The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1902-01-31

marked the half hour.
"There is no reason why it should
not be soon, is there?'
She pressed her head against his
shoulder.
"Then it will be very soon,' he said
shortly. "When man stands what
I have, trousseaux don't count"
"Billy! I would have married you
with one dress. How could you give
us such pain for the sake of little
money!"
"Truc. true" he mused. "The old
conflict between capital and labor"
She laughed, then sighed. "We must
90 in. You'll have wretched cold"
"How about those slippers?' he adj
monishcd.
She looked at the culprits in sur
prise, "Odd, but had not thought
of them
He opened the window and they
went in. Deity he removed her wraps
and, after reconnoitering, disposed of
them.
BILLY" she said emphatical1y, as he
returned, "what will Mrs. Lowe say"
"Is she your cousin and you never
let me know? Please, Frances, let me
be inconsistent to night. I'll try to
pacify the lady"
"Oh-and the Governor! Billy, what
if have missed the Governor?
The Governor" he inquired, puz-
zled. "Oh, yes, he was to be here.
Now. Frances, you are not to make a
dead set at the Governor" He shook |
a threatening forefinser.
Isn't he married?'' she queried, in
surprise.
Not the last time | saw him"
Eminently satisfied with the answer
she gave him, he offered his arm, and
they assembled the stairs guilty and
bissful at heart, but dignified of porte.
The air the band was playing made
them stop to look joyfully into each
others eyes.
"It's the dear old ballet music from |
Faust Do hurry"
With blood leaping in their veins
they entered the ball room and fell i'm
mediately into step.
81 am rusty, Frances he apologize,
ed, as he trod on her skirt. 'Or is it
that you have some new quirks? am
getting too old. Close on thirty-seven,
do you realize that?'
His words came to her clearly, the |
room was very quiet, even the music
seemed hushed. Frances suddenly |
felt conspicuous; everywhere, as they |
turned, the eyes of the dancers seemed
upon them.
as anything wrong with me-? she
said in CONSERVATION. "Billy, my hail"
She made frantic movement toward |
it with her hand, which he promptly |
arrested. He was blushing crimson.
"You are all right. l haven't spok
en- to Mrs. Boniface. Dance with me
to where your cousin is sitting. will
leave YOU there"
Mis-. Lowe was more gracious than
Frances expected after such reprchen-
sible conduct.
"Mrs. Lowe, do you know Mr.. New
Gomez" She was abashed a: the sound
of her own voice in the Incompetent |
sible stiffness Of the ballroom.
Mrs. Lowe looked at him austerely,
but her eyes insisted upon smiling at
the miscreants. eyes, l have met Mr.
Newcome." Frances did not see the
answering twinkle in his eyes.
Excuse Miss Van Dyck's absence.
l 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 adj |
miration of the dignity Of his poise and
the grace Of his manner rs he spoke to |
Mrs. Boniface Almost Immediately |
he was the center Of a laughing group. |
She watched his expressive face and
scintillant dark gray eyes and saw,
with a pang, how gray his hair had
become Mrs. Lowe, at her side, re-
cognized the unmistakable love-look
in the girls face. and when she saw
her furtivcly wipe tcal from her
cheek the chaperone turned away, with
sudden moisture in her own eyes.
The crowd about the dais increased
Frances spoke. "The Governor, has
he come yet?'
Mrs. Lowe sc-utiniz ii the d, cor:,- :
tions on the opposite wall of the room.
"Yes, he came in a little while ago"
"Oh, where IS he.
"Over 10y Mrs. Bonface."
81 wish could see!' cried Frances,
with the impatience Of child. BILLY |
is so big, L" She blushed, glancipg
| to see if her cousin had noted. "They |
are coming this way!' she exclaimed
excitedy, starting to her feet. Mrs
Lowe also arose.
"Cousin Mildred do look at me. Is |
there anything peculiar? Why do pco-
Pile stare at mes' she whispered, panic
stricken.
Mrs Lowe ran her eyes over her |
critically. "Iou could not be improv- ;
J ed