Hutchinson gazette., 1900-09-20

"None OF your business" said his
brother dlscourtesly, and they parted
The world Is 30 small thul II ~ n ,
NJ prlslng that Harding eventual "
met the falr-haired girl. II happentu
ut q dance given at n large cGuu ~
house, and the girl proved to be one ot
the house pnrty. She was standing
nt the end Of the hall when he frs.
saw her, and ut the sight Il her tnp
words he was snying died on his lilm,
and he interrupted himself 10 nsk
who III that girl In blue-the light
haired one with the long lasheSY
Eleanor Davenport. snid the ma.
tron Mt his side, Don't you know
her?"
"Will you present me?" he eagerly
demanded. But just then someone
e claimed the IalrOns nttpn lon
the crowd shifted, and when the spnci
wns clear again Miss Eleanor DaveD
port had vanished,
81 want to speak to you Mr.. Hard
ing" snid Miss Davenport, few mo-
menis later, Harding turned quickly
at the sound of her voice. 81 have u
confession to make, and II | wait for
n formal introduction may not have
chance"
They were standing near screen Of
palms, and Miss Davenport stepped be'
hind II and motioned ,hm TO follow.
81 don't suppose you win ever under
stand" she snid, t'o color mounting
to her wnyy hair, out | must tell you
how II happened, and II Is not because
am ashamed Of myself, win you be-
lieye thnt?'
"Certanily, said llurding,"l'll believe
II II you say It's 80, OF course, though
I'm net a clOirvoyOnt,"
Don't tease me,plense,' she said at
Is awful 10 tell--but | never met your
brother"
"Oh, don't take II so much to heart"
said Harding "Think IL you had never
met me, now"
ITS too serious for joking" pro.
tested Miss Davenport, "Nou see IL hap
pcned like this: | hnd been travelling
for hours, and there wasn't thing TO
do. tried TO read, and reading made
my head ache, and ! WINS bored to
death, and then you got on the train,
What did you say?'
Nothing said Harding "l'lcaSe 60
on"
"Well, when ! saw you, thought ]
We'll, when ! saw you, | thought
what pity It wns that ! should be
bored and you should be bored, when
we ght--we might"
might whnt?" said Harding,
"Oh, you won't help me one bit"
she sighed. "Why, IL we weren't 40
conventional, or II we were only child
ren-don't you sec?--wc should just
have spoken naturally and both have
been amused, and forgotten to be
bored"
81 see" said Harding
"Aud then thought supposed should
speak to you just Os II ! really were
making mistake and thought knew
you. And 40 | did, And you were 50
iuuuy'-he blue eyes shot light
"You were so unNCuS to nc, your pnrt
and YOU acted II 50 very badly. And
when YOU confessed and ,apologiled,
But can't tell you how dcSpicnble ]
felt after lending you into 1t, and |
registered solemn vow after left
you that If ever | met you again ]
would confess. | am really sorry. VIII
YOU believe me"'
81 don't know" said Harding, sol
emnly; "you have deceived me once,
you see"
"I'ut never did before she plendeo,
"ind ! was so bored
"You have destroyed my Illusion"
snid Harding sadly, "Nou have de-
stroyed my faith in man-lshouId say
In woman. Besides, what will your
chnperon say?'
"l shall never tell her.
81 should think not. What will she
say when ! tell here"
"Nou wouldn't, You couldn't"
~ shall, unless you bribe me-
81 am completely ut y0urmcrcy," " she
snid. "Whut ure your terms"
"Nour card, with as many dances ms
! choose
~ surrender" ...
"rhe Rrst--Hnd-"
"The first is promised"
"Not with my permission. However,
I'll waive the first and take the second
and the fourth"
Hello, Ted" said voice that fell
familiar ON Miss Elennor's ears, Moth
ing of monopolist about you, thereP
II Miss Davenport is willing, introduce
me, please. We've already met inform
ally, but I'd like to have II on the prop
or footing, so may put on my humble
and respectful petition for dance"
Eleanor Davenport looked up.
The man to whom She had made her
confession and the newcomer were NJ
much alike ms two golf balls. She
turned from one to the other
"Do you mean TO say she cried 10
the latest arrival that you Ure the
one met on the train?"
81 have that honor"
"rhen YOU Eleanor turned to Ted
in wrath. "Do you call yourself man
honor? Give me that dance card, You
shall do penance,"
Don't take away those Dances"
begged the culprt. Anything else.
Not that"
"You shall have just as many as
your brother chooses to assign you,'
said Eleanor, relentlessly.
"I'll give you one, dear Ted,' said
VIII, cheerruIly Thank you very much
4 n l.g,a .