The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1906-10-19
Lavender
|CreightOn'S
!. Lovers
BY OLIVIA B. STRoHM
Copyright, 1895. by Olivia B. srohml
CHAPTER XIII.-CoNTINUED.


apology. The sum was not trifiing to
him; he could not obtain it If Tick
should turn through the means when
had lost it.
Il am very sorry, Senior, but | can
not confess a gambling debt to my
father; nor has he the money to pay
it. Give me more time, and the cards
will win for me; my luck will4turn; it
must" There was feverish light IN
his Embarrassment clogged his
tongue. s.
Patting him cordially on the shorl-
der, the Spaniard said: Excuse my
reminding you, sir; it is especially I'm
wise of me to trouble one who can be
of such service to me-"
At the suave manner of his creditor
the youth took courage. Service to
you? How" a, .."'
You will be at the dance tomorrow
night? You, will bring your sister,
Miss Lavender.?"'., <,sT
A light flashed ,op Gerald's mind.
Lavender 1 don't believe she in
tended coming, but F."
He paused, and Gonzaga assisted him
with telling emphasis. But you, per-
haps, can arrange it? You will try?'
Certainly if you-if she-perhaps
she would enjoy it," stammered Gerald.
81 will. try to bring her with me-
do so, and-worry no more about
that other little matter"
So 1t was that Gerald had urged
Lavender to go to the party. He mad
assured her that it was her duty to
mingle more with these honest village
folk, and his sister, nothing 10th, prom
Used.
And to the merry-making she mad
come, looking, in her best holiday at
tire, like bit of Dresden china in this
homely collection of pottery.
In the game of King William, the
Spaniard chose Lavender from the cir
Gle, and together they stepped to the
center. Around them, joining hands,
swung the romping crowd.
Down on this carpet you must kneel,
AS sure as grass grows in the field;
Salute your bride and kiss her sweet,
Now yeu may rise upon your feet"
The precedent had been established
blushing cheeks had been lifted, pretty
lips raised to the rough and bristling
foooo -haea racoupdino am q oLc ochOnd
to shouts of laughter. Or. rumpied
frocks and tousled hair were the If
fects of resistance which, if sometimes
made, was faint-hearted, and only bit
of coqpetry adding flavor to the final
forfeit
Therefore when Lavender and the
Spaniard held the attention, there was
a fiutter Of suspense, of eager curiosity
on the part of the onlookers. How
would this dainty maid behave? Or
how this foreigner, who was evidently
q sutton?
Gonzaga knelt beside her, handsomer
than ever in this romantic situation
with the red blood mantling through
the olive skin. He was straight and
long-limbed, with the strain of the
cavaliers in his naughty beauty.
And, dropping little under his ex-
pressive gaze, Lavender hummed he
tune half to herself, her heels clicking
the floor in time to the violin. But AT
the words:
Salute your bride and kiss her sweet,
she raisediher eyes to HE with proud
denial. An instant the man hesitated
then, obedient to her unspoken COM
mand, he helped her to rise. AS she
was bowling to rejoin the circle, he
caught her hand in warm pressure
and held it to his lips A murmur oil
laughter greeted this, which the more
favored youths present regarded as O
signal defeat.
When the game was over there was
a rush for seats, some for the rude
benches which lined the walls. some
for the more inviting hooks outside.
Let us get a breath of fresh air.
the Spaniard s@d, and led Lavender
to the door.
Strings of popcorn and peppers rec
and green dangled across the door
posts. making fantastic shadows on the
ground.
There was no moon, but the star!
shone bright on the white-walled cab
ins dotting the groves, on the pawpaV
bushes AMI cottonwood trees along tn,
river. A pile of stones formed rud'
fence. and upon this, bestowing he
frippery carefully, Lavender perched
taking care to keep we'll within n,
light from the barn door For Their
was that i'm her companion name
which made her fear a private tall
In spite Or her precaution he began
ut is haf3i for me to keep my prom
Use, you are so charming tonight
This dresa with its fragrance Of de
liciouE past, brings back all the court
Iincss, the.stately charm Of the grand
dame which none has worn for me Il
many long day" He pressed betweei
his dngers the hem of her skirt tina
lay in folds about the stones on whlc
she sat
Lavender laughed and Std ttfaia
the subject from ltfsSfsl q al, t, cha
you admire the S1tes s6n0ns. q In
quite a history: 4 VAS
- Il = 9 80