Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-03-18

raised him vastly in the estimation of both girls.
 Do you play trinmph?'' heard Ma " ask in the midst of the dancing.
 ''Oh, yes," replied Brandon, much to my delight, as the princess threw a mischievous, knowing glance over her shoulder to see if had heard. She at once saw had, and this, of course, settled the wager.
 "And," continued Brandon, ''I also play the new game, honor and ruff, which is more interesting than tri- umph.''
 "Oh, do you?" cried Mary. "That will more than compensate for the loss of my 10 crowns. Let us sit down at once. I have been wishing to learn, but no one here seems to know 1t. Tn France, they say, it is the only game. I suppose there is where you learned 1t. Perhaps you know their new dances too. I have heard they are delightful" ]"
 ''Yes, know them," replied Brandon.
 'tWhy, you are a perfect treasurel Teach me at once! How, now, master of the dance? Here is your friend out doing you in your own line."
 'I am glad to hear it." returned.
 If Lady Jane will kindly play some lively air written in the time of The Sailor Lass,' will teach the Lady Ma ry the new dance" said Brandon. Jane threw one plump little knee over the other and struck up "The Sailor Lass" After she had adjusted the playing to Brandon's suggestion he stepped deliberately in front of Mary and, taking her right hand in his left, encircled her waist with his right arm. The girl was startled at first and drew away. This nettled Brandon a little, and he showed it plainly.
 'I thought you wished me to teach you the new dance" he said.
 T do, but--but did not know it was danced that way,' she replied, with a fluttering little laugh, looking up into his face with a half shy, half apologet- ic manner and then dropping her lashes before his gaze.
 "Oh, wellw said Brandon, with a Frenchman's shrug of the shoulders, and then moved off as if about to leave the floor.
 "But is that really the way you = they dance it-with your-their arm around my--a lady's waist?"
 "I should not have dared venture up on such familiarity otherwise" an. swered Brandon, with a glimmer of smile playing around his lips and hid ing in his eyes.
 Mary saw this shadowy smile and said: "Oh, fear your modesty will cause you hurt. am beginning to be- lieve you would dare do anything you wish. I more than half suspect you are very bold man, notwithstanding your smooth, modest manner"
 "You do me foul wrong, assure you. am the soul of modesty, and grieve that you should think me bold," said Brandon, with broadening smile.
 Mary interrupted him. "Now, do believe you are laughing at meat my prudery, suppose you think it.
 Mary would rather have been called fool than a prude, and I think she was right. Prudery is no more sign of virtue than a wig is of hair. 1t is usually put on to hide bald place.
 The princess stood irresolute for a moment in evident hesitation and an noyance.
 ssYou are grieving because think you bold. And yet you stand there laughing at me to my face. I think so more than ever now. know 1t. Oh, you make me angry! Don't! do not like persons who anger me and then laugh at me-" This turned Brandon's smile into laugh, which he could not hold back.
 Mary's eyes shot fire, and she stamp ed her foot, exclaimtng: Sir, this goes beyond all bounds! I will not tolerate your boldness another moment" thought she was going to dismiss him, but she did not. The time had come when he or she must be the master. It was a battle royal between the forces on the floor, and enjoyed it and felt that Brandon would come out all right.
 He said good humoredly: What! Shall you have all the laugh in your sleeve at my expense? Do you expect to bring me here to win a wager for you made on the assumption of my 5LuplulCy anu ldCh Ol SOCIAL dCCOu- plishments and then complain when it comes my turn to laugh? I think I am the one who should be offended, but ] you see I am not"
 "Caskoden, did you tell him?" de manded Mary, evidently referring to the wager
 ''He said not word of it." broke in Brandon, answering for me. T should have been dullard indeed not to have seen 1t myself after what you said about the loss of your 10 crowns. So let us cry quits and begin again." Mary reluctantly struck her flag. s'Very we'll, I am willing," she said | laughingly; "but, as to your boldness, I still insist upon that. forgive you, however, this time" Then, half apolo- getically, "After all, it is not such a | grievous charge to make. I believe it never yet injured any man with wom- en. They rather like it, I am afraid, however angry it makes them. Don't they, JaneY
 | Jane, of course, did. not know, so