Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1908-04-03

and unspoiled girl, was always friend
~ with him. That must he looked up
on rs important. considering Sylvia's
dnassailable position and her kinship
TO the autocratic old lady whose kindly
ukase had for generations remained
che undiSputed law In the social sys-
TEN 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:
Il have saved n dance for you. Please
ask me ut once. Quick. DO you want
me-"
IL do" stammered Plank.
Ferrall. suspicious. stepped forward
to exchange civilities. then turning 10
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 you? II you
don't. it's our dance"
NO don't. No. 1t isn't Kemp.
| you annoy Inc"
That's Il nice thing TO say. Is II
your deIicately inimitable way Of CIV
! Ing me my congo"
Yes. 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 | was to have this dance
You said
81 said perhaps because | didn't
see Mr. Plank coming TO claim II
Thank you. Kemp. for finding him"
Her nod aud 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
ed up at him with her confident and
friendly smile.
"You don't care TO dance. do you?
Would you mind II we sat out this
dance"
IF you'd rather" he said. so visit
FULLY that she hesitated; then with a
little shrug laid one hand on his arm.
tltN N"hllS Jul i'i'oC 'bN hoC'
together into the scented whirl.
Plank. like many heavy men. dane,
ed beautifully. and Sylvia. who still
loved dancing with all the ardor of a
schoolgirl. permitted moment or two
OF keen delight to sweep her dreamlly
from her purpose. But that purpose
must have been Il strong one. for she
returned to 1t in n 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, yet he did not know
: vher. he was going. and she was IA
.nliar with the house. and they soon
! entered the conservatory, where, in the
shadow of various palms, various
youths looked up impatiently as they
passed and various maidens sat "
very straight in their chairs.
r Threading their dim way into the
o farther recesses. they found seats
among thckets of forced lilacs over
g hung by early wistaria. A spring
like odor hung In the air Some where
0 Il Jlny Iounraln grew musical IN til,
1 semidarkneSs.
|. Marion told me you had been ask
d ed" she said. I'VE have been S,
friendly. You've always asked me t,
o dance whenever We have met, so
$ thought I'd save you one. Are you
battered Mr.. Plank"
l. He said he was. very pleasantly. per
Y fectly undeceived and convinced Of he
r purpose-a purpose never even taciu,
| admitted between them. and the oil,
e loneliness came over him agaln-no
O resentment. for he was willing that sh
t should use him. Why not? Other
used him, everybody used him. and /
T. they found no use for him they lie
Il wether-all. all had something to ex
e act from him. 1t was for that We wa
tolerated. He knew it. He had slow
~ and unwillingly learned it. His in
s trusion among these people. of whom
! he was not one. would he endured on
ly while he might be turned to som
: account. The hospital used him. tn
/. clergy found plenty for him to do 70
II them. the museum had room for othe
h pictures of his. Who among them al
had ever sought him without me
" tive? Who among them all had eve
II found unselfish pleasure in him? Nc
one
l. He wished she would come to he
u point. but he dnred not lead her to
< too brusquely. because her purpose an
VI her point were supposed to be abst
J. lutely hidden from his thick and cred
e ulous understanding. 1t had take
] him some time to make this clear
1 himself. Passing from suspicio
X through chagrin and overwounded fee
s. ing to dull certainty that she, too. wa
e using him. harmlessly enough frol
e her standpoint. but how bitterly fror
'e his, he alone could know.
s. The futter of her fan meant imp;
Re tience to learn from him what she ha
y come to him to learn and then. salts
II fed, to leave him alone again ami
the peopled solitude of clustered light
rs He wished she would speak. Fl
lie was tired of the sadness of 1t al
g. Whenever in his isolation. in his ute
e. restitution Of friendship. he turne
to guilelessly to meet new advance. a
G. ways, sooner or later the friendl
to mask was lifted enough for him t
Il divine the cool. fixed gaze of self il
ID terest inspecting him through til
ID damask Sits.
u Sylvia was speaking now, and til
plumy fan was under savant contro
~ waving graceful accompaniment to he
soft voice, punctuating her sentence
s. at times, at times making an emphas
Il or outlining q gesture.