The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1909-09-16

Perhaps it was the springtime, per-
haps it was the psychological moment,
progressed rapidly.
Denman was e~cstatic. He talked on
the subject of Dolly so fuently and
persistently that Larkins turned cor
ners when he saw him coming. Den
mar had given up the social life of
the studio, and went about every
where with Dolly-to picture exhibit
lions, where she said wrong things
about everything in the most enchant-
ing manner; to parties, where he suf-
fered torments of jealousy over the
other men who crowded about her
a state of. affairs which she did not
seem to resent in the least. More
over, he could not talk on the sub
jects that interested Dolly and her
friends. But when they we're" alone
it was different; then the distressing
memories of these social pleasures
faded away from his mind.
Denman could not have told after
wards just how they had got to the
tragic point. It had begun with the
flowers she wore. He had noticed
them at once, for he had not sent
them.
No, she had replied, i~nnocently,
Ralph Newcomb had sent them. Didn't
he remember Ralph? He had met
him that afternoon at the Blacks.
He was a champion football player.
He had been half-back at college,.
Football" Denman had exclaimed,
with untranslatable emphasis; and
for the first time in their brief &C.
quaintance the blue eyes had looked
at him coldly.
You don't mean to say that you
don't care for football!" she said:s
But Denman only calculated again:
Football! Oh, Lord!"'
HE is a very clever man,, re-.
marked Dolly, coldly, and he is ter
ribly popular. He is a perfectly beau
tiful dancer"
What. other accomplishments, may
ask, has this much-to-be-envied gen
tleman?" inquired Denmap. Does he
turn handsprings, perhaps? l suppose
he wears a frock coat better than
any other man you know"
mo, l prefer him in a sweater" re-
turned Dolly, inconsequently. Il adore
athletic men,"
"Indeed!". Denman was trembling
with suppressed rage. "You seem
to be unaware that in the circum-
stances to speak of men. in the plural
in that way is ~unbecoming, to say the
least Of it."
Becoming or unbecoming, it is the
way I feel" replied Dolly, with re-
voting lightness.
Indeed" returned Denman, again.
His vocabulary seemed to be becom-
ing limited, perhaps from association
with Dolly.
Il think, perhaps, we have made a
mistake, Mr.. Denman," she said. and
all in a dazed moment Denman real
lied that she had left the room.
Mr.. Denman! He sank back in a
chair, stunned. 1t was all over, then.
He dropped his face in his hands
and tried to think. He got up and
walked about the room. Perhaps she
was right. Sometimes it had al
most seemed to him that it was a mis-
take. But to end it all, like this, in
a fash! Women were so sudden. A
blue and silver object lying on the
floor distracted his attention. He
picked it up mechanically, then real
lied that it was Dolly's bag-one of
those pretty, foolish, c%oquettish things
such women as Dolly always have
about them. He turned it wei in his
hand. 1t was, like her, daiaty, gay
colored, and non-significant. He was
arriving at the scornful stage by this
time. Suddenly he looked up and lis
tened. His ear, finely attuned in these
last few weeks to such things, caught
the faint rustic of a woman's skirt
and the sound of a step. Then there
was a knock at his door.
She had come back, then. He hest
tated a moment as he laid down the
bag, before he went to open the door.
Was it that he feared the shock of dis
appointment.
1AS 61AA OuLO4Su ZIG IOOm QUICKLY
and looked up at him with a little
smile.
Dolly" he began, then broke off.
staring. The consciousness that was
stealing owe him was overpowering-
this face, that look that was like the
fragrance of a flower!
my sister asked me to come back
for her bag. She thought she must
have left it here" The girl paused.
but still Denman stood staring at her.
without answering.
She flushed a little under his STEADY
look. "You took me for Dolly. didn't
you? People often can't tell us apart
at first. But we really are quite diff
ferent. 1 am her sister, Helen"
"Yes. yes" he gasped; quite differ.
emit" He put out both hands and
caught hers. 1T was you!" be
said.
She looked up, her color deepening
at this extraordinary reception.
1T was you that first afternoon"
he repeated, still not taking his eyes
from her face.