Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1907-07-20

CHAPTER xvII-continued.

OF guests arrested IN InoiT ueSCeHt,
came a dark laughing girl in the garb
of Little Red Riding Hood, amid gen.
eral applause and laughter
tits Oliviai She won the wager!"
exclaimed the specialized gentleman,
and the girl, whose dark curls were
=sheken about her face, ran up to us
and threw her arms about him and
kissed him. 1t was a charming. pic
ture-the figures on the stairway, the
pretty, graceful child, the eager, happy
faces all about I was too Interested
in the scene to be uncomfortable.
Then, at the top of the stair, her
height accumulated by her gown of
white, stood Marian Devereux, hest
tating an instant as bird pauSeS be-
fore taking wing, and then laughingly
running between the lines to where
olivia faced her in mock AFFECTION.
To the charm of the girl in the wood
land was added now the dignity of
beautiful womanhOod, and my heart
Ieaped at the thought that l had ever
spoken to her, that l was there be-
cause she had tainted me with the
risk of coming.
Above, on the stair landing, a deep
toned clock began to strike midnight
and every one cried Merry, Christ
was more hand clapping, in which
Joined with good will
Some one behind me was explaining
what had just occurred. Olivia, the
youngest daughter of the house, had
been denied a glimpse of the ball;
Miss Devereux had made a wager
with her host that Olivia would APP
pear before midnight; and Olivia, de-
feating the plot against her, gained
the main hall at the stroke of II.
Good night Good night" called
'OHvia-the real Olivia.-in derision to
the company, and turned and ran back
through the applauding, laughing
throng.
The specialized gentleman was DIV
las father, and he mockingly rebuked
Marian Devereux for having encour
aged an infraction of parent disci-
pline. while she was twitting him upon
the loss of his wager. Then her eyes
rested upon me for the first time. She
lifted her brows slightly, but contin-
ued talking placidly to her-host. The
situation did not please me; 1 had not
travelled so far and barglariously en-
tered Doctor Armstrong; house in
quest of a girl with blue eyes merely
to stand by while she talked with an
other man.
1 drew nearer, impatiently; and was
conscious that four other young men
in white waiStcoats and gloves quite
as irreproachable as my own stood
ready to claim her the instant she was
free. l did not propose to be thwarted
by the beaux of Cincinnati and 1 ad-
dressed my host boldly
Il beg your pardon, Doctor"
said with an assurance for which l
blush to this hour.
''All right, my boy; 1, too have been
in Arcadyi" he exclaimed in cheerful
apology, and she put her hand on my
arm and led her away
He called me my boy so 1 must be
passing muster" l remarked, nos dar-
ing to look at her.
Hes afraid not to recognize you.
His inability to remember faces is a
town joke
We reao aed a quiet corner of the
great hall and 1 found a seat for her
You dan't seem surprised to see
me,-you Knew 1 would come. 1 should
have cone across the world for this,
for just this"
Her eyes were grave at once.
why lid you come? did not think
you were so foolish. This is also
wretchei- You didn't know that Mr..
Pickerisg- Pickering
She Iyas greatly distressed and this
name came from her chokingly.
YES; what of him." L laughed. He
is well on the way to California,-and
withoL. youi"
NQ~-you don't know-you don't un-
sderstYnd-he's here, He abandoned
his c Alifornia trip at Chicago; he tele
graplled me to expect him-here-to
nigh. You must go at once-at
soncei"
skk, but you can't brighten me-" ]
said trying to realize just what a meet
ing With Pickering in that house might
mean.
No, she looked anxiously about
-'*hey were to arrive late, he and the
4Faylors; they know the Armstrong;
quite well. They may come at any
moment now. Please goi"
But 1 have only few minutes my
seN.-you wouldn't have me sit then
out in the station down town? There
ara some things 1 have come to say
and Arthur Pickering and 1 are mo-
afraid of each other,"
But you must not meet him here
Think what that would mean to me
You are very foolhardy, Mr. Glenarm
Il had no idea you would come"
But you wished 10 try me,-yo,
challenged me-"
That wasn't met was Olivia,
sshe laughed. more at ease, "a
sfhOught-"