Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1910-02-10


IN miADu az. JacA, Vyt oien ~ INC
samo--nolhing is tie sam6-l don't
know what I think
'When will you know7" huskily.
'I-oh, some one is coming Let
me so. Jack!"
AS he released her hand she slipped
by him, and at the moment n louder
chord from the piano sounded through
the opening portie-e, and Won Ham
merstein came into the room. He
! flushed and smiled with an air Of
satisfaction at sight of the slender,
white figure. Found at last, gna-
diges Fraulein," he said coming di-
rectly toward her, but including the
other man in his salute. You have
been a truant."
Anne steadied herself to the in
stlnctively rally every woman, old or
young, makes when hard pressed She
managed to smile back, as she said:
And are you the truant oficer?'
"Gott bewahr" laughed the lieuten-
ant, Il am not in the civil service.
But you-they are playing a waltz"
as he spoke his glance grew keen,
passing from the girl to the man, then
became carefully observing He had
paused, and Mr. Durham began to
speak, quickly, but in an ordinary
tone. So it happened that both men
said, almost in unison:
/ This was my dance, l think?" and
May l have the honor?'
Then both stopped, and Strengthened
involuntarily. The German flushed;
the American was very pale. In mo-
ment the lieutenant turned with an
elaborate formality to the other man.
I'VE are rivals" he said, dramatically,
and with a smile. viii either of us
, withdraw"
mot unless you wish to-" said the
other, with the same courteous infec-
tion, but gravely.
A CLEAN came into the lieutenant's
blue eyes, and direct look passed
between the two. After that neither
man looked at the other; each looked
at the girl, and both spoke in the tone
of accentuated lghtness the lieuten-
ant had used. The latter said: I'VE
are in your hands, fair lady, which
will you honor?"
But, meine Herren," said Anne,
with a touch of nervousness in her
smile, 81 cannot dance with you both
at once; you surely will not put me
! to the discomfort of denying myself
either pleasure?" But her question
/ ing look met no sign of the expected
withdrawal in either face. Instead,
Jack spoke, his eyes meeting hers
squarely: 1T is too bad; but you see
Won Hammerstein and l are such bit
| te~ rivals that we insist on decision
from you"
Precisely assented the German,
bowling; I'VE await your choice,
gnadiges Fraulein."
"A vivid flush sprang to the girls
cheeks 81 think l shall have to sit
out this dance" she said, her head a
little higher than it had been.
Pardon me- interrupted Mr.. Dur
ham, quickly don't say you won't
play, please. The object of this game
is to choose your parner-and Lieut..
vcl Hammerstein and are very anX-
ious to play"
Very, said the gentleman re-
ferred to.
Anne stood between them, every
natural and tactful way of disposing
of the triAing difficulty made impos-
sible to her consciousness by the
electric atmosphere of disguised earn
estness and covered significance
which emanated from the two. Every
thing seemed all at once to drop away
from the world leaving her alone with
those two men, waiting for more
| than her answer to the insignificant
claim.
There are rules for every game,
! she said, slowly, her head bent, as she
stood before them. This one is usu-
ally decided according to priority,
isn't it?" She heard Jack take a
/ quick, hard, breath the lieutenant
had really begun his little speech
first. At the same time the latter
bent toward her eagerly. Did l not
have the good fortune to precede Mt
Durham, very alightly?" he said, touch
ing his mustache nervously Anne
/ moved uncertainty waveringly, toward
him. A light sprang to his eyes as he
saw the little motion. Are we to
keep strictly to the rules?" he said,
with a suppressed triumph in his
/ light tone. IF so, think FraulSin
Gregory belongs to mel"
The girl started and lifted her head
sharply strange expression nitted
across her face. It looked as II she
| were listening inwardly. What did
you say?" she asked after moment,
very gravely and slowly.
The lieutenant smiled at her with
more than a suggestion Of claim in
his glance. 81 said you were mine
for the dance, NIGHT wahr?" he said,
with just a hint of lingering on the