Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-02-16

Are you not going to dance,
Heron?" she says.
1t is not tina the may loll against a
post and talk politics that she has
brought him to this ball.
He mods, and turns to Miss Vava-
sour
will you venture? l dance like a
bear on hot plates-vilely. 1t is
only right that l should give you fair
warning"
"At least a bear can hold me up"
she says; and they start.
! A little buzz of excitement runs
through the room; promenaders in the
galleries hurry back; dowagers crane
| forward from their chairs; the herd of
nobodies call each others attention
audibly to the fact that Sir Heron and
Miss Vavasour are going to dance!
To be in the same room with the
woman whose photograph crowd the
London shop-windows- breathe the
same airs a delight; but to see her
dance, and that with the great Sir
Heron, is joy that will tell in their
memories forever!
That Rose Vavasour is an accom-
| plished dancer is evident from the
TACT that she can make even Sir
Heron's performance seem respectable.
1t Is all too true! Great and all
powerful as he Is, he dances execr-
ably; and the proud beauty feels her
self growing red and GREATNESS with
the effort to maintain something like
harmony of motion. But Is there a
girl in the room who does not watch
her enviously, and who would not
cheerfully undergo untold suffering for
the honor and delight of feeling the
long arm of Sir Heron Letchford
around the waist?
Before half the waltz Is over Sir
Heron stops. He is flushed and hot
but self-possessed as he would be
say In the middle of a charge of cav.
airy.
Il won't torture you any longer
Rose. You deserve a better per.
former than am, have seen score
of men scowling vindictively at me
Let us walk around"
"Why do you apologize? Do you
think that l care for dancing 50 very
much as all that? dislike dancing
men as much as do beauty men
they trench on our preserves"
II shan't incur your displeasure in
either case" he says, with a smile
Here is Wraybury-let me introduce
him He can dance, and Is good-looking
enough to incur your dislike"
Lord Wraybury Is delighted to make
the acquaintance of the London
beauty, and, bearing her off, leaves
Sir Heron to cool himself.
Wiping his forehead and only half.
concealing palpable yawn, he leans
against the wall with his hands behind
his back, and watches the scenes with
an expression which certainly does not
betray either amusement or interest,
and which speedily develops into one
of utter WEAKNESS and irritability as
the long skirts of the women smite
against his legs and one or two reck'
less and uncertain couples bound
against his waistcoat.
"And this will go on till-Heaven
only knows how long" he thinks in
despair. 81 wonder II there Is any
thing to drink" and narrowly escap-
ing collision with very heavy
major who Is rushing madly around in
company with a still heavier lady in
purple velvet and swansdown, he
makes his way into a side gallery
which Is fitted UP as refreshment
room.
A canny waiter leans over the
counter with obsequious alacrity-'Sir
Heron Letchford Is known to every
man and boy in the place.
Champagne, Sir Heron?"
Sir Heron mods, and the man opens
a fresh bottle-he knows better than
to offer a stale wine-and Sir Heron
tips the glass to his lips, when he
hears voice behind him, saying:
Can | have some water?" he turns
and sees the face which has haunted
him for weeks past.
fOI Hloultult SUI piiSS uhhiiNAeSuS
d surprises the predominant feel
ing. As it has appeared to him wax
ing aye. and sleeping-it has beer q
face full OF haughtily passionate eager
ness; now 1t is radiant and flushed
with excitement, the dark brown eyes
alight--positiyely alight with enjoy
ment, young girls intense enjoyment
of her first ball.
Instead Of the sealskin jacket ant
the plush hat, in which he has previ
ously pictured her, she is clad in soft
shimmering, white satin, her glori
Gus hair uncovered, one creamy flower
: nesting In its soft sickness.
There she stands, vision of fresi
youthfulness and beauty, sufficient (
stir the blood of the most lymphati'
, of men. and Sir Heron's blood Is no
Emphatic.
! Untasted, he puts the champaign
down on the green baize counter ant
tN,,stfivaIy OF