Warren sheaf., 1908-04-02

%, the boy and send him away. And
she noticed that Sally b. danced and
laughed no more.
/ aired came at last, painting, red
spot on his cheek, his lips dry, his
boots rock-scratched and his trousers
! red with dust.
i NO. no supper yet, there isn't
time. he said to Stella as she met and
questioned him in the hall "Yes, /
/ walked the nine miles, all that didn't
run. He saw the quick sympathy
leap to her eye, but went on quickly
Make things ready while / change
and get my breath. You can begin
without me, can't you?"
! She nodded, flushed at the look he
sent to her over his shoulder from the
starr and ran in to help Sally B. set
the programme in motion.
1t was better than the usual ex-
| perience of amateurs, for Alfred was
practlsed in such work and had drilled
his mummers carefully. And the on
lockers were so ready to be pleased
that the tiimsy house quaked with fire.
| quent applause and rained pine
needles and candle grease impartially
on silk and fustian
All the evening Stella had looked
forward to the moment when she
might dance with Alfred. During the
| programme Gideon had knocked at the
door of grandma ans room, then the
green ROOM" to ask for coming
waltzes, and had gone away scowling
at Stella's refusal.
Their brief players moment had
passed, when Alfred's eyes had burned
| into hers, revealing his own heart in
| Romeo's words.
| Yet now that it was over, it seemed
a dream, and Stella began to doubt,
to fear. No formal words could more
fully disclose them, one to the other;
still an intangible veil had dropped
between them. Alfred was withheld
! from her; or did he withhold himself?
No matter what it was, this hour she
would claim. One dance! Once to feel
| his arms about her, to fancy him her
very own-she would dare fate for
this; would borrow from the future
this one little bit of time, nor care
what usury she must pay.
AS they neared Mr.. Crocker stand
ing by the Office door the jam Of
onlookers halted them. Some one ad-
dressed Stella and she did not hear
Mr.. Crocker's low request for an i'm
mediate word with Alfred He told
her of it as they walked slowly down
the room.
She saw an angry CLEAN in his eye.
saw his set, stern jaw: but he spoke
! hardly word. Stella almost felt that
his anger was for her. In vain she looked
for some tender glance, some whisper
that would explain. She could not
know that Alfred was fighting one of
the few fierce battles of his life: that
he was almost ready to strike out
with his fist for possession of her, to
defy Mr.. Crocker. business, all the
sane and safe and dutiful things of
| life. But the wild moment passed,
and more than once On his way to the
door he looked back tender messages
to her.
The supper hour came; but she
would not go with Gideon upstairs,
where it was laid in the corral" fear
ing that Alfred, in his first search for
her, would miss her Neither would
she dance afterward. but sat out a
schottische, refusing all on plea OF
fatigue.
Gideon danced with no one but Stel-
Ia, and hung about her. entranced by
her new beauty. When at last a
waltz was called love and anger joined
hands. Just few steps, Stella" he
pleaded; when Vincent comes I'll
give way Why doesn't he come in
spite Of Charley Crocker and claim
his dance like a n-n?"
But he must stay If Mr.. Crocker
wishes she said, her lips defending,
her heart sore.
DO you suppose so Charley Crock
ers or railroad jobs would keep me
from a promise to you?" Gideon asked
vehementiy.
Something in Stella's passionate
heart responded for a moment to Gid
cons lawless fame, though deep in
her soul she knew that she more hon
ored Alfred's devotion to duty
Anyway, I'd think you would be
ashamed to let him see so plainly that
you love him. Men don't care for girls
that fling themselves openly. They
despise EN-"
stung as by lash, Stella rose, and
without word stepped out on the
floor with Gideon. In any garb he was
q striking figure. Tonight his fault
less dress enhanced his Spanish grace
I and joy softened his dark, inscrutable
face. Since childhood the two had
danced together. Even In the grim
desert station Stella's father had often
yielded to their coaxing and tuned
their measures on his old violin.
She saw Alfred enter and pause sud.
denly in the doorway as Gideon
whirled her on toward him. She