The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-27
By H. &. HoDGKINs

my favorite jewel. But yet" I said,
e: Done aale hs1eclared
81 always liked that OPAL" looking at It
critically. .
Then he appeared to weaken "Is she
so charming, Nell?" he asked confiden-
TALLY.
fell into the boys slang. "She's q
sumner said enthusiastically. Our
boys are crazy over her, to the last man.
1t took the entire squad to get her safely
lip from the station And just then the
carriage swept into view.
Nothing could be sWeeter or fairer than
Maude Barclay in her black travelling cos
tune as she stepped from the carriage,
and gave Averill her hand in response to
my Introduction unless it was Maude
Barclay as she came down a half hour
later in ivory white. Surely the shadows
in her brown eyes had never been 80 mys-
tifying nor the light on her hair so en-
chanting. A color crept into her. cheeks
as she met the admiration in Averill's
eyes that was exquisite beyond even the
power of imagination to paint. II that
moment had been given my choice of the
way above all others that would wish to
look, I should have said, Let me look like
that"
I could see Averin during the first day
or two making one or two Intellectual
struggles against the spell of her beauty.
Ee even sought me out few times, for
one of his teasing interviews, but his eyes
wandered even then to where Maude sat
talking to Reggie or Don, or receiving
Dicks open alteration. Later he ceased
to struggle altogether. If Maude played
tennis with Don, Averill kept score; If she
golfed with Dick he went as caddy; If she
boated, he rowed II she rested, he read to
her-and this-Averill, the indolent, who
had never before in all his existence been
1y,,l TO
of Eve.
The tourmaline was mine surely enough
and the triumph. I wondered that the
thought gave me so little delight. How
ever, even a girl who is used to being
plain may feel sting at the loss of an old
comrade. And there had been once or
twice in AverilIs eyes, a look but, nom
sense-that was only when there was alb
soutely nobody else at hand.
The week sped. We always crowded
Maud's visits with festivities. The dance
at the end was but the elimination. I
was surprised when Averill sought me out
in the afternoon and asked me to save
him the second waltz; the more so, that
he made something of point of it,
I never saw Maude look SO pretty as she
did that night. I didn't wonder the men
stood three deep about her, but marveled
at her skill in managing so many. She
was gracious and charming with them all;
AANN
They made a fine couple.
| AS the first strains of the second waltz
| sounded. Tom Porter came up, is this
TAKEN Nen?' he asked in his of-hand
way. I nodded.
| IF my partner doesn't forget" I said.
| and then glanced down the hall to see
Averil already waltzing with Maude.
I made my way quickly to the porch
| and down it's length to the end. I had
| blind fear that he'd discover me waiting
for waltz that he had forgotten. Even
plain girl has her pride.
| A full moon rode in the sky The lawn
lay dappled with alluring patches OF light
It blurred suddenly before my swimming
eyes. 1t is hard at % to be plain and for
gotten.
Somebody came up behind me. feared
Tom Porter might have observed my
escape and come to seek me.
why, are you here, Nell?' said Az
erill's voice. did you forget that this
was ours?'' I shook my head. winkinS
away the drops that stood in my eyes lest
| he, see them, s~,r. s..-G,- ..-.-= s-..-
-...Did you think I. had forgotten Nell''
| It stung me that he should dare use
that tone to me. I turned. The tourma-
| line swung from his watch fob, clese TO
| my hand. 49,
.'I think this little trinket belongs to
me, Mr. Averill." I said in voice that
sounded. odd to my own ears.
He bent swiftly as spoke and looked In
my face;. then, with a sweep OF his long
arm he drew me to him.
| The throb of his heart against my own
made me strangely weak and faint. I
struggled for release. But there was
something in the touch of that constraln-
ing arm that dared not Interpret.
do you know. Nell.'' he said and even
in that moment I noted the triumph IN
his voice. ct believe you are jealous at
last-at Mast?'