made his tri-
umphal progress before the yes of the
elder ladies on the dais, the long line
Of dancers sitting out against the walls.
and the herd Of solitary men standing,
each with folded arms, at the bottom
of the room. Their whispers reached
him with faint incense, and he scarcely
knew himself for a mortal like the rest.
But now the band struck up again;
the crowd returned. and he found him
self floating with his radiant partner
through the upper heaven of perfect
rhythmic motion. Suddenly, as 1t
seemed. the music stopped; he mastered
the swimming sensation in his brain
and turned to look at her. Her eyes
beamed back upon his with frank SYM
pathy.
"Glorious!" she exclaimed. What a
pity 1t must end 50 SOON!
S soon?" he stammered. in a sud-
den panic; 80 soon?"
1--WE are leaving early tonight"
But it is only just H."
Then we have but half an hour
more"
They had left the ballroom and were
mounting the stairs in advance of the
throng. At the top a tiny boudoir Of
fered two chairs. and no more.
Shall we hear the music so far
away?' she asked as they entered it.
He was pale and evidently i'll at ease;
he grasped at her question as at an
un~hoped-for opportunity.
Il shall hear your voice." he said,
~nervously, ian that is all the music 1
DESIRE"
What" she answered, laughing,
with my strong French accent, as your
people choose to call it?"
She sat down in the higher and
straighter of the two chairs, and
opened her fam. Only a low lounging
seat was left for him, and nothing
could have been more uncomfortable
under the circumstances. He fixed
himself upon the extreme edge and was
about to speak, when she broke in be-
fore him
You don't look as much at rest as
you deserve to be after that famous
dance"
He was beginning an answer, des-
tined nc doubt to end sentimentally,
when She again forstalled him.
You are not accustomed to the lux
ury of arm chairs at sea ?"
He saw that che ala not .,o,. -
give him an opening, and tried de-
terminedly to make one for himself.
Forgive me-" he said, disregarding
her question. but / have something to
say to you
And I to you," she answered readily.
L have found the pearl you were good
enough to hunt for the other day.
Where do you suppose it was?"
Madame de Montaut," he said, with
desperate irrelevancy. Il have admired
you ever since I first saw you"
You a hardly expect a woman to
SO quite so far in return" she replied,
with an affectation OF cordial simpli-
city; but l may say truly that there
is no one whose step I prefer to yours.
Come, the next dance must be Begin
ming. and / am eager not to lose a
note of It," And she rose lightly and
shut her fan.
He too stood up, but did not move
toward the door.
Il am sorry" he said; but what
have to offer you is more than a dance
if it be not much less"
Her quick a caught the sincerity
of his tone and her look changed. You
are right" she said, with a serious
grace; Il will hear you" And she sank
with a soft rustic into the low chair,
which she filled with an air Of easy roy
atty.
He remained standing; his hands. as
they grasped the back of the other
chair, were tense with nervous energy,
but his throat was dry and his brain
confused; for his life he could not break
from this fatal dumbness and express
himself.
A CLEAN Of not unkindly merriment
shone in her eyes as she came to the
rescue.
Capt. Estcourt." she said, you are
a man whose words mean, at the least,
all they say; since, then, you speak OF
admiration, / understand you to offer
me-love."
Love? Devotion he exclaimed.
with husky fervor, but stopped again
and began to stammer.
And ] suspect" she continued, from
your embarrassment, that you have had
thoughts Of asking me to marry you"
"Oh! it is too great a think, / know"
he broke in earnestly: ut is out of all
reason; but / DO not ask It. | entreat
it of you"
She raised herself a little and looked
him gravely in the face.
TO BE CONTINUED