Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-10-03
Lavender
|CreightOn'S
Lovers
BY OLIVIA B. STROHM
lCopyright, 1905. by Olivia B. Strohml

dpOIOSy. lie SUN was uOC LrlIlluS To
him; he could not obtain it if luck
should turn through the means when
had lost it.
Il am very sorry, Senior, but can
not confess 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 will turn; it
must" There was feverish light in
his eye-embarrassmen clogged his
tongue
Patting him cordially on the Shout
der, the Spaniard said: Excuse my
reminding you, sir; it is especially I'M
wise of me to trouble one who can be
Ct such service to me-
At the suave manner of his creditor
the youth took courage. Service to
you? How"
You will be at the dance tomorrow
night? You will bring your sister,
Miss lavender"
A light flashed on Geralds mind.
Lavender? l don't believe she in
l,nded coming, but l."
He paused, and Gonzaga assisted him
with telling emphasis. But you, per-
Certainly if you-if she-perhaps
she would enjoy it," stammered Gerald.
Il will try to bring her with me-
do SO. and-worry no more about
that other little natter
So it was that Gerald had urged
Lavender to go to the party. He had
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 had
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 you may rise upon your feet"
The precedent had been established
blushing cheeks had been lifted, pretty
lips raised to the rough and bristling
faces whose resounding smacks echoed
to shouts Of laughter. Or, rumpled
frocks and tousled hair were the #
fects of resistance which, if sometimes
made. was faint-hearted, and only bit
of conuetry adding flavor to the final
forfeit.
Therefore, when Lavender and the
Spaniard held the attention, there was
a hutter Of suspense, of eager curiosity
on the part of the onlookers. How
would this dainty maid behave? Or
how this foreigner, who was evidently
a 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 raised her eyes to his 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, be
caught her hand in a warm pressure
and held it to his lips. A murmur of
laughter greeted this, which the more
favored youths present regarded as a
signal defeat
When the game was over there was
rush for seats, some for the rude
benches which lined the walls, some
for the more inviting hooks outside
LET us get breath of fresh air."
the Spaniard said, and led Lavender
to the door.
Strings Of popcorn and peppers red
and green dangled across the door
posts, making fantastic shadows on the
ground.
There was no moon, but the stars
shone bright on the white-walled cab
ms dotting the groves, on the pawpaw
bushes and cottonwood trees along the
river. A pile of stones formed a rude
fence, and upon this, bestowing her
frippery carefully, Lavender percned,
taking care to keep we'll within the
light from the barn door. For there
was that in her companions manner
which made her fear a private talk.
In spite Of her precaution he began:
1T is hard for me to keep my prom
Use, you are so charming tonight.
This dress, with its fragrance of de-
licious past, brings back all the court
Illness, the stately charm of the grande
dame which none has worn for me in
many long day." He pressed between
his fingers the hem of her skirt that
lay in folds about the stones on which
she sat.
Lavender laughed and said, turning
the subject from herself: II am glad
you admire the dress, Senior; it has
quite a history; it was"
But he interrupted. ''The gown IS
only the added charm-the color OF the
rose it's perfume, it's beauty, Is there,
no matter in what petals. So it is not
the dress, it is you. At sight of you
I am transported to rare old past, the
ugly present dies. You are a jewel in
q leaden setting, you are"
flush, senior, or I shall begin to
fancy myself great lady indeed-or
r,arhoDa tho sna11 vil1 hrooE ond r