Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-07-15

floor managers with q white rosette on
his lapel called Miller away to ask his
advice about some details and Alan
turned out Of the parlor into the wide
corridor which ran through the house.
He did this in obedience to another
unwrttten law governing Darley's SO
cial intercourse-that 1t would be Inn
polite for u resident gentleman to In
trude himself upon stranger who
had Just been introduced to lady. So
he went down to the ground floor and
strolled into the office. 1t was full Of
tobacco smoke and thrmg of men,
some Of whom were from the country
and others from the town drawn to
the hotel by the festivities. From the
office door opened into bar and
billiard room. whence came the click
ing of ivory balls and the grounding
of cues. Another door led into the
large dining room, which had been
cleared Of its tables that It might be
used for dancing. There were saving
of fiddles, the twanging of guitars, the
Jingle Of tambourines and the groan-
ing of bass viol. The musicians,
black and yellow, occupied chairs on
one of the tables, which had been
placed against the wall. and one Of
the floor managers was engaged in
whiting paraffin caudles over the
floor and rubbing It in with his feet
Seeing what he was doing, some Of
the young men, DESTROYS Of trying their
new patent leather pumps, came in
andtbegan to waltz singly' and in cou-
pies.
When everything was In readiness.
the floor manager piloted the dancers
downstairs. From the office Alan saw
them filing into the big room and TAX
ang seats in the chairs arranged against
the walls on all Sides He saw Frank
Hillhouse and Dolly Barckly sit down
near the band: the salesman had dis
appeared. Alan threw his cigar away
and went straight to her.
"Oh. here you arew laughed Frank
HIlhouse us Alan shook hands with
her. ~ told Miss Dolly coming on
that the west wind would blow you
this way, and when saw Ray Miller
Just now knew you'd struck the
town"
"1t wasn't exactly the wind" replied
Alan. I'm afraid you will forget me
II j stay on the farm all the time.'
I'VE certainly are glad to have you"
smiled Miss Barclay.
II knew she'd say that-I knew 1t.
I knew: it." said Hillhouse. "a girl
can alw uys think Of nicer things to
say to a teller than his rivaa can. Old
Squire Tra.A hue was teasing me the 9th
er day abort how hard you was to
beat, Bishop, but told him the bigger
the war the more victory for some
body, and, as tle Teller saidssI tote fair
and am abovebo lxd."
Alan greeted tn. V with an aqi but Wis
ible shudder. The.se was much In his
dignified bearing and good appearance
to commend him to the preference of
any thinking woman, Nespecially when
contrasted to HillhouseA who wasaonly
q little taller than Dolly and was show
ing himself even ut .yreater ,dis,Rl-
vantage In his unrefined \allusi0ns to
his and Alan's attentions to her. IN
deed Alan was sorry for the spectacle
the fellow was making Of himself and
tried to pass 1t over.
II usually come In ON Saturd hyss' he
explained.
That's true" said Dolly, with one
OF her rare smiles.
"Yes"-Hillhouse took another MEAD
er Into forbidden waters-~h .Vbout
Joined your church, they tell me"
Alan treated this with an indulgeat
smile He did not dislike HillhohsA
but he did not admire him, and be had
never quite liked his constant atten-
lions to Miss Barclay. But 1t was han
acknowledged fact among the socitsty
girls of barley that II a girl refused TO
so out with any young man In god
standing 1t was not long before she
was left at home oftener than was
pleasant. Dolly was easily the best
looking girl In the room-not perhaps
the most daintily pretty, but she pos
sessed beauty which strength Of
character and intellect alone could give
to a face already well featured. Even
her physical beauty alone was of that
texture which gives the beholder an
agreeable sense of solidity. She was
Well formed, above medium height,
had a beautiful neck and shoulders,
dark gray eyes and abundant golden
brown hair. I
May l see your card r asked Alan.
y came early to secure at least. one.
At this Frank Hillhouse burst out
laughing, and che smiled up ut Alan.
Hes been teasing me all evening
about the predicament I'm IN" she ;ex-