The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-11-28

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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 t?-decidedly-lawo of compen-
sation, of course. Dea has too much
quite unfair-beauty, brain, blood"
"Brain for what-artr'
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 q week at least"
A waltz wave had swept her close to
them. A swish of foamy skirt, watt
from a rose, a 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 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 1t up. A morsel Of
lawn and lace, with q quaint little
crest in the corner, and q fragrance as
fresh as a shower.
l "NOt ballroom BREATH" mused Fer
ris. Canning was right-it took brain.
"I've this two step with her." said
Canning. "Tu return the thing II you
like"
Ferris hand closed over 1t. 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 1t
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 a
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. 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
| bewildering. They were younger than
he had expected, with a certain dawn
like look, but the mouth was that Of q
woman, with the naughty upper lip of
the we'll 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 a
nature Of romance and fire, he loved
her ds 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 himr' he
said to her one evening, crushing hel
warm fingers In a cold. unyieldine
grasp.
She laughed; her amber colored eyes
sparkled like drops Of champagne
"Othello, you hurt my hands"
Il believe you used to care for thai
fellow" he said sullenly. Swear t.
me, Dea, you did not"
She tore her hands away and raised
one tragically. II swear" she cried
Hamlet, this timer
$50 she's giving you a fortnight,
said Canning one morning.
Ferris faced him quickly; he was ,
trifle pale about the mouth II dom
understand you," he said.
"If yoI understand Dea It's sufh
cient." He smiled his Hmscrutabl
smile. "My rooms at your service,
he added. "I'm off for more roya
sport. It's cooler, believe, than you
quarters; better snap 1t up while yol
cam
He left the next evening. Ferri
drew a long, free breath. Absurd, toe
his jealousy Of Canning! What had b
ever done? Danced with Dea as nue.
as many others. loved her not as well
He began to have a sort of friendl,
feeling for the fellow as he entered tn
room just made vacant by his depaI
ture and hastily dropped his traps.
The night was intensely warm, tn
place sitting. He crossed to an opel
window and pulled back gapin
blind A flood of silvery flame stream
ed in as from n searchlight-hea t
white heat, it seemed to him. for tn
very moon was hot. He turned, as
from sunlight, then all at once stopped
Midway in the shining path across tn
carpet a small, snowy object like tin
drift of moonlight caught his eye. Fo
: one dizzy, numbing moment he stoo