Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1900-06-21

"Ah! bur you're gong to da-tuoe thi;
with me, are you not? or the next? II
get you lots of partners. Don't you rec
ollect me?' in a tone slightly tinged with
amazement. "We had the pleasure Of
meeting at Mrs. Tops"
Il do not remember the pleasure" re
turned Esme, with very emphatic signi-
icance. while Miles and Gussie exchang-
ed glances of the keenest delight.
But even this snub had but little effect
on Mr. Madden He rose TO the sur
face with cork-like buoyancy, and boldly
demanded at least one dance. and his per-
sistent entreaties were only cut short by
Miles leading his partner away to take
their places in one of the rapidly form
ing sets of lancers.
Il did not thing you had it in you to
snub anyone but me. Poor beggar, you
were awfully rough on him." said Miles,
as they came to anchor.
Rough! You don't know him!' vi
ciously. Sat the Toppingtons' party he
was quite-quite-"
Intoxicated? suggested her compan-
ion, interrogatively.
eyes, very much so; he actually took
me for a school girl, and had the impu-
dence to try to kiss me under the mistle-
toe" growing rather red, and speaking
very fast.
"Confounded cadY' muttered Miles,
looking over in the direction of Mr. Mad
den with countenance now the reverse
of indulgent or sympathetic.
81 suppose" said he, looking round,
''that you are as great stranger to all
these people as 1 am, and you don't know
anyone from Adam?"
mot quite so bad as all that" respond
ed Esme, with a smile; some of the
Maxton and Byford people are here.
There, you see that nice-looking lady over
| there in the white lace shawl, she is Nr.
Bells sister, and between you ahu me
| that is Mrs. Bells shawlr' lowering her
voice to a whisper.
'Oh, and the girl near her in the swell
dress?"
That is a bride-and the old gentle
man with the bald head, holding her fan,
is her husband. She is his fourth wife. -
"Oh, come now,"' in a tone of amused
expostulation.
''She isp' Indignantly.
"She is a courageous woman" ejacu-
lated Miles.
"How do you do, Miss BrabazonY said
tall, plain girl in a pink dress, accost-
ing Esme in the tea room, while Miles
was procuring her a cup of coffee, ad-
dressing her with such warmth that she
| felt quite taken aback, for she had only
met Miss Courtenay Green at one or two
garden parties, and then she had barely
deigned to notice her save by few tepid
monosyllables and fshlke clasp of the
hand.
Your first ball, 1 suppose? hope you
are enjoying it." eying Esme's dress, as
she spoke, with an air of critical inspec-
ton, looking at it sideways and front
ways, and evidently not merely apprais-
ing its value, but taking the pattern in
ner eyes, as she drawled forth remarks
about the band, the floor and the lights,
| in an abstracted manner. rs that your
cousin Captain Brabazon?" she asked,
having at length summed up Esme's ball
costume; ''the dark young man who was
dancing with you?" lowering her voice
mysteriously.
yes"
'The one who has come in forb such
heaps of money!" with still greater ami
nation. Every good looking. too. You
may introduce him to me when he comes
back Here he is" eagerly. Now
with a sharp nudge from still sharper
elbow.
Miles, said Esme, in the innocence
of her heart, what ages you have been
getting this coffee. Miss Courtenay Green
wishes you to be introduced to her.
Miss Courtenay Green beamed and
bowed with laudable presence of mind,
but felt at the moment that she would
have been almost justified in having Miss
Brabazon's life. However, Miles duly
begged leave to inscribe his name on her
rather empty program and led his part
ner once more back to the ball room.
(To be continuedD