Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-02-22

Continued.

IL 10 bOO ieitS-
4 am fortunate" he says. "The
next dance S unclaimed. may have
it? If you refuse me I shall think
that your fol giyeness goes no deeper
than your lips"
4 think I am engaged" she says,
falteringly
NO. Look" he rejoins and holds
cut the card.
She bends forward; their heads are
so close together that he can smell the
sweet fragrance of the flower in her
hair
You see! You are not You will
give it to me? 1t is a shame to ask
you. for / am | suppose, the worst
dancer in the room; but still ask it
as proof that | have won your for
giyeness may have it?"
Without a word she puts the merest
end of her gloyed hand on his outheld
arm, and he leads her, without word
into the crowd. They have just be
gun a mazourka, an old-fashioned
dance which ore seldom sees in mod
ern programmes. but which the coun-
ty balls cling to.
OF a mazourka Sir Heron Letch-
ford is as ignorant as a Greenlander
is OF the SUM- but he puts his arm
around her and starts off in despera-
ton. Before they have gone half the
round of the room he has made a
dozen--twenty-fa steps.
You see" he says, what your
clemency has cost you. am as ignor-
ant as a bear, and you have lost your
dance. | would give the world to be
able to dance with you"
There is SO Ell dent sincerity in his
voice that May-May, who likes dane
ing next to scarcely anything in the
worlds touched.
See" she says you take a step
like this, and this, and then like this, -
and in her eagerness she illustrates
her meaning standing a little way
from him. and forgetting-everything.
81 see" he says, eagerly.
Eagerly, when but quarter of an
hour before he voted the whole thing
a bore.
Now let me try and he tries. "Is
that better?"
GA little better" says May.
Don't take such long strides"
81 WON'T" he says, humbly. at
seems to me that ones legs are rather
in the way of ones executing this ex-
tremely sphinx-like dance; and 1 have
rather long legs" he says, remorseful-
ly.
Never mind" she says, you are i'm
proving"
Growing shorter, do you mean?"
with deep gravity.
mo" she laughs. Dancing more
like"
"a civilized being" he finishes,
thanks to your tuition. You have been
very patient with me-more patient
than I should have expected-had any
right TO expect he corrects himself,
quickly an ominous arching of the
straight, dark brows warning him that
the hot temper is only doing, and
needs but a word to rise in all its
strength and separate them.
And Sir Heron would not, for words,
be separated just yet He has arisen
from the depths of WEAKNESS to the
giddy heights of amusement and
pleasure.
1t is not the girls beauty, it is not
altogether her sweet young grace,
though he notices and appreciates both
as he feels the 1.-THE figure upon his
arm and looks down at the face, with
its blOod-red lips and softly flashing
eyes, all life and youth; it is something
more than this-a nameless charm
springing from the girls sublime In
difference of self-consciousness and
her amazing independence
"A ill-tempered little wildcat" he
thinks. glancing down at the dark
brow and long black Iashes. 81 pity
the poor wretch who dances at the
end of the chain she holds!"
But even as the thought comes to hts
mind she raises her eys, and his pity
for her future husband is swallowed
up by a sudden irrepressible admira-
ticn, overpowering his cold judgment.
and making his heart beat quick and
fast against hers. So engrossed is he
in contemplation, admiration, half a
dozen other emotions of the heart and
.DIdlHs LudI uG RidS lOi SOtteH they are
not the sole Dossessors of the Crawford
Town Hall. and that two or three hun
dred people are remarking his rapt
face and close attention to his partner,
and that his lady mother sits upright
as a dart, in her black satin, and
watches him with a set face and eyes
that are crystallized with surprise be-
hind those gold glasses.
"Will some one be so good as to
tell me with WHOM my son is dane
Ing?" she says. at last, and in a voice
as stony as hel gaze.
Then the dowagers and countesses
raise their glasses, and pretend as If
they note the fact that Heron Letch-
ford is dancing for the first time. and
shake their heads.
Really don't know her" is the re
ply. to which Vane, who is standing
close by. watching Heron's progress
with undisguised envy. mutters:
Nor I; wish to goodness did"
Il thought Sir Heron had taken Miss
Yayasour!" murmurs a dowager. But
he is so kind, is Sir Heron, so consid-
crate. He so thoroughly understands
what is expecter of him at an affair or
this kind. and he has sacrificed him
self" and staring AT Sir HerOn'g face