Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-03-06

meant-oh, you thought 1 would firt
with you! What right had YOU to come
with such song to me?"
Tom intended only to disclaim the
presumption, so far from his thoughts
that his song had moved her, for he
could see that her attack was prompt
ed by her inexplicable impression that
he had assumed the attitude of con
queror, but his explanation began I'm.
fortunately.
Forgive me. think you have COM
/ pletely misunderstood. You thought it
meant something l did not intend at
all. and"-
What" she said, and her eyes blaz-
ed, for now she beheld him as the ar
rant sneak of the world. He, the lady
killer, with his hypocritical air of
strength and melancholy sweetness,
the leader of drunken revels and, by
reputation, the town Lothario and
light-o'-love, under promise of mar
riage to Fanchon Bareaud, had tried to
make love to another girl, and now his
cowardice in trying to disclaim what
he had done lent him the insolence to
say to this other: "My child, you are
betrayed by your youth and conceit;
you exaggerate my meaning had no
intention to distinguish you by coquet-
ting with you'll" This vas her interpre-
tation Of him, and her indignation was
not lessened by the inevitable conclu-
sion that he, who had been through 80
many scenes with women, secretly
found her simplicity diverting. Miss
Betty had little Of her father in her,
! while it was part of her youth, too,
i that of all things she could least en-
dure the shadow of smile at her own
/, expense.
"Oh, oh!' she cried, her voice shak-
ing with anger. II suppose your bad
heart is half choked with your laughter
at me-"
She turned from him swiftly and left
him.
Almost running, she entered the house
and hurried to seat by Mrs. Tanber-
ry, nesting to her like young sapling
on hillside. Instantaneously several
gentlemen who had hastily acquitted
| themselves Of various obligations in
order to seek her sprang forward with
lager greetings, so that when the
stricken Tom, dazed and COMPOUNDED
by his evil luck, followed her at about
five PAGES he found himself confronted
by an impenetrable abatis formed by
the spiked tails Of the coats Of Cen
eral Trumble, Madrillon, Tappingham
Marsh, Cummings and Jefferson Ba-
reaud. Within this fortification rang
out laughter and sally from Miss Ca
rewe. Her color was high, and her
eyes sparkled never more brightly.
Flourish and alarms sounded for a
quadrille. Each of the semicircle, firm
~ elbowing his neighbor begged the
dance Of Miss Betty, but Tom was him.
self again and laid a long, strong hand
on Madri!lon's shoulder, pressed him
gently aside and said:
Forgive me. Miss Carewe has hon.
ored me by the promise Of this qua
drille."
He bowed, offering his arm, and none
Of them was too vain to envy that bow
and gesture.
For a moment he remained waiting.
Miss Carewe rose slowly and, directly
facing him, said in composed and even
voice, you force me to beg you never
to address me again"
She placed her hand on the generals
arm, turning her back squarely upon
Tom.
In addition to those who heard, many
persons in that part Of the room saw
the afront and paused in arrested at
titudes. Others, observing these, turn
ed inquiringly, SO that sudden silence
fell. broken only by the voice Of Miss
Betty as she moved away, talking
cheerily to the general. Tom was left
standing. alone in the broken semi
circle.
All the eyes swept from her to him
and back. Then every one began to
talk hastily about nothing. The young
mans humiliation was public.
He went to the door under cover of
the movement of the various couples
to find places in the quadrille, yet ev-
cry sidelong glance in the room still
rested upon him, and he knew 1t. BE
remained in the ball alone through that
dance and at Its conclusion walked
slowly through the rooms, speaking to
people here and there as though moth
ing had happened, but when the music
sounded again he went to the dressing
room, found his hat and cloak and left