Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-10-25
HOW SHE LISTENED.

SOClety peOpIe mikut unSc sAoushs
that it was not exactly mp to the high
est notch Of elegance, but since the par.
ticipants were wholly unconscious Of
its shortcomings what did it matter.
There is a more real weight in the ex-
preston of ignorance being the greatest
bliss where social matters are concern
ed than in any other condition OF life.
The ordinary little girl who slips into
a thin gown aud dances all night with
"the boys, whom she has known since
childhood, in the simple ballroom OF q
family club finds more unalloyed en-
joyment in the entire procedure than
does the veriest brocade clad, jewel
weighted belle who glides In stately
elegance through the gorgeous cotillon
in the most sparkling ballroom Of one
Of society's real leaders. When the lit.
tie girl has romped her cheeks red
through gay. easy german or, more
frequently, through hackneyed waltz,
she would open her big. blue eyes in
amazement il q frigid debutante in the
unconventional. But the little girl
doesn't even dream that there Is any
difference between her dance and the
one whose details are 10 exploited in
the society columns, 80 she is u thou.
sand times happier than is her blue
blooded sister. breathing the atmos.
phere Of wealth and all the gnawing
envies, rivalries and disappointnents
pertaining thereunto.
Peggy was very pink after the last
dance Richard always went into that
particular waltz with especial fervor.
Afterward he explained to her that 1t
was because his first dance with her
had been that particular one, and she
was tease enough TO act as though she
WASH Z at all conscious Of the particu.
lar significance Of the thing. So to-
night, when he reluctantly let her slip
from his arms, she hadn't quite the
necessary courage to refuse his plea that
they ''go somewhere to rest. "
She knew what that meant Hadn {
he carried her off TO that particular
somewhere" every night since the lit.
tie club had begun its informal fort
nightly dances? Still. che knew that
she had better not go tonight-she
had known for weeks that il was com
Ing, and this last waltz had convinced
her that it was coming very soon. And
Peggy didn't want it to come, ut least
not Just now, for this was Peggy's first
winter and II seemed shame for girl
90 tie herself her first season. Then,
too, Richard wanted so much that 1t
should come, and there wasn't anything
in the world that Peggy loved so much
as to make Mr.. Richard wait. 1t didn't
matter whether she delayed him by tax
ing an unusually long time TO adjust
her veil when he had called TO take her
some place in the evening, or whether
he had 10 toast his toes before the fire
while she dallied over making his cup
Of tea or even in the telling Of his great
secret, which poor Richard congratu-
lated himself no one. not even Peggy,
knew. To be frank, everybody in the
little club had discovered il before he
had confessed it to himself. Still Peggy
yielded and was led of to the big chair
in the corner Of the library. where
Richard could perch himself on the
window seat beside her and where the
other young people were good enough
never to intrude.
k.a Lot hav xx-,t 4 fa
lids fiutter in happy content over her
deep blue eyes, whereat Richard felt his
last bit Of common sense leave him.
Peggy" he asked. leaning danger
ously near her.
Peggy sat up with little start, and
half air of rebellion. Then. oil ut
once, she felt his eyes burning into hers,
and her courage fed, leaving q very
weak, plant little girl.
Peggy" he began again. this time
laying his hand over hers as it trembled
ON the arm Of the big chair. Il want
to tell you something" added Richard
Peggy closed her eyes again and gath.
cred together her fast failing courage
with one mighty effort. Don't" she
pleaded. Don't, Richard. -
His face grew triHe paler as he ask
ed, "Why not, little girl!"
Peggy's white cheeks all at once
grew fiery, but she said 1t: Because !
know what you are going to say. and ]
don't want to hear ii. 7"
Poor Richard! So she knew, after
all, the secret which he had fiattered
himself he had kept from all the world,
most Of all from the tiny, pink and
| white girl whom it most concerned.
Then all at once it struck him that
there was ludicrous side to the situa-
tion, and Peggy was amazed to see bit
of roguish smile about the corners OF
his fine mouth as he asked:
Chow do you know that you know
what was going to say?"
It was q mean thing for him to do,
| and she afterward told him so. Now,
however, she put herself ON the defen-
sive as much as possible and answered
valiantly:
~ do know, no matter how. and !
aon't want to hear it." then pause
and finally whispered lust yet"
Richard sprung to his feet with
enough exultation in the movement to
startle her.
"When may tell you, Peggy mine"
Perhaps he drew her to her feet, per-
haps she rose. but all at once she found
herself standing before him, with him
holding her dangerously close by the
two tiny. burning hands
"Some day." she stammered. Then,
| hoting the happy laughter in his eyes,