Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-04-27
By... @- GEORGE
 CARY EGGLESTON

called upon her she promptly put away
 her surprise and walked into the par
 Tor and greeted her visitor not without
 some lingering trace of surprise at the
 honor done her, but with no touch of
 foolish embarrassment in her manner.
 Barbara was simply her own sweet,
 natural self, and when Duncan went
 away after his call the glamour of her ] personality, was more strongly upon
 him than ever.
 "She, at least" he thought as he
 walked toward the levee, twill not mis-
 construe my call, as Mrs Hallam sug- l gests. She is too womanly, too sin
 cere, too genuine, for that. I shall call again very soon, though. now that
 I think of it, she forgot to ask me to
 do so. Never mind. I'll manufacture
 some excuse-oh, by love, have it!
 The Coterie' is to give fancy dress
 dance week from tonight. I'll invite
 her to go. wonder if she will ac-
 cept. hope so, but even if she doesn't
 the invitation will give me ample ex-
 cuse for calling. I'll do it tomorrow
 evening"
 When Duncan called upon Barbara
 the next evening and asked her to at-
 tend the dance under his escort her as- tonishment was manifest in spite of her best endeavors to conceal it. She had never before been invited to such
 function, and she had not dreamed
 of this. That, however, was not her
 greatest occasion for surprise. In her
 modesty she had never thought of her
 self as in any way the fellow or equal
 of the other girls in town, who were
 eagerly invited to attend everything
 in the way of entertainments. If any
 other young man in town had asked
 her to be his partner on this occasion
 she would have regarded the occur
 renee as surprising one. To be ask
 ed by Guilford Duncan was more as-
 tonishing than all. She knew the high place he had won for himself in Cairo.
 She knew that he was everywhere re- garded as altogether the superior of
 lh lhC olhCl touli6 hiCh lAtCilCItudliy, morally, socially and in all other ways.
 She regarded him as an aristocrat among men, man who had always held aloof from the society around him, as if it were quite unworthy of his atten- tion. She had womans instinct enough, too, to know how greatly honored any other girl in the city would feel if asked by him to any function. The fact that he had asked her instead of some other puzzled her almost to be. wilderment. .sz
 At first she gave him no answer. She was obviously thinking, and Duncan let her think on. He thought she lock- ed exceedingly pretty while thinking. He observed slight puckering of her forehead at the time, which seemed to him to add interest to her face. After l little she said:
 Thank you, Mir. Duncan. for your invitation. I am more pleased with 1t | than can say. But think must ask you to excuse me. I think can't pos sibly go to the dance"
 May I ask why not? Do you not care for dancing and societyT
 "Oh, I care very much. or. rather" she added with scrupulous fidelity to truth. T should care very much to at- tend this party. I should enjoy it more than anything, but
 "Will you think me impertinent," Duncan asked when she thus stopped In the middle of her sentence-"will you think me impertinent if I ask you what comes after that word 'butr"
 "Oh, I think you mustn't ask me that. At least I think I mustn't an- swer you"
 Very we'll" replied the young man, blessed with the girls manner in spite of his disappointment over her hesita- ton. May I make a suggestion? If you had simply said no to my invita- ton, of course I should not think of urging it upon you. But what you have said shows me that you would 1t if there were not some thing in the way. Perhaps you can overcome the difficulty. Will you not try? Will rou not take little time .o think and perhaps to consult with yorr 
 T should like to. but that would be nnfair to you. It might deprive you of Tn opportunity to ask some one else"
 "I shall ask no one else. I shall not attend the affair at all unless 1 am privileged to escort you. If may I will call tomorrow evening and every 'vening until you can give me your de- ,Ision." There was a certain masterfulness n his manner and utteranee which 'eemed to leave no chance for further discussion. So Barbara simply said:
 Very well. I'll be ready to answer -ou tomorrow evening. I suppose I , nm ready now. but you wish me 10 vait. and it shall be so'' f Duncan hurriedly took his leave. Per iaps he feared that if he stayed longer he girl might make her no a final ne. Otherwise he hoped for a better utcome
 When he had gone poor little Bab sat or a time iA bewiIderment She still ould not understand why such a man 8 Guilfori Duncan. whom everybody egar1ed as the coming man in Cal Q. should have chosen her Instead of one other as the recipient of his invi- |. ation- She could not still c certain | about her heart. She was T uII of ioy. and yet she was soreIy rieved that she must put aside what eemed to her q supreme opportunity , be happy for time
 It was always her way when any notion pleased or troubled her to 70 T , ha- F-srrd N-s Pfrh.rs4. fo- 2