Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-01-29
Il was not to play eavesdropper that

It was not to play edvesdrOpper tnat
the unlimited Joe had come. He was
not there to listen, and it is possible
that had the curtains of other windows
afforded him the chance to behold tie
dance he might not have risked the
dangers of his present position. He
had not the slightest interest In the
whispered coquetries that he heard.
He watched only to catch now and
then over the shoulders Of the dancers
a ftful glimpse of pretty head that
fitted across the window-the amber
hair of Mamie Pike. He shivered In
the drafts, and the door of the porch
was cement, painful to elbow and
knee, the space where he lay cramped
and narrow, but the golden bubbles Ut
her hair, the simmer Of her dainty
pink dress and the fluffy wave of her
lace scarf as she crossed and recrosscd
IN waltz left him apparently in no
discomfort. He watched with parted
lips, his pale cheeks reddening when
ever those fair glimpses were his. At
last she came out to the veranda with
Eugene and sat upon little divan, so
close to Joe that, daring wildly in the
shadow, he reached out trembling
hand and let his fingers rest upon the
end Of her scarf, which had fallen
from her shoulders and touched the
floor. She sat with her back to him,
as did Eugene.
"You have changed, think, since
~ ANxa NV -
lively.
"For the worse, ma cherleT Jo,.'s
expression might have been worth see
ing when Eugene said INA cherie," for
it was known in the Louden household
. that Mr.. Bantry had failed to pass his
examination in the French language.
NO." she answered. But you have
seen so much and accomplished SO
much since then. You have become so
polished and So She paused and
then continued: But perhaps I'd bet
ter not say it. You might be offended"
mo. l want you to say it." he re-
turned confidently. and his confidence
was fully justified, for she said:
"Well. then, mean that you have
become so thoroughly a man Of the
world. Now I've said 1t! You are Of
Tended, aren't you?"
mot at all; not at ALL" replied Mr..
Bantry, preventing by masterful eff
fort his pleasure from showing in his
face.
''Then Tm-glad." she whispered, and
Joe saw his stepbrother touch her
hand, but she rose quickly. There's
the music" she cried happily. It'll a
waltz, and It's yours"
Joe heard her little high heels tilp-
ping gayly toward the window. follow
ed by the heavier tread OF Eugene, hut
he did not watch them 90.
He lay on his back, with the hand
that had touched Mamie's scarf press
ed across his closed eyes.
The music OF the waltz was Of the
old fashioned swingingly sorrowful
sort. and it would be hard to say how
long 1t was after that before he could
hear the air played without a recurrence
Of the bitterness Of that moment .rhe
rhythmical pathos Of the violins was
in such accord with a faint sound of
weeping which he heard near him
presently that for little while he be-
lieved this sound to be part of the lnu-
sic and part of himself. Then 1t be-
came more distinct. and he raised him
self on one elbow to look about.
Very close to him, sitting upon the
divan In the shadow, was girl wear
ing q dress Of beautiful silk. She was
crying softly. her face in her hands.
Go be continued.)