The evening Republican., 1902-07-11

tor, to be told she had no dances
left. The bride of the party also
declared that her husband "held a
mortgage" on the program.
There was no mistaking the posi-
ton of the once popular boy. One
girl after another refused him. So
cial punishment had been inflicted
before in Mapleville but never in SO
determined and open manner.
Tender little Jennie Lane would
cried to see it!
Walter stood against the wall, a
deeper shade Of color than usual in
his face, while his eyes wandered
from one couple to another with
bitterness and anger in their dark,
bright depths. He was openly scorn-
ed by his friends and companions;
disappointed and diHllusloned with
the girl from New York; ashamed
of his disloyalty to dear little Jen-
ME. One of the older men clapped
him on the shoulder
Not dancing, Walter? What'sthe
matter: Thought you were right
bower with the girls" There was
general laugh.
"Playing' q lone hand to night, eh,
Wal?" said another, carrying on
tile joke.
"Guess he's euchred!''was the next
obvious witticism.
At that minute tile strains of
"Love Me Forever!' waltz loated in
to the air. He seemed to be the only
young man in the room without a
partner. But it was not the loss OF
a dance that made him vince; it was
inward knowledge that he deserved
the slight.
Mehala's eyes had never left him
from the minute he entered the
room. She thoroughly grasped the
situation now. Her heart beat
quickly. Stiffiy and detantly she
rose from her chair and hurried TO-
wards him. AS Mehala passed Belle
Armitage and her partner she heard
a little biting Jest at Walters ex-
pense. Many curious faces were
turned her way; a whisper passed
from one to another. Several couples
stopped dancing. Mehaa was the
centre of interest.
She felt the blood tingling to the
tips of her ears, and was painfully
conscious of the amused glances and
smothered laughs. She touched
Walter on tha arm. He started and
looked with surprise from her flush
ed face to her shaking hand.
I'll have a turn with you-if
you like!' said Mehala.
For a minute Walter hesitated.
He said not word in reply. but,
taking her right hand in q strong
grasp, he slipped his around her
waist and steered her quickly down
the centre of the room.
Love me forever" waltz! tzOw
it whirled Mehala into space' Her
small feet seemed to lie catching at
the floor as if, but for that pointed
effort, she would fly away altoyeth-
er. She was fairly good dancer,
but Walter Chaney was the best in
the room.
Habit and his quick ear alone kept
him steady, for pent-up feelings
found their vent in that wild and
rushing waltz. He was hardly con-
scious of the girl within his arm;
now and again he lifted her from
the ground as they turnal and re-
verSad.
Mehala's lips were parted and she
breathed so quickly that he would,
any other time, have felt her heart
throbbing against his own. The
room seamel to be spinning around
her. The air was full of music.
She was unconscious of fatigue or
eXertion.
She never dreamed dance could
be so wonderful. Joy-subtle, IN
explainable over her. 1t
flashed into her eyes, itslng in her
ears, it was the cry of her youth,
Suddenly the room cleared. Many
couples were longing for chance of
music and step. But the orchestra
shared the town affection and had
no suspicion of the changed feeling.
The popular boy" was on the floor
and he had been the authority on
the length of dances.
Walter rarely looked as handsome !
as he dill now, and there WAS grace
and ease in every turn of his 1.-the ;
figure. Five minutes passed. He
and Mehala had all the room and ;
all the music to themselves. Every
eye was fixed On them. The cou- !
pies strolling in from the veranlas
stood still to watch.
Round and round, from end to
cud Of the room. with tine light
strong grasp Of his arm aud hand a
little tIghtened, the girl looked up
into his face Tor the first time, and
aer radiant smile changed the ex-
preston in his eyes.
"Ouicker1' he asked.
"some'" she answered.
AS they waItzed past :hc orchestra
Walter exclaimed, Let 'er whirl"
The violnst nodded, and the time
luickeneG,
1t seemed 10 Mehala that she flew
once. twice round the room without
ouchipg the ground at all The
here was long crashing chord;
burst OF laughter, and playful ap.
olause from the crowd near the
loor. and she was standing still,
Walters arm steadel het for a
and then tIey WA k.d quick
y bown the room aud Out into the
:ool veranda. followed by the sound
of approval and mir,h.
ia cool breeze famed Mehala's
glowing cheeks. There was silence
II the wide yeranda, except for
he murmur OF voices ia The ball
Anm and the hnx -hIx hnnn, ef :. La