Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-06-16

since so many members Of the family
had been seen together at any social
gathering
There's a draft somewhere" said
Mrs. Forrest, suddenly. We must be
going, Rodney And now, Zelda, don't
stay out all night Mrs. Carr is going
to take you home. You'll be sure to be
sick if you're not careful And"-ZeI-
da was looking at her aunt intently-
Miss Merriam, I do hope you will
come to see me. I never go anywhere,
you know. And please remember me
to your mother"
And pray remember me, also" said
Rodney Merriam, feeling Zelda's eyes
upon him.
oh, zee" said her uncle in low
tone; 1T was all fine; but how did Pol
lock come to be in the show?-I don't
care to have you know him"
"Of course shall know him"
But I prefer"
Please don't prefer! I'm having a
little fun tonight, and I can't be seri-
Gus at all Some other time-good-
night"
What do you think of that girl?"
asked Mrs. Forrest, when she was
alone with her brother in their car
riage.
I think she's very pretty, if you re-
fer to Olive Merriam, and has nice
manners" was his reply.
There seems to be no way of check
ing Zelda's enthusiasms. I hope that
girl won't take advantage of ices
kindness" said Mrs. Forrest, as her
brother left her at her door.
Sb0T116r1't T
were you"
7 certainly shan't; but you were al
ways down on her father"
I was always a good deal of a fool,
too" said Rodney Merriam: and he re
| fused to be taken home in his sisters
carriage, but walked homeward from
her door through High street, beating
| the walk ref1ectiveIy with his stick
At the Athenaeum Zelda was enjoy
| ing herself unreservedly. Her cousin
Olive had been presented to a repre-
| sentative Mariona audience In way
that had commanded attention and
| Zelda was thoroug hly happy over it.
| She did not care in the least what peo-
| pie might say about the healing Of old
wounds among the Merriams. It gave
her the only unalIoyed joy of he-
! IlOIllE-tOIIilLS 70 see OllNG pSJdDIlSn6u
socially on a footing that was she
| told herself, as firm as her own.
| Balcomb, who was much swollen
with pride by his success in the op-
era, was talking in his usual breath
| less fashion to a young friend from
! the country whom he had asked 10
witness his triumph. Beyond Pol
! locks head Zelda could see BaIcomb's
profile though she could not hear him
She's a regular piece, that girl.
was scared to death for fear she'd
throw me in that duet-we'd never
sung it together-but I carried it
through all right She's that stunning
/ Miss DamerOn's cousin. She's rather
stuck on me, I'm afraid-T've done lit
/ tie things for her-theater and so on
] but I'll have to cut it all out. She's
amusing, but I can't afford to have her
misunderstood my attentions. When Il
fellow finds that he's got a girl down
| fine she ceases to be interesting. It's
the pursuit that's amusing; but when
! they begin to expect something Cum
ming? well, I should say!'
! Pollock heard him distinctly, and he
| shut his eyes two or three times in a
quick way that he had when angry,
though he kept on talking to Zelda
about the evenings performance.
I'm afraid you're jealous of Mr..
Balcomb. He got more applause than
anybody"
He deserved all he got for making
such a monkey of himself"
He's a man of courage; he proba-
| bly, thought he could afford to do it"
All of that?" said Pollock.
"A rising young man." continued
Zelda.
y person, I should say, of most
| egTegiOus and monumental gau"-and
Zelda laughed at his earnestness. She
| had not heard Balcomb's remark about
| her cousin. but she knew he had said
| something that irritated Pollock. That
young officer left her quickly when
| Leighton came up for the dance that
| had now begun.
| Pollock found Balcomb in a moment.
1 The promoter was standing at the side
/ Of the hall, his eyes nervously search
/ ing for the girl with whom he had en-
| gagged the dance.
Mr.. Balcomb," said Pollock, at his
elbow may I speak to you a moment"
| Certainly" said Balcomb, in his us
ual amiable fashion. only I'm engag-
| ed for this dance and have lost my
partner"
That's my own fix" declared Pol
lock but my errand is brief Let us
step out here"
He led the day to a door opening up
on the main stairway of the building
and they paused there, Pollock with
| his back to the door. facing BaIcomb.
He carried one glove in his hand and
was very trim and erect in his evening
! clothes,
Mr.. BalcOmb, 1 was so unfortunate
as to Overhear your converse ton of a
moment ago-with some one | didn't
know, but that doesn't matter-fn
which YOU referred to a young Iady-a
young lady who came here tonight
/ under your escort, in terms that a gen
/ tleman would not use"
AS a confessed eavesdropper I don't
| believe it is necessary for you to say
| anything further" said Balconb. with
heat, and he took a step toward the
door OF the assembly
Pollock touched him on the shoulder
with the tips of his fingers, very hght-
/ Iy. BaIcomb was half a head taller
and much bulkier, but the tips of Pol
| locks fingers seemed to carry a Ger
/ tain insistence, and Balcomb drew
/ back.
I shall hold you responsible for this,
/ you"
I certainly hope you will. AS I was
saying, you referred to young lady.
who was here under your protection in
terms which no one but a contemplate
! cur would use of a woman
/ Balcomb's arm went up and ne
struck at Pollock with his fist. The
/ officer stood as he had been, but the
glove in his right hand slapped smart
| " upon Balcomb's face, and Balcomb
took an Involuntary step backward
| down the stairway
In the part of the country that I
| came from. Mr.. Balcomb," Pollock
continued in an easy conversational
tone, we do very pleasant things 70
bright and captivating people of your
/ stripe"-he took another step forward.
and BalConlb a little white in the face