The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-04-10

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Jane and 1 Joined i'm the laugh, and
when Mary clapped her hands that set
Brandon of, too. for he thought II the
quaintest. prettiest little gesture in the
world and was all unconscious that our
laugh was at his expense.
Brandon did not answer Mary's invi-
tation-the fit of laughter had probably
put it out OF his mind-so she, evidently
anxious to win or lose her wager ut
once. again asked him IL he danced.
"oh. pardon me! OF course. Thank
your And he was on his feet beside
her chair i'm an instant ready for the
dance. This time the girls laugh,
though equally merry, had another /
tone, for she knew she had lost,
Out they stepped upon the polished |
floor, he holding her hand In his await |
ing the pause In the music to take the |
step. / shall never forget the sight of |
those two standing there together |
Mary, dark eyed and glowing. Brandon, |
almost rosy, with eyes that held the |
color of dark spring sky and wealth |
af flowing curls crowning his six feet
Of perfect manhood, strong and vigor- |
lus as young lion. Mary, full of
beauty curves and graces. verltable
Venus in her teens, and Brandon, an
Apollo, with touch Of Hercules, We're
a complement each to the other that
would surely make perfect one.
When the music started, Off they
went heel and toe. bow and courtesy.
a step forward and step back. In per-
feet time and rhythm-a poem of hu-
man motion. Could Brandon dance?
1 no nrfu hoH I'm,
first ten steps. Nothing could be more
graceful than Brandon's dancing un-
less II we're Mary's. Her slightest
movement was grace itself. When she
would throw herself backward in
thrusting out her toe and then swing
forward with her head little to one
side. her uplIfted arm undulating like
the white neck of a swan-for her
: sleeve, which was slit to the shoulder,
fell back and left 1t bare-she was a
! sight worth long journey to see. And
! when she looked up to Brandon with
laugh In her brown eyes and curving
smile just parting her full. red lips
I that man would give his very luck to
: but had better stop.
"Was there ever goodlier coupler
! I asked Jane. by whose side l sat.
: Never" she responded as she played
and, strange to say. | was jealous be-
cause she agreed with me. l was jeal-
: Gus because | feared 1t was Brandon's
beauty to which she referred. That /
: thought would naturally appeal to her.
Had he been less handsome l should
perhaps have thought nothing of II,
but | knew what my feelings We're to-
d ward Mary, and | judged, or rather
8 misjudged. Jane by myself. l sup
q posed she would think Of Brandon as
$ could not help thinking OF Mary.
e Was anything in heaven or earth ever
s so beautiful as that royal creature
q dancing there. daintily holding up her
lt skirts with thumb and first finger. just
far enough to show a distracting little
foot and ankle and make one wish he
Is had been born a sheep rather than a
sentient ran who had to live without
s Mary TudoF2 yet. strange as 1t may
d seem. was really and wholly in love
,f with Jane. In fact, loved no one but
Jane, and my feeling of intense admit
ration FOR Mary was but part OF
2. mans composite Inconsistency,
ID woman-God bless her,-if she real
eF ly loves a man. has no thought of any
n. other-one at time Is all sufficient
z. but a man may love one woman with
n the warmth of n simoom and at the
d same time feel like good. healthy
I'd south wind toward a dozen others,
That is the difference between u mar
as and woman-the difference between
y the good and the bad. One average
" woman has enough goodness in her to
n supply an army of men.
Mary and Brandon went on dancing
ie- long after Jane was tired OF playing
on 1t was plain to see that the girl was
Ii thoroughly enjoying 1t. They kept uT
&C. a running fire of small talk and laugh
to ed and smiled and bowed and courte
nd sled, all In peNect time and grace.
OF 1t is more difficult than you ma!
a; think, II you have never tried. to keel
ier up a conversation and dance La Gal
~ lard ut the same time-one is apt t.
as balk the other. But Brandon's dancin:
US was as easy to him as walking, and. al
ct though SO small a matter. could see I
~ raised him vastly In the estimation o
ne both girls.
"Do you play triumph I heard Ma
ne ry ask In the midst of the dancing.
me "Oh, yes" replied Brandon. much Z
my delight, as the princess threw
ald mischievous. knowing glance over he
shoulder to see If l had heard. She a
leu once saw I had. and this. of cours,
OF settled the wager.
hu And" continued Brandon. Il ais
a play the new game. honor and ruff
which Is more interesting than tr
umph."
; III "oh. do your cried Mary. ''Tha
one will more than compensate for the los
oo' Of my 10 crowns. Let us sit down O
Nel once. I have been wishing TO leari
tue but no one here seems TO know II.
ing France. they say. 1t is the only gam
leT suppose there Is where you learne
out It. Perhaps you know their new dance
tne tho. have heard they are delightful
ia "Yes. know them" replied Brando
ash why. you are a perfect treasur
OF Teach me at once! How. now. mast
'oul Of the dance? Here is your friend ou
ppy doing you in your own line"
joy Il am glad to hear it," l returned.
IF Lady Jane will kindly play son
rsa- lively air written in the time OF IT
isk- Sailor Lass will teach the Lady NJ
or ry the new dance" said Brandon.
Jane threw one plump little knee ov
you the other and struck up The Sail
not Lass" After she had adjusted d
lose playing to Brandon's suggestion
ays stepped deliberately in front of Ma
tly! and. taking her right hand in his le
o, encircled her waist with his right ar
her The girl was startled at first and Dire