The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1910-03-24

oneself alone with lt1natlc. only Iu-
natics talk to things as though they
were people"
Don't mind her, Amaryllis,'' l said
softly. Poor creature, she is jealous.
She thinks you are no more than lily
blooming in pot. We know better,
of course"
Really l did not dream you had SO
much imagination" Myrtilla said OUT
right, shipping her thread as she spoke.
l stared harder than ever at Amaryl-
lis, saying: Imagination is fearful
thing sometimes. am glad, Amaryl-
lis, you altogether lack it. You would
never see in ordinary civilities to
pretty girl anything to turn your love-
ly golden tawny eyes green"
Dancing or sitting out every other
number. suppose, comes under the
head of ordinary civilities.'" Myrtilla
said. her lip curling.
/ kept on quietly: And even if you
felt hurt you would let me explain.
The Verinews have hearts as big as
their fortune. Thus it happens l owe
them what money can never pay.
Not so many years back there was a
big furry in the street that put my
governor in the worst sort of hole.
1t needed a cool million to get him
out, and Verinew million did it. Yet
the governor was hardly an acquaint-
ance. Verinew learned his extremity
by chance and came to his help be-
cause, as he phrased it, he didn't think
the other side was putting up square
deal 1t does not lessen the obligation
that he got his million back. plus
good profit. Eventually the Grantley
girl will have it with several millions
more She is a granddaughter-unac-
knowledged because Nine. Verinew
wishes to seem as young as their for
tune-but the very apple Of the Ver-
new eye. They wanted her to be the
belle Of the ball. She was shy and
sensitive and frightened half out OF
her wits. Somehow she trusted me-
Il don't at all wonder at that said
a voice from the fireplace
l bowed gravely and resumed:
when she is not frightened she is
pretty, Armaryllis. Her head is splen-
didly red-not quite so red as yours.
She is light on her feet. too. and loves
to dance as well as the flowers do.
The trouble is she has not yet quite
caught the rhythms she must move to.
so needs must lean heavily upon her
partner. l understood some of the
others did not Occasionally one was
f1urried, still more occasionally one
impairment. And single cad let her
see he was ashamed of dancing with
her in spite Of the millions. At her
first ball-think Of it. l had to take
away the sting of it somehow. Per
haps l did seem devoted, but she
didn't understand. | told her about
Myrtilla in our very first waltz
A little inarticulate cry from the fire.
place here. Covertly l saw tears ON
Myrtilla's cheeks. She made as though
to rise, but sank back, turned away
her head and resumed the furious
stabbing with her needle. l gathered
the greenery Of Armaryllis in my
hands. laid my cheek against it and
said dreamily:
"Amaryllis, tell me why am fated
to love dusky hair. All the painters
and poets agree that red is ever so
much more beautiful"
Are you sure. quite sure, you do
love it," Myrtilla asked TREMENDOUSLY.
She was not answered in words.
Five minutes later eDicky, bursting
in upon us. found us side by side.
looking down at Amaryllis through
sunshine grown suddenly and magical
ly warm and golden. After a long
look Dicky whistled. turned on his
heel and said from the door over his
shoulder: $50 you two have made it
up. McSnifters said you would cause
that red lily bloomed so far ahead of
time. But l don't care about that
All l want is to know what you're
goin' to give me when you get mar
ried"