The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-02-26

The windows of other rooms, except
those Of the kitchens, were dark, for
the rule of the place was Puritanical
in thrift, as in all things, and the good
housekeepers disputed every record OF
the meters with unhappy gas collectors. \
There was no better houSekeeper in
town than Mrs. Louden, nor a thriftler.
but hers was one of the few houses IN
4 Canaan that evening which showed
/ bright lights IN the front rooms while
I the family We're at supper. 1t was
proof Of the agitation caused by the
arrival Of Eugene that she forgot to
turn out the gas IN her parlor and in
the chamber she called a library on
her way to the evening meal.
4 Joe escaped as soon as he could,
/ though not before the count of his lat
er sins had been set before Eugene in
I detail IN mass and in all of their depth.
breadth and thickness. His father spoke
4 but once after nodding heavily to con-
firm all points of Mrs Louden's re-
/ cital.
You better use any influence you've
got with your brother" he said to Eu-
4 gene, ito make him come to time I
can't do anything with him. If he
gets in trouble, he needn't come to me!
I'll never help him again. I'm tired
of 1t"
Joes movements throughout the ear
Iier part of that evening are OF uncer-
tain report 1t is known that he made
a partial payment of As cents at a sec
ondhand book store for a number Of
volumes. "Grndstaff on Torts" and
some others, which he had negotiated
on the installment system. 1t is also
believed that he won 2S cents playing
seven-up in the little room behind
Louie Farbach's bar, but these things
are of little import compared to the
established fact that at II o'clock he
was one of the ball guests at the Pike
mansion. He took no active part in
the festivities, nor was he one of the
dancers His was, on the contrary, the
role of a quiet observer. He lay
stretched at full length upon the floor
of the inclosed porch-one Of the strips
of canvas was later found to have been
oosened-wedged between the outer
railing and a row of palms in green
tubs.
It was not to play eavesdropper that
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 the
dance he might not have risked the
dangers of his present position. He
R,1 lob int In, 70
whispered coquetries that he heard,
He watched only to catch now and
then over the shoulders Of the dancers
a ftfui glimpse of a pretty head that
fitted across the window-the amber
hair of Mamie Pike. He shivered IN
the drafts, and the floor of the porch
was cement, painful to elbow and
knee the space where he lay cramped
and narrow, but the golden bubbles Of
her hair, the simmer of her dainty
pink dress and the fluffy wave of her
lace scarf as she crossed and recrossed
in a 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 a 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
! - +,
lively
For the worse, ma cherieY Joe's
expression might have been worth see
ing when Eugene said ma cherie," for
it was known IN the Louden household
that Mr.. Bantry had failed to pass his
examination in the French language.
mo she answered. but you have
seen so much and accomplished SO
much since then. You have become sc
polished and So She paused and
then continued: But perhaps I'd bet
ter not say 1t. 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, 1 mean that you have
become 50 thoroughly a man Of the
) world. Now I've said it! You are Of
2 Tended. aren't your
mot at all; not at ALL" replied Mr.
Bantry, preventing by a masterful eff
> fort bis pleasure from showing In his
9 face.
Then I'm-glad," she whispered, and
Joe saw his stepbrotber touch he
: hand, but she rose quickly. There's
, the music" she cried happily. IT'S &
waltz, and It's yours
i Joe heard her little high heels tap
I ping gayly toward the window, follow
ed by the heavier tread of Eugene, bu
u he did not watch them go.
u He lay on his back, with the hand
2 that had touched Mamie's scarf press
I ed across his closed eyes.
The nucia Of tho vvoltZ was Of fhi