Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1905-06-02

meaat 30 vel Sal tiri. v..i irs
that would auiyer. "a ~ q ch.n'e to
go 10 a dance 80 seldom.
The long. hot. soi.en day lnA. sed
by. Never haG Tie Eivlag ~ llasie
lessons seemed 50 tedious nor hstl ,lc
pupils eve appenrcd SO iiresome.
Coming home Just a. The relentless u
was dropping town tie west. the girl
brighicued with wan pleasure ut sight
Of the little Did kiuy cottage she called
bone. In tie house slie knew would
be balin.-ihc balm OF sympathy. OF
rests Of love.
I'm have Il bath and a fresh gown"
she tod herself. "aal gsi ont here IN
the si.cncc and lhe Sweetness aud read
until I r.. gct there arc gay people
dancing tie night away AID | not
one Of thesn!'
Not for worlds would she have adj
mltted even 10 her heart that It
was less the social c|Sililar4tion she
missed thun the wee. hidden hope she
bad harhOred Of seeing once more a
well remembered dark head. OF feel
lng the warm clasp Of a strong. firm
hand and OF meeting the half tglder,
half quizzical glance Of expressive blue
eyes.
she was very resolute In reading the
tiny volume OF IennySon she had
brought when after supper she came
out into the fragrant solitude. Her
gown was Of simple lawn that tra,led
I n1s.tre ntur FnaN IA "a t.tas .s ~ l-,V-..r.
waves. Her arms lhOnc pearl fair
through It's Transparency.
The aftcrglow faded. Shadows
crept stealthily up the garden ways.
II was not possible to read longer.
Anyhow she had hardly beer aware
Of that which she wac reading. Now
the guests were gathering ut her
uncle's imposing home. Lights were
blazing and tie gay music from the
city resounding. And now she closed
her eyes. drifting away into a reverie,
varlhued. melodious. Kaleidoscope, so
absorbing that she did not notice the
stopping of Il carriage ut the gate nor
the heavy footstep mulied by the thick
grass.
hOneAGA "A a hiss MOAlG MahtM
her!" meditated a quizzicGl voice.
I'm not She started to her feet,
the flooding light OF The warm, young
midsummer noon full on her face.
"Gordon! she murmurcd.
Older. heavier. manlier than the
young fellow who had gone away. there
was still the admiration in his eager
eyeB. the smile Of tenderness about the
square cut lips.
You're a nice girl" he cried, holding
her cold, slight hands in his warm,
leavy pressure, never to come to a
party given in the honor Of your old
friend! looked for you everywhere.
Your uncle said you had promised him
you would come. So he sent me to
bring you, or. rather" he laughed, II
asked him II might not come for you.
Come-Lessle!'
1t was the old childish name that no
II else had called her.
"But l can't. Gordon" She was blush
Ing like Il rose. "Not In this old gown!"
He glanced over her critically in be-
wilderment.
Isn't that the-the right thing? It's
lust-stunning. You look like an I'm
dine-a silver birch in~carnated! All
pale green and white-except for n
crown Of gold!' Aud this audacious
young man stopped to touch the shin
ing coronet with reverent lips.
'Lessle. you must know why I've
come back!' Ills voice dropped to a
coaxlng cadence. 1--WE come-for you'll
Dear. have | startled you? Well. come
M to the dance, and I'll promise to be
dumb until the last waltz"
I'm a dress that cost n quarter n
yard-and that l made myself?" she
queried. her voice tremulous with ex-
element.
Come for your uncle's saker' he
begged. Every one here in Linden
vile knows you. 1t will be great fun!
And then, Jessie, come for my saker'
1t was great fun. The verdict that
the girl in the sea green gown. with
cheeks like wild roses, was the belle of
the ball was practically unanimous.
Only Hortense and her mother ex-
changed n glance of dark and signif-
cant disappointment when Bruce Fer
guson. smiling indulgently IL obtusely,
whispered: "COphetua up to date! Not
such a bad match for a little music
teacher"