The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1902-12-27

''Mrs. Lowe, do you know Mr.. New
Gomez She was abashed at the sound of
her own voice in the incomprehesible
stiffness of the ballroom.
Mrs. Lowe looked at him austerely.
but her eyes insisted upon smiling at the
miscreants eyes, 1 have met Mr.. New
come. Frances did not see the answer
ing twinkle in his eyes.
Excuse Miss Van Dyck's absence.
detained her, we are old friends, he said
easily. "Where is Mrs. Boniface?'' and
he excused himself to make his peace with
the hostess. Frances eyes followed him
as he moved away in admiration of the
dignity Of his poise and the grace of his
manner as he spoke to Mrs. Boniface.
Almost Immediately he was in the center
of laughing group. She watched his
expressive face and scintilant dark grew
eyes and saw, with pang, how grey his
hair had become. Mrs. Lowe, at her side,
recognized the unmistakable love-look in
the girls face, and when she saw her
furtivsly wipe tear from her cheek the
chaperone turned away, with sudden
moisture in her own eyes.
The crowd about the dais increased
Frances spoke ftThe Governor. has he
come yet?
Mrs. Lowe scrutinized the decorations
on the opposite wall of the room. eyes,
he came in little while age"
"Oh, where is he p
''Over by Mrs. Boniface."
II wish [ could see p cried Frances,
with the impatience of child. Chilly is
SO big, I" She blushed, glancing to
see if her cousin had noted "They are
coming this way!' she exclaimed excitedly,
starting to her feet Mrs. Lowe also arose.
"Cousin ddred do look at me. Is
there anything peculiar? Why do people
stare at me?'' she whispered, panic
stricken.
Mrs. Lowe ran her eyes over her criti-
cally. "You could not be improved
The hostess moved toward them. Sew
eral men attended her. Billy Newcome
among them. All eyes followed Mrs
Boniface as she paused before Frances,
saying "Miss Van Dyck, you have re-
vealed to us new accomplishment in our
Governor tonight. We did not know he
danced -
Frances stared in mute astonishment at
her hostess then she looked in bewilder-
ment at Billy, whose eyes danced with
boyish merriment. There was ripple of
laughter. Frances head went up. 81
beg your pardon, do not understand you,
Mrs. Boniface. -
Again there was laugh. Billy came
to the rescue. ''She hasn' t met the Gov
ernor, Mrs Boniface," he said 'Miss
Van Dyck, the Governor would be honored
by dance with you. He smiled as he
| took her hand With sudden awed intel
ligence she gazed into his eyes, and then
at the amused countenances about. Her
face grew scarlet Family she echoed the
laughter, unable to speak Billy drew her
within his arm. The surrounding people
made way. He paused minute to speak
over his shoulder to Mrs. Boniface tThe
reason you have not seen me dance is that
| dance with only one young lady; this
one
AS he moved away his eyes were full of
light and his face flushed with unaccus-
toned embarrassment at the attention they
attracted. The girl, white Tipped and a
trife dizzy, danced as in dream, observing
nothing.
She was aroused by an alarming clangor
of bells and factory whistles from the city
without. The laughing comment and the
dance music both were drowned by it.
The New Year had come
Frances looked up, tremulous, into her
partner radiant face In hushed voice
she uttered one word
"Billy."