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

gardlng the career OF Crafley Gray,
and she thought how intensely she
would have hated any person in the
world except Mrs. Tanberry for pre-.
Stunning to think she needed to be warn
ed against the charms Of this serenad-
Ing lady killer who was the property
Of another girl.
"You must keep him away, think"
ventured Mrs. Tanberry gently.
At that Betty turned to her and said
sharply:
II will. After this please let us new
er speak of him again."
A slow nod of the others turbaned
head indicated the gravest acquies-
cence. She saw that her companion's
cheeks were still crimson. 81 under
stand" said she.
A buzz of whispering, like July bee
tie, followed Miss Carewe and her
partner about the room during the next
dance. How had Tom managed it?
Had her father never told herr Who
had dared to introduce them? Fanchon
was the only one who knew, and as
she whirled by with Will Cummings
she raised her absent glance long
enough to give Tom an affectionate
and warning shake of the head.
+ Tom did not see this. Miss Carewe
Old. Alas! She smiled upon him in
stantly and looked deep into his eyes.
1t was the third time.
She was not afraid Of this man flirt.
He was to be settled with once and
forever. She intended to avenge both
Fanchon and herself. Yet it is haz-
ardous game, this piercing of eye with
eye, because the point which seeks to
penetrate may soften and melt, leaving
one defenseless. For perhaps ten Sec
onds that straight look lasted, while it
seemed to her that she read clear into
the soul Of him and to behold it through
some befooling magic as strong, ten
der, wise and true as his outward APP
pearance would have made an innocent
stranger believe him, for he looked all
these things, she admitted that much,
and he had an air Of distinction and
resource beyond any she had ever
known; even in the wild scramble for
her kitten he had not lost 1t. So for
ten seconds, which may be long time,
she saw man such as she had dream
ed, and she did not believe her sight,
because she had no desire to be as cred
ulous as the others, to be as easily
cheated as that poor Fanchon!
The luckless Tom found his own feet
beautiful on the mountains and, tread
ing the heights with airy steps, APP
peared to himself wonderful and glori-
tied-he was waltzing with Miss Betty!
, He breathed the enhancing words to
himself over and over. It was true he
was Waiting with Miss Betty Carewel
Her glove lay warm and light within
his. own. His fingers clasped that in
effable lilac and white brocade waist
Sometimes her hair came within an
inch Of his cheek, and then he rose out
right from the hilltops and doated in a
golden mist. The glamour of which the
incroyable had planned to tell her some
day surrounded Tom, and 1t seemed to
him that the whole world was covered
with beautiful light like carpet,
which was but the radiance of this
adorable girl whom his gloves and
coat sleeve were permitted to touch.
When the music stopped they followed
in the train Of other couples seeking the
GOODNESS Of out of doors for the inter.
I, val, and Tom in his soul laughed at all
other men with illimitable condescen.
| sion.
stop here" she said as they reached
the open gate. He was walking out OF
| 1t, his head in the air and Miss Bet.
ty on his arm. Apparently he would
have walked straight across the state
It was the happiest moment he had
ever known. fff
He wanted to say something wonder.
full to her. Ills speech should be like
the music and glory and fire that were
in him. Therefore he was shocked tc
hear himself remarking, with an imam.
ity Of utterance that sickened him:
"Oh, here's the gate, isn'tit3" e
Her answer was short laugh, "You
mean you wish to persuade me that
you had forgotten 1t was therei"
II did not see It," he protested lam.
entably.
"No?'
II wasn't thinking Of IT"
Indeed! You were lost in thoughts
of'"-
"of you'll" he said before he could
check himself.
"Yes?" Her tone was as quietly con
temptuous as she could make 1t. "How
very frank of you! May I ask are you
convinced that speeches of that sort are
always to lady's liking?"
"No," he answered humbly and hung
his head. Then she threw the question
at him abruptly:
WAS 1t you who came to sing in oul
garden?"
There was long pause before pro
found sigh came TREMENDOUSLY from the
darkness, like sad and tender comics
sion. YES"
II thought SOP she exclaimed. Mrs
Tanberry thought twas some one else
but knew that 1t was you"
Eyes, you are right" he said quietly
ut was I. It was my only way to tel
you what you know now"
"Of counsel" She set 1t all aside witt
those two words and the slightest ges
ture Of her hand. ut was song made
for another girl, I believer" she asked
lightly and, with an ley smile, inquired
further, "F'or the one-the one before
/, the last, understandf"
He lifted his head, surprised. "Wha1
has that to do with it? The music was
made for you; but, then. think al