The Democratic advocate., 1909-10-01

NO. ] haFent cneffy lips ana dim
ples"-
Never mind the inventory. Brother
Davy." she replied.
"All right. SIS. but it'll never happen
unless you propose. In the presence
of his divinity -meaning you--he is re-
duced to Il puIp."
The sting 10 this teasing was in its
truth. Gordoa was devotion itself, yet
1t was q silent alteration. He seemed
unable to utter a word In her presence.
She had given him many opportunities
in that unexplalnable way woman
has. and once or twice he had fioun-
dered and stammered with effort until
in vexation she had retorted so whim-
sically that she had silenced him com
pletely.
"oh, he's just too ridiculous, great
big thing like him. stammering and
blushing like a schooIboy. 1t fairly
makes me ashamed" she grumbled.
A woman's motives are difficult to
fathom. Bess, In an unusual fit of
graciousness, had allowed Gordon to
escort her to ball She was justly
vain Of her escorts appearance as she
snuggled beside him I'm the depths of
the carriage. But by the time they
had arrived her manner had changed
vislbly. so much SO that she almost
ignored him after the conventional
first dance. He had tangled his feet
hopelessly In her train and missed
step until she was nearly beside her
self with modification.
There was ample excuse for his be-
wilderment She was intoxicatlngly
lovely, with her draperies floating.
cloudllke, about her bare shoulders.
and the flush OF exercise tinting her
face like a rose. Dayy's comment was,
Gordon looks as II he would like 10
eat her"
Bess was so provoked at this that
she intended to punish Gordon by
flirting outrageously Besides II
could make him cross. he might pluck
up a fraction Of courage" she thought
II yexed her still more because she
felt that he understood her motive. So
did Davy, and he would not fail TO
tease her on the morrow
Carelessly tossing Gordon her bou
quet In passing. she walked or with
Gerald Stone for an ice.
"Queer duck, that Gordon Doesn't
appear TO have much 10 say" remark
ed Gerald insinuatingly,
Here the eternal feminine came TO
the surface. ''oh, don't know
a L.. -.
treme The next instant she said
sweetly, Here's just the nook for
quiet chat Let ms sit here awhile.
The Ice can wait; so can Gordon.
He'd hold my bouquet all might"
laughingly.
An hour later Gordon sat abstract.
edly pulling at the petals Of the roses
He had hoped that the flowers might
convey to her that which he found so
dimcult to say.
In upon his musing dribbIed the con
yersation OF two acquaiDtauces.
so Gerald Stone has won Bessie
Moulton? ! thought Gordon was TO be-
the man, but he lacked courage. BE
deserves TO lose her lie should know
woman despises Il fnint heart" said
voice be knew.
II wonder how she would like it II
she knew that Gerald boasted to me Of
his conquest? He told as great joke
that she had left Gordon TO moon over
her bouquet. Said they were going 20
slip away and let him hunt for her
when he had tired Of the flowers.
Seemed to think II mighty funny" an.
swered the speakers companion.
ITS contemplate. / wouldn't have
thought it of Bessie Moultonw was the
reply as they sauntered down the room.
The sturdy independence OF Gordon's
Scotch ancestry rose within him. He
attached his card to the flowers and
left them In the cloakroom; then, with
determined step, be left the house.
Bess loitered In her frivolous chat
with the man she detested dawdled
over her ice and finally sauntered back
to the dancing hall, apparently oblivi-
GUS to the fact that she had promised
this twostep to Gordon. She expected
him to be waiting for her. When he
was not to be seen she was perturbed
"Come on, let's take his twostep."
said Gerald, with great familiarity.
mo, thanks" hotly resentlng his
tone. "You have had more than enough
of my company for one evening" she
added lightly lest she betray her an.
noyance as to Gordon.
An hour or so later she called Ger
aid to her side. ~ claim a woman's
prerogatiye--I have changed my mind.
You may take me home"
AS he bowed his thanks he thought
Of his boast to Van Asyltine ana
smiled. II suspect 1T was he who tat
tied"
Bess kept up a running fire Of non
sense oil the way home, effectually ex.
Guiding sentiment
Gordon waited in the shadow OF the
trees until they arrived He meant to
assure himself that he was not being
misled and that he was doing her no.
injustice
"Not dignified, this. but must make
sure. ! do not blame her for 1t. but
she might have been more kind about
It. / certainly subjected her to ridi
eule, and then, when she showed me
her favor SO plainly and was such n
tongue tied fool that couldn't take
advantage Of it. she must have thought
-oh, do not know what she could
think but that was foolp he mut.
tered bitterly.
He watched Gerald assist her from
the carriage with what looked to his
jealous eyes like an embrace, and as
she turned to enter the house he gave
her the flowers She tossed them into