The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1908-01-17

happiness, her dark eyes smiling, her
lips uttering freely whatever thought
came uppermost. Outwardly she pic
tured the gay and merry spirit OF the
tight, yet TO Brant, already observing
her with the jealousy OF lover, she
appeared distract and restless. her az
fectation OF abandon q mere mask TO
her feelings. Perhaps these things
might have passed unnoted but for
their contrast with the late confiden-
tial chat.
change with what he believed OF her.
IL was not carried out with the prac-
ticed art OF one accustomed TO deceit.
There must be something real infiu-
encing her action. These misgivings
burdened his mind even as he swung
lightly with her to the music. and they
talked together in little snatches.
The last two waltzes ended. they
walked slowly through the scattering
throng, he striving vainly to arouse
her to the former independence and
intimacy of speech. Suddenly they
came face to face with Mrs. Herndon,
and Brant felt the girls arm twitch.
Il have been looking everywhere
| for you, Nadia" Mrs. Herndon said,
slight complaint in her voice. I'VE
were going home"
Naida's cheeks Redeemed painfully.
Il am so sorry II have kept you
waiting" her words spoken with
rush, "but-but. Lieut.. Brant was in
tending to accompany me. We were
| Just starting for the cloakroom."
"Oh, indeed" Mrs. Herndon's ex-
| preston was noncommittal, while her
| eyes surveyed the lieutenant.
With your permission. of course"
| he said.
Il hardly think l have any need TO
interfere
They separated, the younger people
walking slowly, silently toward the
door He held her arm, assisting her
| 10 descend the stairway, his lips MUIR
muring a few commonplaces to which
| she scarcely returned even monosyl-
| Liable replies, although she frequently
| flashed shy glances at his grave face.
Both realized that some explanation
was forthcoming. yet neither was quite
prepared TO force the issue.
Il have no wraps at the hotel" she
| said, as he attempted to turn that
| way. That was a lie also; let IS
walk directly down the road"
He INDUCED in no comment, his
| eyes perceiving a pathetic pleading in
/ Gnddan1U fhara
came TO him belief that the girl was
| crying; he could feel the slight tremor
| of her form against his own. He
glanced furtively at her, only TO catch
the glitter OF a falling tear To her
| evident distress, his heart made in
slant and sympathetic response. With
all respect influencing the action, his
hand closed warmly over the smaller
one on his sleeve.
Little girl" he said forgetting the
shortness of their acquaintance in the
deep feeling OF the moment, tell me
what the trouble is"
Il suppose you think me an awfnl
creature for saying that" she blurted
out without looking up. 1T wasn't
| lhlNllht VI HlNtf tuN sAAhFAy
couldn't help it, Lieut. Brant"
You mean your sudden determine.
ton to carry me home with your" he
asked, relieved to think this might
prove the entire difficulty. Don't let
that worry you. Why, am simply re
ioiced at being permitted to go. Do
YOU know. ! wanted to request the
privilege all the time we were dancing
together. But you acted so differently
from when we we're beneath the vines
that I actually lost my nerve"
She looked up and he caught feet
ing glimpse into her unveiled eyes.
Il did not wish you to ask me-"
What" He stopped suddenly
why, then. did you make such an an
nouncement to Mrs. Herndon?"
"Oh that was different" she ex
planned. uneasily. Il had to do that
had to trust you to help me out, but
but really wanted to go home
alone"
He swept his unbelieving eyes
around over the deserted night scene
not knowing what answer TO return Il
so strange an avowal WAS that what
caused you to appear so distant to me
in the hall, so vastly different from
what you had been before?"
She nodded, but with her gaze still
upon the ground.
Miss Nadia" he said. "it would be
cowardly for me to attempt to dodge
this issue between us. Is 1t because
you do not like me-"
She looked up quickly. the moon
light revealing her flushed face.
"Oh, no, MOI you must never think
that l told you was a girl of moods
under those vines j had one mood, In
the hall another. Cannot you under
stand?"
Very little" he admitted, for an
more inclined TO believe you are the
possessor of a strong will than thai
you are swayed by moods. Listen. Il
| thought that a mere senseless MOOD
had caused your peculiar treatment o.
me tonight, | should feel justified In
yielding to a mood also But | will mo-