The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1909-01-13

round he went He danced dlvlnely.
| didn't feel the least bit shy or
tongue-tied. l chatted away gayly.
A faux-pas nearly always leads to
intimacy. 1t seems to break up the
ice in one huge smite, instead of
through a lot of tiny hits.
Every moment l felt that was
growing madden and madder the
lights, the music, and-and the White
Knight, it was all dream!.
l am laying my inmost soul bare.
Never, never in my life have felt so
wildly hilarious as on the night OF
Aunt Helena's fancy dress ball.
Bang, bang, bang! The dance was
ended l paused breathless but ra-
dainty happy.
Wasn't it, oh, wasn't 1t just too
glorious!" l cried, excitedly.
you look as if you'd enjoyed It,"
and he surveyed me carefully. but
come-or we sha'n't find any nice
coy corner left"
"Cozy corners-1 hate the word
cozy-corner; it's so suburban" l an
nOunced, tremendously.
Shall we go outside, them" he
said, gayly, humoring my caprice.
l was pleased with the idea. The
house seemed so 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 flew (time always Is
selfish, with no consideration for 9TH
err peoples wishes) and the band
struck up the last dance.
My White Knight looked down on
me with his twinkle. l didn't want to
say good-by; l just wanted to scream.
1t was over!
"Good-by, little peasant" and he
patted my hand softly, like-well, like
a really nice man can pat it.
II do hope you'll come and see us.
sometimes" l pleaded, grasping at the
last straw, aud my mind went gallop..
ing on as l spoke.
Would he propose to me-what
would the family say-should | have
a half-hoop of diamonds for an en-
sagement ring? l felt that indeed
could be happy with him. It's not the
least good anybody looking Mortified
and saying: How could she!" for it's
exactly what every girl does when
she meets a favored man, only she
isn't honest enough to own to it.
He went on patting my hand. l
wonder what the fascination is about
it; there certainly is 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
l bring my wife and boy with me? 1
should like you to know Harry, he's
such a jolly little chap
The moon whirled round. His eyes
were upon me, they twinkled through
his helmet.
I'll never trust twinkling eyes again.
l pulled myself together with an ef-
fort.
THAT will be nice" I said with
radiant smile. 81 simply dote on chill
dren.'
Just formal good-by, convention
al handshake, and he was gone.
Kitty followed me up to my bed
room, and remained gossiping over
the fire. People always have knack
of staying when you least want them.
l yawned five times in succession;
at last she took the hint and went.
Its what l said before" l NUT.
tered to myself as l pulled down my
hair. "Lifes just made up of Incl
dents and humbug. He was pretend
ing-a humbug, and that was just an
incident"
didn't go about declaring l should
, never marry because l had fallen in
love with a dear face in an iron he'll
met.
never pretended, and l jolly we'll
mean to marry some day when a Sec
ond knight rides up unencumbered
with wife and son. Life went on the
same, and his image faded away. 1t
was only just an incident, after ALL
Fast Hotel Time.