The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-01-13
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
The Fallacy ~
- of a Face
A NOVELTY IN coURTSHIP.
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ExRANFIELD holds that the
* 8 beginning of his. courtship
& g was unique, but that may
be Cranfieid's one-sided
MSaexG4 view. 1t was the night OF
the hunt ball, and he leant against 8
pillar in the dancing room. At no time
a dancing man, on this occasion ne
was excessively bored; he was out of
sorts: the band was too loud; the crush
was too great. He thought regretfully
of his library fire and shiveringly OF
the long drive home.
, After five minutes Of abstraction q
man touched him on the shoulder.
"Hullo, Cranfield," he said. "Been
looking for you. Counting on you to
see that Lady Marche dances"
The speaker darted into the crowd
and Cranfeld returned to his thoughts
He fixed his eyeglass into his eye and
glanced slowly around.
"Some men are SO beastly optimis-
Tic" he said in his own mind.
At the end of the room he had caught
4 distorted glimpse of Lady Marche.
He gazed at her for space; then his
eyes wandered, and his ideas came to
q sudden halt. Round about him he
saw preoccupation settle upon groups
of men; he saw heads turned toward
the door. Following a very human i'm
pulse, he turned his own in the same
direction. He was inquisitiye, but the
desire to know is quite as infectious as
a disease.
In brief space the crowd about the
entrance parted, and his curiosity melt:
ed before another feeling-a feeling as
rapid, If infinitely more strong. he
closed his eyes; then he readjusted his
glass.
1t was Creighton-Tommy Creighton
and his wife. He watched them move
slowly up the room, and as they moved
he felt, rather than heard, the admira-
don that hummed in their wake. He
took a long look; then he leant back
against the pillar, seeking to realize
exactly where he stood.
He had seen her before once before.
That point alone wrought self-distrust.
He had called one day with Bisher-
thorpe, and she had given them tea.
His verdict had been, Extremely pret-
ty. sarcastic and a trifle cold" He re-
called the criticism with guilty pang,
and wondered whether it could be the
dress. But he had never guessed a
riddle in his life.
He screwed in his eyeglass and leant
still further back. He saw Creighton
Introduce four men. Then his control
gave way. He forced an opening in
the crowd, but when he reached her
side and scope his voice had tone that
even to him was new.
"May have the pleasure?"
She looked up with just the faintest
surprise. Then her eyes fell on the
facings Of his red coat, and she smiled
the friendliest and most perfect smile
he had ever seen. He realized with
shame that he had never known till
then that hazel eyes had shadows and
reflections, and positively shone with
light.
Il She hesitated and glanced
round for Creighton, but Creighton
had disappeared. She smiled again,
and held out her card. II can give you
number s." she said. "Will you put
down your name?"
He took the card and scrawled his
initials. Then he looked at the OBJ
giously waiting men.
Number 6 is also free" he said.
MAY -"
"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. Cranieh gave the next
three dances to Lady Marche. His las
situde was gone. In single moment
the shifting crowd had become the uni.
verse, and he had found its core. Like
q wonderfully deferred dream the fifth
dance came round, and waiting was at
IN end.
mine, I think" he said.
! She folded her fan, smiled at the mali
beside her, then laid her hand on Gran
fields arm.
, "Shall we dance" he asked.
ooh, please"
He hid his disappointment, though
his ideas were euriously upset. She
seemed so enthusiastic-so buoyantly
young. He had never believed thai
married women came to dances just tt
dance.
She glanced UP at him, unconsciously
answering his thought.
II think dancing is the lovelies
thing on earth-or nearly. Don't you?'
He said nothing, but he slipped hi!
arm about her. In moment they hat
drifted into the circle Of whirling feet.
The music had quickened to its enc
E:.hen he swung her out of the crush
His brain was still sWaying to the bea
of the tune as be drew her down .
30 -, ,l;afon& oaot Tn fo,, ~,