Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-03-27

sketches to fiction was a natural and
easy transition, and he suddenly
found himself contributor to one
of the best magazines.
Rossiter was again the neatly
dressed man of yore, and to the ease
OF manner which had always been
his was added n subtle trace of indie
pendence of assurance that was
wholly new to him. He bore in his
heart but one burden, his love for
Sylvia Densmore; and yet he often
confessed to himself that the mem
DRY OF her winsome personality car
RED with 1T more of sweetness than
OF sadness. Her image and the recol-
lection OF the hop-feld days, more
than the importuning of friends, had
drawn him back to Hintonville and
the reunion with his college class
mates.
1t was his first holiday since he
had begun work upon the Evening
Star, and 1t proved to him a time of
restful dellght-delight within whose
translucent amber he was conscious
OF but single flaw. Three of the
Gan you tell me-" said he, "who
that girl is yonder?" indicating the
place with nod. THE one upon the
divan."
Ihe student leaned forward so that
he could see between the spinning
couples.
"That's Miss Densmore, of 1llica."
he answered. would you like to be
introduced to her? She's" He
stopped, amazed. Rossiter had
caught only his first words, and was
already making his way around the
edge Of the gyratlng throng.
She was Miss Densmore still! A
new hope sang In his brain, and his
heart began dancing in rhythm to
the violins. He was perhaps 90 feet
distant when Miss Densmore realized
that some one was approaching and
glanced towards him, casually at
first, then with quick, amazed in
tentness. He saw the color (she had
more than formerly recede from her
cheeks and then flood back again.
She rose a little unsteadtly.
rs it's it possible?" she ex-
claimed. 'Nlr. Rossiter!"
"Yes," he answered, beaming upon
her as he clasped the hand which
she extended:
She surveyed at a glance his trinity
clad figure.
"fhen You deceived us, after ALL"
she said, with shade of reproach in
her tone. You were masquerad.
ing!' NV
No! not" cried Rossiter. IF YOU
will permit me, will"
Miss Densmore seemed suddenly to
recollect herself, and presented Res-
sitter to the lady with whom she had
been chatting-her mother. With
Mrs. Densmofe "a refined, low-spoken
womlaan} Rossitef exchanged few
polite words and then, at the dangh=
ter's suggestion, seated himself by
the side of the latter upon the divan,
He could but realize that the girl was
agitated, and as for himself, his wits
seemed all at once to have flown to
the four corners of the earth.
Monroe was my college," no aft
er little heard himself saying;
that's how 1t happens that I'm
here. There was a class reunion, you
know. I'm not in array, as you see,
but it's SO long since I've been at a
college ball that couldn't resist
when heard the music. ! didn't
dream Of meeting YOU"
II haven't attended the college
parties for year or two," Miss
Densmore replied, land it's quite by
chance that I'm here tonight. Nam
ma and drove out with cousin of
mine from Buffaland who is engaged
to Mr.. Wolfe, an old Illica friend"
Wolfe! That was the name of Miss
Densmore's visitor the last night at
the Mertons'. 1t was burned deeply
into Rosters memory. But how
strangely mistaken he had been! An
Intoxicating elation seized him, and
then the music ceased! He glanced
eagerly at Miss Densmore's card.
which she was nervously lingering,
and noted that all save one of the,
remaining dances were taken. She
caught his look, and there was some
thing assuring in her smile.
MAY I have that?" he said, point
ing to the unengaged dance.
YES" she replied softly, still
smiling, and then an eSHberant
senior rushed up and bore her away.
Rossiter's eyes followed her with
CLEAN of rapture. For brief space
lights, music, whirling figures were
as naught to him. He saw only the
delicate contour of her face; heard
only the low cadence of her voice.
With q violent effort he shook off
this waking spell and turned towards
Mrs: pepsmore, but someone had en=
gagged her in conversation and he was
free, He slipped into vacant VIM
dow-seat and watched for Miss Dens.
more's temperance. Presently she
tioated by Tor so it seemed to him),
and after that only for an occasional
instant did he lose sight of her.
So pleasurable was his occupation
that he was not inclined to rail at
time as laggard. Could he not pos
sess his soul in patience for few
moments when SO short period be-
fore he had thought to wait at the
gate Of the court of love, poor,
starving mendicant, for lifetime :?