Arizona republican., 1898-12-21
CHAPTER VIII.
A TELLER

The surprise party was solemn sue
 cess.
 When Wanda entered the room she
 found the men sitting on one side and
 the women on tho other, looking for all
 tho world like a parcel of school chil-
 dren about to be whipped.
 She was individually introduced to
 every ono present, and with great for
 titudc took each cla1nmy hand in hers
 and shook it cordially. She knew that
 she was being inspected, and bore the
 ordeal br2vcly, for tho countcnanceS of the people were so devoid of expression that even her tinid nature was rcas- sured
 It was not till she found herself stand ing in front of young man, whose presence was remarkable among his commonplace associates, that she felt the least embarrassment. But, with his lark eyes fixed intensely on her, she could not rcprcss Q little shivcr of re- vulsion, and involuntarily bowed, in- stead of giving him her hand. How vcxed she was to feel the blood rnantling to her cheek and notice the trcInor of her voice as she replied to his friendly greeting, for she knew that the eyes of Martha and iuldah wore on her. and that her confusion would be misintcrpretcd.
 Alphoasc Damiens was certainly a splendid animal, but it was not his fine physique and handsome face which chained her attoatio1-it was an inde- Unable something, . soul-aptipathy she could not understand. He was in every thing remarkable. While Jabcz Shorts ''best suit made him look like hog in armor, instead of the honest carpenter he really was, Da;nicns' clothes fitted him to perfcction-cvcn tho flaming scarf he wore harmOnizcd with the gypsy type of his features. Surely there was nothing very formidable in this gOod-lool1ing young countryman-tle why this huttering sensation in his presence?
 It was very provoking that the com pany seemed to have entered into a conspiracy to give this rustic Don Juan evcry opportunity to inflict his obnox- ious attentions upon her, but she avoid ed him as much as she could, though she could never get quito beyond the fixed gaze of his insolcnt admiration.
 The crisis came at last. Sl2c had seat ad herself in low chair in remote corner, thankful for . little respite from his prosecutions. when, noticing her isolation. he flung himself on g. seat | beside her and coolly rested his arm on the back of her chair, while he said in 2 tone of easy nonchalanca:
 ''Say, Wanda may call you Wanda, | maynt I?-if you will dismiss your pu- pills at half-past three tomorrow after | noon I will call around for you with my buggy and span of blaclxs-thcy'll be a sight different from Daddy Dolman's | old cripplcs-and I'll tll5a you q spin across country, wherever you please Glastonbury, If you like, for tho nights are 1noonlit and the horses arc fine as silk''
 There was this plea for his insolencc. He honestly looked or Miss Arlington from fa li3 eyes 9 higher soeial plan; 1:1,l il western villages fariliarity be- tween young people of opposite sexes ripcns with tropical growth unknown to the ccrcmOnious east.
 She was Cblazc in moment.
 MT Damicns," she said, her face as white as ashcct and her lips quivering, ''Tal1e your arm from my chair
 No ofTcnsc.' he stammcrcd, abashed at her defiant beauty.
 f
 He was too astonishcd to move.
 ''I am sure I only meant to be friend ly and -
 Poor girl. she never vas intended by nature to ply Q l,ig! tragedy role, and am afrcil hc-' supreme air of frozen con 5enpt borlcrcI r2thor on the ridiculous, IS she c295 on him 2 glance of withcr- ng c0ntc:rpt c:2tl left the room, checks flushing a-.d lips q;sivcring.
 ''Hellc, 'Phousc, what hey yer been 9 ;ayil' ter tc;chcr ter rilc her SOP" old )olInan asked. .'IIcr looked pison at -or, 2S her won't out ''I simply asked Miss Arlington to idle in ny new 'ba.g.gvj to-rnorrow. and - sho dcclino1." D21nicns replied with r. smile. rnoa2ing. .t9 assure the company hat he 123 immensely amused at her 'chavio-: but lis passionate nature re- . >cllcd against this assumed indifference, nd before MT Dolnan could offer his : he burst cut with uncon- J rolled cnGcr: ''Curso the room. How rot i5 is. Give nc ny hat, Jim Dolraa, . nd, for Ho2vc2s sake let mo get a : aol]thful Of fresh air. 2 Many were tic comments made os he ( trOdo from t'2c room and slammed the ( Dor behind him, the mon enjoying his isconafiture, the women, after thc man, f