Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1899-03-10
CHAPTER IN.

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CHAPTER ~.
Fo, II week after the picnic Yolande
secs nothing CT Dcnzil Charters. Ono
mora.ag She is employed in what she
terms ''prac,icing," when quite suddenly
the door is opened. and Mr.. Charters is
announced.
II am rather an early visitor, l fcar,"
hc says apo.o:rtica!ly; but l am the bear
or % Il letter from my aunt. and that must
your aswcr We are going to have a ball
at the priory, and ! have come specially
TO lcs The favor of your presence"
IND sou suppose our request would
be moro powerful than Mrs. Rays invi-
ta,iony' asks Yo.andc scornfully, as she
takes up the miSsivc with its elaborate
crest. and opens it with SLOW and careless
fingers.
II WAS not 50 conccitcl.' he answers,
hooking sadly at the beautiful face bent
now over the open letter. You will
Gomez he asks. as she lays down the let
ter.
~ ball always has an attraction for
me- beyond all other forms of enjoyment,
or occupation" she remarks; but l must
ask permission before this special one is
graccl Ivy my presence
".Iust as il you don't always get what
you ~lcsirr." lie says. laughing mt her
grave tone. ".Nh. here is your father"
"lapa." says Yolanic. when the usual
greetings have been exchanged. Mi.
Charters has come to ask me to 81 ball"
well. my dear" answers Mr.. Mervyn.
looking lovingly at the bright face, "of
course Won said YOU would he delighted
To GO
she referred mr TO YOU for PERMISSION
Interrupts Dci.zil Chartcris.
(which. of course. was !: mere matter
of forlM." nSwcr the old gentleman,
laughing. 'So!ande knows very we'll that
she accepts what she likes. and goes where
she HES. She is IL sad tyrant, Mr.. Char
%tcris.'
There are some tyrannics-' begins
ncn2il hastily.
"l:Nactly." %interposcs Yolandc. with
ready mischief. THAT is such an OPEN
ing for Il compliment. that Mr.. Charters
would be more than mortal could he with
stand the temptation. l know just what
yon are going to say. Mr.. Charters. SO l
shall save YOU the trouble. Now. please
entertain papa; for l am going to write
my note"
Can you not write it herc:" asks Den
zil. with a strange longing for further
sigh. Of the beautiful figure that imparts
So sweet IL charm to the quaint old room.
NO. i, is impossible" she says, slak-
Ing her head sravcly; II should lie sure to
do ii wrong. l must seek Miss Symptoms
advice and a~ssistancc."
IKE looked veNed.' tho girl says to her.
Self as she closes the door and goes slowly
on to the school room. us he beginning
10 fec! already? Something tells me
shall not have to wait SO very long-now.''
Fut the expression OH the fair young
face is not good to see; and Denzil Char
tcris would have hccn strangely pcrplcx-
ed had he caught sight of the girls lool,
of triumph.
Very beautiful that witching face look
cd to him the night of the ball.
The ballroom at the Priory was a splen.
did r~ooln-widc. cool and lofty. 1t is bril-.
liant on this night. with the delicate. taste.
full beauty of flowers and plants, the lustcl
of lights. and women's faces and women's
toilets.
The musicians arc playing in n hidden
gallery; Il few early couples are boldly
joining in the opening quadrillc. Old Mrs
ltay, a stately dowager in rich gray satin
ana point lace. is receiving her guests. and
l'enZil Charters stands beside her. look.
Ing handsomcr. nobler than ever; so many
Il romantic damsel thinks as she meets
the bow and smile of her host tonight,
You will keep some waltzes for me
Miss Mcrvyn:" Dcnzil whispers eagerly
as iolande enters at last, %chapa:oncd b,
Miss Skipton.
: Certainly" says Yolande graciously.
LET me enter them down now." he OIL.
treats. IF You once go away l shall moi
have Il chance. l know
With Il laugh Yolandc hands him hc,
program.
Not too many she saws. ms she
watches the pencil move from place tc
place.
Only three" he answers 81 am very
s~clf-denying. But then these will he all i
have to look forward to. 1 am marked
out for nothing but duty dances for tn,
rest of the evening""
folnnde makes no answer. unless thu
sudden sweet glance she gives him is one
Then she moves off. and is speedily sur
rounded and bcsct by importunate part
ncrs.
1t is not till after supper that Denzi
Charters comes to claim the first of til,
IlIcS MullLcS ue uuS uSkeu IOT, anu 10
landc acknowledges to herself. as the,
sloat away over the polished floor. tina
none of her partners has in any degree
approached him in perfection of dancing
Still after it comes to an end she coolly
informs him that she cannot give him the
other two dances. as she is going homo.
'You are, without exception. the most
provoking little lady I have ever met" he
says. with a vcxcd laugh. But you
know how to make yourself of value, l
must say"
II am glad to hear that" the girl an
swered. her eyes wandering idly from
group ia group of the hurrying crowd.
at is always best to put a good price on
oneself. I have been told"
II wonder what your price is" he says,
his voice softening. his eyes looking into
hers with passionate intensity.
at is too high for any man to pay
she replies, with . forced laugh. but with