El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-26
FOLLY OF FERRIS !
By Amos Dunning.
Copyright by Amos Dlnnfn0.

&WWWWVVUOvWW"S
A dash of crimson, a flash Of amber,
q CLINT of snow-were there ever such
lips, eyes and shoulders?
Clever, you say? Most pretty wom-
en-
"Are not ?-decidedly-law of compen-
sation. of course. 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.
"Art-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 a week at least"
A waltz wave had swept her close to
them. A swish of foamy skirt, watt
from a rose. a laugh like a 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 Ganning's
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.
zone of her tricks" sneered Can
ming.
Ferris picked it up. A morsel of
lawn and lace, with quaint little
crest in the corner, and a fragrance as
fresh as a shower.
Not a ballroom BREATH unused Fer
ris. Canning was right-it 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-so 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 at
the touch. Her heavily scored card Of
fered nothing, but he took her to
draft for three minutes and 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. Tiny
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
a N
he had expected, with a certain dawn
like look, but the mouth was that Of
woman, with the naughty upper lip of
the we'll born English girl.
They were guests at the same hotel.
He saw her every day for awhile; then
every hour. Blessed or cursed with a
nature of romance and fire, he loved
her as such men love. AS unreasona-
bic 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, unyieIding
grasp.
She laughed; her amber colored eyes
sparkled like drops of champagne.
"Othello. you hurt my hands!'
81 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- 81 swear" she cried. |
Hamlet, this timer
$50 she's giving you a fortnight"
said Canning one morning.
Ferris faced him quickly; he was a
trifle pale about the mouth. 81 don't |
understand you," he said.
eff you understand Dea it's suffi- |
cient." He smiled his inscrutabIe |
smile. 'My rooms at your service"
he added. "Pm off for more royal |
sport. It's cooler. believe, than your |
quarters; better snap it 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 a 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 intensely warm, the |
place sitting. He crossed to an open |
window and pulled back a gaping |
blind. A flood of silvery flame stream |
ed in as from a earchlight-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 a small, snowy object like tiny |
drift of moonlight caught his eye. For |