Rock Island Argus., 1901-06-06
The Daily Short Story
| Am a Hero for One Moment

lancers. Miss Maisie rather thought she
would like TO dance them. / was per-
fectly certain that l shouldn't. Now, IL
there is any occasion upon which a man
is absolutely justified in taking care OF
himself il is at a dance. Dancing" as
Horace Parker says in "a Message From
Mars was invented by and for wom-
en," and / never scruple to take little
well earned rest land refreshmenO when
the band begins TO tune up for the Ian
GERS. This may serve to explain how it
happened that whenever we approached
a set we found it just completed. OBJ
viOusly, there was then nothing for il
bur the dear old window seat in the hall,
an ice and two glasses OF champagne.
Miss Maisie. seating herself comfort
ably, said that she didn't like window
seats.
But there is no draft" urged.
"As IL that matteredi' she rejoincd.
'SIen are always thinking about COM
fort"
"For others-yes. What would you
like? An ice?'
"No. For themselves"
called the waiter and asked him to
bring me two glasses OF champagne and
vanilla ice.
"Its really too disgusting" said Miss
Maisie disgustedly.
/ called the man back and changed va
nilla for strawberry.
Vanilla. please" said my partner to
the man. You know l didn't mean
that" she added as soon as he had gone.
Il had to find out" l suggested meek
ly. "And please don't look so Cross
"why shouldn't 1 look cross?''
Because people will think we are flrt-
ing. Remember my reputation"
'You might have thought OF that be-
fore!' she exclaimed with some alarm.
Especially when you know how partic-
ular mother is.''
/ looked at Miss Maisie.
Before -
Before choosing such a place as this
for sitting out"
You are quite right" I agreed. 'But
the mistletoe saves us"
She looked up.
Saves you. you mean"
'Saves us both. It hangs there. over
our heads. a testimony OF innocence"
I'm not convinced in the least. Peo-
pie are so stupid"
That makes it all the better. They
will think that one OF us had a motive in
choosing this seat"
"One OF us!'
''I will say both. If you prefer it."
She held out a hand for her fan.
gave it to her. There was a pause.
I'm glad I'm not a man." said Miss
Maisie at last.
$50 am l." / said.
"There is nothing" she continued.
ignoring my feeble display of white flag.
that is worth quite so much as self re-
spect.''
Except. perhaps. respect for others"
Miss Maisie looked at me-mainly, L
imagine, because she had nothing ready
81, q bn
rived with the ice and champagne.
Vanilla all gone. miss" he said. "1ve
brought strawberry"
Never mind" said Miss Maisie. 81
don't think ! want any now"
l gave him a nod, and he walked of
leaving the ice. As he went. he looked
back at us.
81 don't like that man." said4my part
ner. She was eating the ice.
'Nor 1. He appears to drawiparticular
conclusions from general instances.
How's the ice?"
"Oh. don't botherl That set seems to
be over"
The dancers were streaming through
the hall. Each couple that wentiby shot
a glance in the direction of the window
seat.
How innocent they all are!7 whis-
pered Miss Maisie. This seems to be
a favorite place"
"Or stupid" 1 suggested and was re-
warded with the slightest suspicion of a
blush.
"You said that made it all the better"
she asserted.
For one OF us-yes."
81 am a woman" she retorted.
'I will defend you with my last
BREATH" / promised.
"Oh, but they couldn't" she pleaded.
"You forget that / am a stranger to the
architecture of the house."
"Do you really think there is any dan
ger?"
stupidity knows no limits"
"But it was your suggestion"
"Of course"
"Then you must suggest n remedy"
pretended to think hard and then
81 have itp' / exclaimed.
zone moment" She slipped a little
champagne Now"
'I must kiss you"
"Never!"
snow. But once only"
THANK you. That decides me-"
May not. Take me back to mother,
please"
think of the morrow"
81 do. mean that has nothing to do
with it,
THAT has everything to do with II.
am sure your mother would see"-
"Don'tP'
the force of my suggestion. 1t is
the only chance. / will clinch the matter
afterward by giving oral evidence of my
unyielding will
"But-but"-
''They are going in. 1t will be too late
in a minute"
"Oh. r.
As we passed into the ballroom again
our waiter was standing near the door
way. He shot a glance Of sympathy at
my partner.
II wonder IL he saw?" she said.
81 hope So" l said bravely-
''Heror' exclaimed Miss Maisie, with
last glance OF malevolence-
TIornId