The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-09-29
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q gllnt OIL SnoN--Werc there ever Sucn
lips, eyes and shoriGsr?
"Clever. YOU ',.ss MICS: .,netvy wom-
en-
"A.re not dccileeli -Iawof compen-
sation. of'cnsiis ST. Dea has too much
quite unfair-beauty, brain, blood"
"Brain for what-art?''
Canning tilted his head; the light
searched his keen, tired face; two ugly,
curving wrinkles that bracketed his
nose deepened into burrows as he
laughed.
rt-bah-men! 1t takes brain to
bag birds. That's Gayns dancing with
her. He's the latest and got money.
She'll give him week at least"
A waltz wave had swept her close to
them. A swish of foamy skirt, watt
from rose, n laugh like flute, and
the gorgeous. writhing current drew
her in.
Ferris got upon his feet quickly, look
ing after her. He did not know that
he had moved till he heard Gannings
laugh. He sat down and tried to copy
1t, but failed.
''See here" said Canning.
Ferris looked down. a tiny fluff of
lace lay at his feet.
"One of her tricks,' sneered Can
ming.
Ferris picked it up. A morsel of
lawn and lace, with a quaint little
crest in the corner. and fragrance as
fresh as n shower
mot ballroom breath" unused Fer
ris. Canning was right took brain.
1--WE this two step with her." said
Canning. "I'll return the thing If you
like"
Ferris hand closed over it. The 9th
er saw it and smiled. His smile was
more unpleasant than his laugh. and
Ferris tossed the handkerchief toward
him awkwardly-s awkwardly that it
fell to the floor. Canning smiled again
and picked it up.
"Pull yourself together, man." he
said.
He touched her hand an hour later in
the cotillon. Canning was her partner
again. His pale, close lips curved
slightly as Ferris colored warmly ut
the touch. Her heavily scored card Of
fered nothing, but he took her to
draft for three minutes and talked
about himself. He generally talked
about the women.
She was gowned in some French Gre
alton that changed tint like cloud at
sunset. A big topaz at the waist line
blazed like an evening star TRY
swirls of hair were matted upon her
moist forehead. He had seen just such
on the damp brows of children when
they were asleep. Her eyes he found
bewildering. They We're younger than
he had expected, with certain dawn
like look, but the mouth was that of
woman, with the naughty upper lip of
the well born English girl.
They We're guests at the same hotel.
He saw her every day for awhile; then
every hour. Blessed or cursed with
nature of romance and fire, he loved
her as such men love. AS unreasona-
BILE as vehement, he claimed her very
breath. He WINGED when Canning
spoke to her. He suffered horribly
when he saw them in the waltz. Gayns
made him Jealous; Canning drove him
mad.
"Why do YOU dance with him?" he
said to her one evening, crushing her
warm fingers in cold, unyieldins
grasp.
She laughed; her amber colored eyes
sparkled like drops of champagne.
"Othello, you hurt my hands!"
II believe you used to care for that
fellow" he said sullenly. Swear to
me, Dea, you did not
She tore her hands away and raised
one tragically. Il swear" she cried,
Hamlet, this timer
$50 she's giving you fortnight"
said Canning one morning
Ferris faced him quickly; he was a
trife pale about the mouth. II don't
understand you." he said.
IF you understand Dea it's suff-
Gent" He smiled his inscrutable
smile. 'Aly rooms at your SERVICE"
he added. "Tm off for more royal
sport. It's cooler, believe, than your
quarters; better snap 1T up while you
can"
He left the next evening. Ferris
drew long. free breath. Absurd. too,
his jealousy of Canning! What had he
ever done? Danced with Dea as much
as many others, loved her not as well.
He began to have Il sort of friendly
feeling for the fellow as he entered the
room just made vacant by his depar-
ture and hastily dropped his traps. (.
The night was intens ~ warm, the
place sitting. He cross "A to an open
window and pulled back gaping
blind. A flood of silvery flame stream
ed in as from q searchlight-heated to
white heat, it seemed to him. for the
very moon was hot. He turned, as if
from sunlight, then all at once stopped.
Midway in the shining path across the
carpet small, snowy object like a tiny
drift of moonlight caught his eye. For
one dizzy, numbing moment he stood
duly gazing mt it; still, as If the magic
of the moonlight had turned him to