Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-04-29

Siward nodded
"Then hadn't you bettcr-I beg your
pardonl You have not asked me TO
advise you"
"No I may ask your advice some
day. VIII YOU give II when dos"
with pleasure" said Plank. so
warmly disinterested. so plainly proud
and eager to do n service that Siward,
surprised and touched. found no word
20 utter.
Plank rose. Slward attempted 70
stand up. but had trouble with his
crutches.
"Please don't try" said Plank, com
Ing over and Offering his hand. MAY
I stop In again soon? oh. you are off
to the country for month or two?
see. You don't look very we'll I hope
II will benefit you. Awfully glad to
have seen you. IL hope you won't
forget me-entirely"
81 am the man people are forget
ting" returned Siward. mot you. II
was very nice Of you to come. You
are one OF very few who remember me
at all"
II have very few people to remem-
ber," said Plank, land II ! had as
many as ! could desire I should re
member you first"
Here he became very much embar-
raised. Siward offered his hand again.
Plank shook 1t awkwardly and went
away on tiptoe down the stairs, which
creaked decorously under his weight
And that ended the first interview
between Plank and Slward In the first
days OF the latter's decline.
The months that passed during ST.
wards absence from the city began
to prove rather eventful for Plank.
He was finally elected member Of
the PATRONS club without serious OPP
position; he had dined twice with the
Kemp Ferralls; he and Major Bel
ness dance and In the Caithness box
at the opera. Once n respectable news
paper reported him at Tuxedo for the
weeks end; his name, linked with the
clergy. frequently occupied such space
under the column headed "Ecclesias-
IDEAL News" as was devoted to the
progress OF the new chapel, and many
old ladies began to become familiar
with his name.
At the right moment the Mortimers
featured him between two fashionable
bishops at dinner. Mrs. Vendenning,
who adored bishops, Immediately re-
membered him among those asked to
her famous annual bal poudre, cele-
brated yacht club admitted him to
membership, whole shoal OF excel.
lent minor clubs which really needed
new members followed suit, and even
the rockribbed Lenox, wearied of its
own time honored immobility, display.
ed the preliminary fidgets which BODIED
well for the stolid candidate.
Yes, he was doing well. for that des.
potlc beauty, Sylvia Lands, whose "a.
PRECIOUS perversity had recently aston.
ished those who remembered her I'm
her first season as a sweet, reasonable
and unspoiled girl, was always friend
ly with him. That must be looked up
on as important, considering Sylvia's
unassailable position and her kinship
to the autocratic old lady whose kindly
ukase had for generations remained
the undisputed law In the social sys-
tenn OF Manhattan.
At ball at the Pages, to which Mrs.
Mortimer took him, Plank met Sylvia.
Her escort. Ferrall nodded to him
pleasantly She leaned forward from
Ferrall's arm. saying under her breath.
II have saved a dance for you. Please
ask me at once. Quicki Do you want
mer'
IL do" stammered Plank.
Ferrall. suspicious. stepped forward
to exchange civilities, then turning ia
the girl beside him: "See here, Sylvia,
you've dragged me all over this house
on one pretext or another. Do you
want any supper, or don't your II you
don't, It's our dance"
"No, don't. No. II isn't. Kemp
you annoy me-"
That's nice thing to say. Is II
your delicately inimitable way Of Civ.
ing me my conger
Eyes, thank you" nodded Miss Ian
dis coolly. You may go now"
You're spoiled. that's what's the
matter" retorted Ferrall wrathfully
IL thought 7 was to have this dance
You said
81 said perhaps because didn't
see Mr.. Plank coming to claim 1t
Thank you. Kemp. for finding him"
Her nod and smile took the edge
from her malice. Ferrall, who really
adored dancing. glared about for any
body to dance with.
Sylvia, standing beside Plank, look
cd up at him with her confident and
friendly smile.
you don't care to dance, do you
Would you mind II we sat out thi:
dancer
"If you'd rather" he said, so wist
fully that she hesitated; then with 9
little shrug laid one hand on his arm
and they swung out across the fiool
together into the scented whirl.
Plank, like many heavy men, dane
ed beautifully. and Sylvia. who still
loved dancing with all the ardor OF Z
schoolgirl. permitted moment or tive
of keen delight to sweep her dreamIly
from her purpose. But that purpose
must have been strong one. for sh,
returned to IL IN a few minutes and
looking up at Plank, said very gently
that she cared to dance no more.
Her hand resting lightly on his arm
1t did not seem possible that any pres
sure of hers was directing them to The
CONSERVATORY. vet be did not know