Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-02-07
THE FALLACY OF A FACE.

| Cranileld holds that the beginning OF
| his courtship was unique; but that may
| be Cranfeld's one sided view. 1t was the
night of the Hunt ball and he leaned
| against a pillar in the dancing room. At
no time a dancing man, on this occasion
! he was excessively bored; lie was out Of
sorts; the band was too loud; the crush
was too great. lie thought regetfully
of his library fire, and shiyeringly of the
long drive home.
At the end of the room he saw heads
turned toward the door Following a
very human impulse, he turned his own
in the same direction. He was iuquisi
tive, but the dcsIre to know is quite as
infectious as disease.
In brief space the crowd about the
entrance parted, and his curiosity melted
before another fecIing-a feeling as
rapid. if infinitely more strong. lie
closed his eyes; then he readjustcd his
glass.
1t was Crcight on-Tommy Creighton
and his wife. He watched them move
slowly up the room, and as they moved
he felt, rather than heard, the admiration
that hummed in their wake. He took a
long look; then he leaned BACK against
the pillar, seeking to realize exactly
where he stood
IF you ever fall in love, Craniield,"
some one had once said, you'll be the
worst case on record, bar none
The words occurred to him inoppor-
timely. As n man he was not eXcep-
tional but there were things at which
he drew the line. Making love to
married woman. curiously enough, came
first ON the prescribed list The feelings
that surged through him as he let the
pillar support him were largely made up
OF fear. The thing was prepOsterOus--
grotesquc lie SHE'D vigorously at the
shadow of it, But not for an instant
did his eyes stray from Mrs. Creighton's
face.
He hadi seen her befose-ronce before.
That point alone wrought self-distrust.
He had called one day with Bisherthorpe,
and she had given them tea. His verdict
had been, Extremely pretty, sarcastic.
and trihe cold"
lie screwed in his eyegass and leaned
| still further back. lie saw Creighton in
| troduce four men. Then his control gave
way He forced an opening in the
| crowd; bUt when he reached her side and
spoke, his voice had tone that, even to
| him, was new.
May | have the pleasWre?'
She looked up with just the faintcst
surprise. Thou her eyes fell on the fac
ings of his red coat, and she smiled the
fricudhc.t and most perfect smile he had
ever seen
l." She hesitatcd and glanced
round for Creighton; but Creighton had
Disappeared She smiled again, and held
out her card. Il can give YOU No, o. she
said. win YOU put down your name ?''
He took the card and scrawled his
initials Then he looked at the obvious
| ly waiting men,
no. 6 is also free" he said. MAY
II"
He would not have admitted the feel
lngs with which he waited for her reply
He saw the negative trembling on her
lips and quailed. Then, TO his absurdly
great relief. the saving smile came again
and she blushcd
You may"
The words seemed the frankest and
most delightful he had ever heard
There is nothing in the world so vivi,
lying as hope, In a single moment the
shifting crowd had become the universe.
and he had found its core. Like won
dcrtullS deferred dream the iitth dance
came ROUND. and waiting was at an end
Mine. think" he said
She folded her fam. smiled at the man
beside her, then laid her hand on Cram
fields ARM
"Sha)l we danceg" he asked.
oh! please"
lie hid his disappointment, though his
ideas were cunously upset. She seemed
50 enthusiastic so buoyantly Young
The music had quiekeued to its end
when he swGng her out of the crush
His brain was still swaying to the beat
of the tune rs he drew her down pas.
sage 10 Il distant seat In ten minutes
ct compamonship she had grown straight
into his life
The carpet OF the passage was vclv
soft the light Of the hanging lamp was
very dim. II seemed to him that he had
only existed until now. He arranged the
cushions on the divan, and she sat down.
DO YOU believe in infatuationg" he
asked suddenly.
Tie felt afraid of what he was going to
say. He felt that his principles. his
honor-hc used the word boldly--all
staple things We're drifting from him like
mirage
Have You ever heard of man going
I, of his head in a single mighty" he asked
| afrrsh
She looked mp at him; and behind the
uncasiness in her eyes he felt that she
was measuring him inch by inch.
IA like to ask YOU something" She
said, IF YOU don't mind"
She glanced down. then once more
glanced up.
Il want you to tell me your name"
! He met her gaze in blank surprise. II