The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-05-10
was essentially a stratcgica

them. 1t was essentially strategical
| position.
.'Well," inquired Jack, with peculiar
| breathlessness, when they were seateu'
''havo you thought about it?'
She gave a little nod.
1'hcy seemed to be taking up some con-
,versation at point where 1t had peen
| dropped on previous occasion.
| "And?" no inquired suavely The So
| clety polish was very thickly coated over
| the man, but his eyes had a hungry
look.
BY way Of reply her glovcd hand crop
out towards his. (which rested on the
| chair at his side.
"Jack!" she whispered and that was
! all.
| It was very prctti1y done, and quite
naturally. lie was a judge of such mat
| tiers and appreciated the girlish slmpli-
city of the action fully.
He took the small gloved hand and
pressed 1t lovingly. The thoroughness or
his social training prevented any furthef
display OF affection.
Shank Heaven!" he murmured
They were essentially Of the nineteenth
century--these two At a previous dance
he had asked her to marry him. she had
deferred her answer. and now she had
question Of taste We do not kneel nova
days. either physically or morally. II
we arc a tritle off-hand. 1t Is the women
who S.a, to blame. They should not write
in magazines of doubtful reputation In
language devoid of the benefit of the
doubt. They are equal to us. B!en. One
does not kneel to an equal. y better
writer than any of us says that men
serve women llneeling, and when they get
aa%t n n ra N.
ling hauled up to our feet now
"But--" began the girl, and went no
further.
"But what?"
"There will be difficulties"
mo doubt" he answered. with quiet
mockery. There always are. I will see
to them. Difficulties are not without
certain advantage They keep one on
the alert"
Your father" said the girl. "s!r John
Tho will object"
I Jack Meredith reflected for moment.
Ilazlly, with that leisureiness which gave
la sense of repose to his presence.
III possibly" he admitted. graveiy.
"He dlslikes me- said the girl. Gle
lis one Of my failures"
IT did not know You had any. Have
you tried? I cannot quite admit the
possibility of failure.
Millicent Chyne smiled. He had en-
phasized the last remark with lover-like
| glance and tone. She was young enough;
| her beauty was new enough to herself
! to blind her to the possibility mentioned.
| She had not even got to the stage OF
classifying rs dull all men who did not
fall in love with her at first sight. It
was her first season, one must remem-
| Der.
| II have not tried very hard" she said
"but don't see why ] should not fail
"That Is easily explained.
(. "Why?"
''No loolling-gass about"
/ She gave n little pout, but she liked 1t
The music of the next dance was be.
4 ginning, and, remembering their sooia
obligations, they both rose. She laid lel
/ hand on his arm, and for n moment his
4 fingers pressed hers. He smiled down in
to her upturncd eyes with love, but with
out passion. He never for a second risk
ed tho gentleman and showed the
"man." He was suggestive of n fores
pool with a smiling, rippled surface
There might he depth, but nothing hat
yet reached beyond the surface.
Shall we so now" he said, 'anf
say few words in passing to my re
doubtabc father? It might be effective,
Yves, if you like" she answered
promptly. There is no moro conflden
being on earth than a pretty girl In I
4 successful dress
They met Sir John at the entrance Q
| the ballroom. He was wandering about
| taking in vast deal OF detail.
"Wel young lady" he said with ar
Old World bow, "are you having sue,
| cessful EVENING""
Millicent laughed She never knew
quite how to take Sir John.
"Yes, l think So thank YOU" she an
swcrcd With pretty smila. II am en-
| joying myself very much"
There was just the last suggestion oi
shyness In her manner, and 1t is Just
possible that this softened the old cynic',
| heart, for his manner was kinder, ant
almost fatherly when no spoke again.
"Ahn' he said. Eat your time OF llf
YOU DO not want much-plenty of part
ners and a few ices. Both. easily obtain
able"
Tho last words were turned into
compliment by the courtly inclination o
the head that accompanied them.
Tho eXigcnces of the moment force
the young people to so with the stream
Jack" said Sir John. as they passed
on. when you have been deprived o
Miss Chyncs society come and conso
yourself with n glass OF sherry"
The dutiful son nodded q semi-indffer
ent acqusecnce and disappeared.
"Wonderful thing, sherryin observed
Sir John Meredith, for his own edltca
ton
He waited there until Jack returned
and then theyNset off in search of re
freshmen, The son seemed to know hi
whereabouts better than the father.
This way" he said Through the con
servatory."
Amid the palms and tropical ferns ST.
John passed, great deal of care ha'
been devoted to this conservatory- Han
hidden among languorous scented flower
were n thousand tiny lights while over
head In the gloom lowered GRACEFUL
palms and bananas A fountain mn
INJURED pleasantly amid cluster of male
| nni,nlrs uhn rnn,slc from the Dail-rOoi