The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-23

Harkless' recovery, for, aside from the mere
human feeling the party needed him In Car
low-even If he did not always prove himself
quite vehement partizan." Macauley
laughed "But I'm not doing my duty" he
said presently. Il was to present you to the
pretty ones only. believe. Will you desig-
nate your preferred fashion Of beauty? We
serve all styles"
THANK you," the other answered, hurried
ly. II met number last night-quite a
number, indeed" He had seen them only
in dim lights. however, and except Miss
Hinsdale and the widower, had not the faint
est recognition of any Of them, and he cut
| them all. except those two, one after the
other; and this was a strange thing for a
politician to do; but he did IL with such an
innocent eye that they remembered the dark
porch and forgave him.
"Shall we watch the dancing. then7' asked
Macauey. Harkless was already watching
part Of Il.
"If you will have not seen this sort TOR
more than five years."
ut IS always a treat, think ana CON
stant proof that the older school OF Enslisn
caricaturists didn't overdraw.'
Yes; one realizes they couldn't
Harkless remembered Tom MeredNh's nne
accomplishment OF dancing; he had been the
most famous dancer Of college days, and 1t
was in the dancer that John best saw his OLD
friend again as he had known him, the lgnt
| about the ore John watched, couples that
plodded couples that bobbed. couples that
galloped, couples that slid, but the cousins
alone passed across the glstening reflections
as lightly as October leaves blown over tho
| forest floor. In the midst OF people who
danced with fixed, CLASSY eyes, or VINO
| frowned with determination to do their DUTY
or to die, and seemed to expect tho latter. or
who made Visible their anxiety to breathe
through the nose and look pleased at the
same time, these two foated and smiled easily
| upon life. Three or four steep steps made
! the portly and cigarette smoking Meredith
pant like an old man. but p dance was a COOL
ing draught to him. As tor the little Mar
| Quse-when she danced, she danced away
with all those lucklesS hearts that were not
| here already The orchestra launched the
jub!lant measures Of the deux-ternps with =
torrent of vivacity. but the girls rhythmic
| fight answered like q sail taking ths breeze.
There was one heart she had long since
won which answered her every movement.
Flushed, rapturous, eyes sparkling. cheeks
aglow, the small head weaving through the
throng like golden shuttle--ah, did she
know how adorable she was! Was Tom right:
is 1t the attainable unattainable to one man
and given to some other that leaves desper
mark upon him than SUGGEST At all events
the unattainable was now like hot sting
in the heart, but yet sting more precious
than balm. The voice Of Brainerd Maoau-
Icy broke in:
"A white brow and long lash. a flushing
cheek and soft eye, voice that laughs and
breaks and rpples in the middle Of a word,
girl you could put In your hat, Mr.. Harkless
and there you have q strong man prone!
But congratulate you on tho manner your
subordinates opegate the Herald during
your absence. I understand you are making
it daily"
Macauley was staring at him quizzically
and Harkless, puzzled, but without resent
ment of the others whlmsey, could only de-
eide that the editor of the Rouen Journal
was an exceedingly odd young man. All al
once he found Meredith and the girl herself
beside him; they had stopped before the dance
was finished. He had the impulse to guard
himself from new blows boy throws w
|, his elbow to ward off buffet, and, although
he could not ward with his elbow, for hi:
heart was on his sleeve-where he began t.
, believe that Macauley had seen 1.-THE rernen
bered that he could smile with as much in
territorial mechanism as any wornout rounde
Of afternoons. He stepped aside for her, ant
she saw what she had known but had no
, seen before, for the thickness Of the crowd
I and this was that he limped and leaned upoa
his stick.
"Do let me- thank you,'' he said, with
louder echo Of her manner OF greeting him. {
little earlier 1T has been such pleasure
to watch you dance. 1t is really charming t
+ meet you here. II return to Platville
shalt surely remember to tell Miss Brisooe."
At this she surprised him with a sudden
l clear look in the eyes. 80 reproachful, SO deep
, SO sad that he started She took her flow
} ers from Macauley, who had the air OF under
standing the significance of such ceremonies
very we'll, and saying, "Shan't we all 60 ou
j on the terrace?" placed her arm In Harkless'
3 and conducted him land not the others) t
the most secluded corner Of the terrace,
r nook illunnined by one Japanese lantern; t
q which spot 1t was his belief that he led her
. She sank into a chair, with the look Of tn
g girl who had stood by the blue tent-pole. II
t could only stare at her, amazed by her abrup
J., change to this dazzling, If reproachful, kind
t ness, confused by his good fortune,
{ :" II you go back to Platvillel' shs said h
q low voice. What do you nnean?''
q II don't know. I've been dull lately, and
=? thought might go somewhere else" Caugh
n In witchery no lack Of possession could dis
q pei, and which the prospect Of loss made onl
q stronger while 1t lasted, he took little though
}, Of what he said: little thought of anything bu
:. Of the gladress 1t was to be with her again
q b "'Somewhere else7' Where?'
"Anywhere."
r 'tE1ave you no sense Of responsibility
q What Is to become Of your paper?'
T. 1.-The Herald7 Oh. 1t will potter along,
n think"
d but what has become Of It in your abseno,
10 already? Has II not deteriorated very much
o "Nos" he said; ''it's better than It ever W.
D.. BEFORE
.. 'what!" she cried. with a little gasp.
" You're so astounded at my modesty7''
70 ''But please tell me what you mean," sh
st said quickly. What happened to it?''
Q, "Isn't the Herald rather dull subject
y I'll tell you how well Judge Briscoe locke
l. when he came to see me; or, rather. tell n
Of your summer IN the north
r. "No" she answered earnestly. 'tDont "a
d remember my telling you that am intsreste
Is in newspaper work?"
II II have even heard 50 from others" I
" said, with an instant Of dryness.
m please tell me about the Herald7"
ie at IL very simple Your friend, Mr.. F1sbe
" found a substitute, d relative six feet big
,e with his coat off, q traction engine for enert
I'd and limited mail for speed. He writes n
t. letters on a typewritef suffering from an In
I'd pediment in Its speech; and IN brief, he
IL an enterprising idiot With q mania for wori
baskets"
u. Her face was in the shadow.
ad "You say the-tdiot-is snterprasing7" 81
n. inquired. ~.--.
to "Far more enserprising and Tar less idi
as than I. They are locking for oil down ther
ut and when he came he knew less about
he than a kindergarten babe, and spoke Of 'bo
to ing for kerosene in his first letter to nj
nd but he knows 1t all now, and writes long q,
a convincing geological arguments. II WI
I'M comes In, he as prepared to get out an extr
h. Perhaps you may understand what th
he means in Plat qlle with the Herald's n
nd merous forces. owe him everything, ev
| t., III ~ ),