Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-12-03
FOR ONE EVENING.

WHS JACK ITuWDle.
so glad you're here, Jack, want
70 ask you a question"
yes" replied the young man, with
note Of surprise in his voice.
What is it?'
Take me somewhere where people
Eont see lis talking, ard III tell you. I"
Jack led the way to an anteroom
which, at that early hour, was empty,
and then facing the girl, he asked:
Now, what is the trouble?"
Why, you know that Robert De-
vereaux and / were-that is to say
oh. don't be SO horrid, Jack! You
know that we were engaged?"
Il have reason to know It," an
swered Jack, bitterly, for 1t was on
bis account that was thrown over"
1T q unkind Of you to talk like
that, when | want you to help me-"
murmured Mabel, her sweet innocent
eyes filling with tears.
What do you want me to dor"
| why, the fact is that he-De-
vereaux, has broken faith with me-
Tilted me. and he's going 10 be here
tonight"
| "Well?" and there was a note Of
savage satisfaction In his voice.
| Can't you understand" she
queried, impatiently. s'How stupid
you are tonight, Jackl Don't you see
that want you to help me?"
What do you want me to dor" In
CURED the other. quietly.
why, don't you see that he is a
man, handsome man, and can dance
with all the prettiest girls in the
room, while |, as a woman, must wait
to be asked, and as | know SO few
people shall probably have to sit
out lot of dances, and I should die
OF humiliation If he saw that had no
one to pay me any attention"
| so you want me to dance with
your? said Jack, in the same re-
strained manner that he had exhibited
all through. 'All right, where is your
card?"
"Oh, but want more than that,
Jack, l want--I want. oh, can't you
guessY"
81 am afraid | can't"
II want you to flirt with me, Jack,
to pay me all the attention you can.
so that he may not think that l am
neglected, or am eating out my heart
for the loss of him."
81 understand" said Jack. through
his clenched teeth, you want me to
play at love-making for this evening
only"
Eyes. yes. Jack, that is It," cried
Mabel, eagerly.
"lt's large order, Mabel" an
swered the man. AZ went away for
six months on purpose to try and for
get, to wipe you out as 1t were, and
now just as the wound has covered
over, you ask me to open 1t up again.
However, I'll do 1t, but on one condi-
ton, you must play the game as wei
as me-"
How do you mean. Jack?"
why, If I'm to pretend to be de-
voted to you, you must reciprocate
and make believe to be fond of me
| don't look so frightened. I'll go away
again eo-noiiOW, anu you Sdu AOOh
back upon it as bad dream. but If
you want me to do as you wish you
must pay the penalty"
"Oh, Jack!"
Eyes, for this evening only, II I am
TO behave as your fiance / must have
the privileges of one also Do you un-
derstand what / mean?"
Eyes"
and do you consent?"
For this evening only-yes."
'"Then this seals the bargain" and
taking her In his arms, Jack kissed
her passionately twice.
Robert Devereaux was there in all
the pride of handsome manhood and
the exultatlon of the successful wom-
| an-hunter
He was standing near the door won
dering whom he should delight with his
| attentions when they waltzed past
him.
There was no installing the rapt,
passionate gaze with which the mans
eyes were fixed on the girls face, nor
the happy contented expression she
wore as she yielded herslf to his en-
brace, and the fellow standing next
to Devereaux remarked upon it.
"By Joye! that couple are gone on
one another, aren't they?"
Eyes, confound them" growled Rob-
ert,
They danced or sat out together
nearly every dance, and Mabel was
evidently one Of the happiest of the
happy: while Jack gave himself up
entirely to the pleasure of the hour,
and made fierce love to his beautiful
partner.
Later on, Devereaux lounged up with
his easy self-confdent air and sug-
gested dance.
I'm afraid I'm full up" replied
Mabel, calmly; then, turning to Jack.
she added You have my card, dear:
will you look2"
EVERY ones gone" replied Jack
| nromntly without taking the trouble