The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-02-04

X X was unique, Dut tnat may
| g. u be Cranfeid's one-sided
&aaexx2 view. 1t was the night Of
the hunt ball. and he leant against a
pillar in the dancing room. At no time
q dancing man, on this occasion he
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 OH the shoulder.
"Hullo, Crantield." he said. Been
looking for you. Counting on you to
see that Lady Marche Dances
The speaker darted into the crowd
| and Cranticld returned to his thoughts.
He fixed his eyeglasS into his eye and
glanced slowly around.
Some men are so beastly optirlis-
tic" he said in his own mind.
At the end of the room he had caught
q distorted glimpse OF Lady Marche.
He gazed at her for a space; then his
ewes wandered, aud his ideas came to
sudden halt. Round about him he
saw preoccupation settle upon groups
of men; he saw heads turned toward
the door. Following very human im-
pulse. he turned his own in the same
direction. He was inQuisitive. but the
desire to know is quite as infectious as
j 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 Crc!ghton-Tommy Creighton
and his wife. He watched them move
slowly up The room. and as they moved
he felt. rather than heard, the admira-
ton that hummad in their wake. he
! took long hcok: then he lelnt back
against the pillar, seeking TO realize
exactly where he stood.
He had seen her before once before.
That point alone wrought seif-distruSt.
He had called one day with Bisher-
thorpe. and she lad giveu them tea.
His verdict had been. Extremely pret'
ty. sarcastic AID tribe cold" He re-
called the criticism with guilty panS,
and wondered whether il could be tho
dress. Put lie had never guessed a
riddle in his life.
I:o SCI, wed in his eycGlaSs AMI lcaIt
still! further back. He saw Creighton
introduce four men. Then his control
| gave way. He forced an opening ii
the crowd. bu! when he reached hes
side and Srnye his voice had tone thai
even to him WAS new
May have the PLEASURE
She looked uD with just the faintest
surprise. Then her eyes fell OH the
facin-S of his red coat, and she smiled
the friead!icst and most perfect smile
Il" had ever seen. He realized will
shame that he had never known til
then that hazel eyes had shadows and
reflections. and positively shone with
light.
L She hesitated and glanced
! round for Creighton, but creighton
had disappeared. She smiled again
| arJ held out her card. u can give yor
number D. she said. 'Will you put
down your name
lie took the card and Scrawled his
Initials. Then lie looked at the OBJ
viouS!y waiting men.
| ..Number e. is also FREQ lie said
"May l.:
''YCu nay
Tia wcrGs seemed the fraEkest ant
! NOS; delightful he had ever heard.
There :, nothing in the world so vivl
flying us hope. Cranield gave the mex
three dances to Lady Marche. His las
situde was gone. In single momen
the shifting crowd had become the uni
verse, and he had found its core. Like
q wonderfully deferred dream the fiftl
dance came round, and waiting was a
| an end.
Mine. think" he said.
She folded her fan, smiled at the mai
beside her, then laid her hand on Gran
fields arm.
"Shall we dance:' lie asked.
"Oh, please"'
He hid his disappointment, thnusl