The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1910-05-26

pect1ng to go. are you?" asked mother.
"Of course I am" I answered, good
naturally.
But your father did not say you
could"
HE did not say 1 couldn't; did you.
daddy?"
mo-" answered father, "but l fear,
my dear, that you'd better not CO."
II haven't been out of town for a
long time. father" l urged, land I
love to travel with you. l shall be
~dreadfully disappointed if you don't
take me-" l could not keep back the
tears as I spoke.
"Oh, WELL" said father, eff the child's
heart is set on the trip I suppose she'll
have to CO."
Mr.. Dare proved a delightful travel
ing companion. We had some long
talks while father was in the smoking
compartment. We disagreed just
enough to make our discussions spicy,
and by the time we reached Washing
ton we were on the footing of old
friends without having worn off the
novelty of our short acquaintance. He
had told me who were his ~favorite
AUTHORS and I had named the actors 1
admired most and had laughingly con-
fessed that my two passions were the
theater and automobiling.
"Im sorry we can't go to some play
tonight, Miss Lucille, he said, as we
were breakfasting at our hotel Satur-
day morning. unfortunately, bust
ness is the order of this evening, but,
we won't let anything interfere with
a nice little theater party Monday
night"
THAT will be lovely!" / exclaimed;
enthusiastically.
When went to my after din
ner Saturday evening l found a big
bunch of roses, a box of candy, a
thick new novel and a tiny note from
Mr.. Dare expressing the hope. that I
would not be lonely during the
evening. / must say I think Mr.. Dare;
was very nice in some ways. He was
especially thoughtful about automo-
biles. Sunday he took father and me
around Washington in a big touring
car. Monday he suggested that I go
to the concert at the marine barracks.
was greatly astonished and de-
lighted to meet my old school friend,
Laura Burnett, afte4 the concert. 1
had not seen her for years. for she
married a marine officer when she
was a mere child.
Jack Is stationed here now" she
explained, "and we are having a love
ly time. We are going to Fort Myer
to a hop tonight, and you must go.
with us. Jack and l know a lot of
bachelor officers who will make it
pleasant for you"
Just then a perfectly stunn1ng-look-
ing young man joined us and she. in
troduced him as Capt. Blossom, and
he begged to be my escort to the
hop. :
At first %hesitated, but it seemed to
me that it would be foolish to miss
a military hop just to go to the thea
ter, SO I accepted the invitation.
Laura and I went down to the hotel
In the taxicab and l got an evening
dress out of my trunk and wrote a few
lines to father asking him to tell Mr..
Dare that I was dreadfully sorry to
miss the play and that I hoped he
and father would have a good time
without me.
Capt. Blossom and | dined with the
Burnetts and then we all went over
to Fort Myer and had a perfectly de
lightful evening. l certainly think
there are no men SO handsome on a
dancing floor as officers in uniform.
Where is Mr.. Dare?" 1 asked father
the next day at luncheon, for I did not
get up to breakfast.
He took the midnight train for New
York." said father. I'm very much
afraid that your absence from the play
last night offended Dare, for he went
away very unceremoniously."
"Oh. daddy, he never could have
missed poor little me-" l said, laugh
ingly. but father still looked grave.
The trip home was awfully dull. Fa-
ther was engrossed in his business pa-
pers and when he did talk he kept saw
ing that he feared Mr.. Dare's feelings
had been hurt.
Goodness, father" l said, at last.
don't worry. Surely, Mr.. Dare isn't
a sensitive plant. When he calls on
me, as he said he would do, you'll see
that he's just as cordial as ever"
But. strangely enough, although he
has been at home several days. Mr..
Dare has not yet called. Neither has
Capt. Blossom sent me the photograph
Of himself In fulldress uniform that
he promised to forward at once. Some.
times I think men r all faithlesa
creatures.
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