The Meeker herald., 1909-04-10

round he went He danced divinely.
I didn't feel the least bit shy or
tongue-tied. chattsd away gayly.
A faux-pas nearly always leads to
intimacy. It seems to break up the
Ice In one huge smite. instead OF
through lot Of tiny hits.
Every moment ! felt. that was
growing madden and madder. the
lights. the music. and-and the White
Knight, 1t was all dream!
am laying my Utmost soul bare.
Never. never in my life have felt 10
wildly hilarious a. on the night of
Aunt Hslena's fancy dress ball.
Bang, bang, bang. The dance was
ended. paused breathless but RI
dainty happy.
Wasn't 1t. oh. wasn't It Just too
glorious!" cried. excitedly.
'You look az II you'd enjoyed It,"
and he surveyed me carefully. But
come-or We sha'n't ind any nice
cozy corner left" H.,
"Cozy corners-I hate the word
cozy-corner; it's 80 suburban" an
nounced. rebelliously.
Shall we go outside. then?" he
said. gayly. humoring my caprice. 2
was pleased with the idea. The
house seemed 30 cramped-the world
outside SO big and protecting.
We wandered up and down the nut
walk. and We continued to chatter and
laugh.
He was an awfully nice man. and
liked him. There was NO sentimental
nonsense about him.
But the time few thine always 10
er peoples wisheD and the band
struck up the last dance.
My White knight looked down on
me with his twinkle. didn't want to.
say sood-by: Just wanted to scream.
It was over!
"Good-by. little peasant" and he
patted my hand softly, like-well, like
really nice man can pat 1t.
Il do hope you'll come and SEQ us
sometimes" pleaded. grasping at the
last straw, and my mind went gallop-
ing on ~ spoke
Would he. propose to ms-what
would the family say--should have
half-hoop OF diamonds for an en-
gaxement ring? l felt that indeed ]
could b. happy with him. It's not the
least GOOD anybody hooking horriAed
and saying: How could shs!" for its
exactly Whist every girl does whom
she meets favored man. only she
Isn't honest enough to own to 1t.
He went on patting my hand. I
wonder what the fascination 10 about
It; there certainly II one.
"Of course, I'll come and see you.''
Kitty was coming toward US.
My spirits rose. The White Knight
was adorable.
He paused. He didn't sigh. Just
paused. then he added quickly: May
bring my wife and boy with me!
should like you to know Harry, he's
such jolly little chap"
The moon whiried round. His eyes
were upon me. they twinkled through
his helmet.
III never trust twinkling eyes again.
pulled myself together with an eff.
fort.
That will be NICE" I said with .
radiant smile. Il simply dote ON chill
dren."
Jest formal sood-by, q convention
a mandrake. and he was gone.
Kitty followed me up to my bed.
room, shd remained sossipinx over
the IRE. People always have q knack
Of staying when you least want them.
yawned nve times in succession:
at last she took the hint and went.
ITS what said BEFORE" l NUT.
tered to myself. a. pulled down my
hair. "Life's just made up of incl
dents aad humbug. He was pretend
ing-a humbus. and that was Just an
incident"
didn't % about declaring should
never marry because / had fallen In
love with dear face In an iron heI.
met.
/ never pretended. and I jolly well
mean to marry some day whom q Soc
ond knight rides up unencumbered
with wife and son. Life went On the
same. and his image faded away. It
was only just an incident, after an!