The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-03-02

her face, then fastens it in the waist
belt of her own dress.
DO round dances send the blood
to your cad, Captain Temple? I
should like a waltz if you will have
one with mel"
"If-Why of course I will, my dear
child! You should have asked me
sooner. Hark, there is a waltz be-
ginning now. We shall be just in
time"
He forgets Rose and Rosie's strong
opinion as to fast dancing, forgets
that Belinda is still in the disgraceful
frock and Unmatched stockings, for
gets everything but the child's visit
full, pleading face! One waltz, poor
little girl? Ay, and as many more as
she chooses, thinks kind-hearted
Roger. And takes her hand and
leads her bravely within under the
gas lights, and among the silks and
satins.
II may as well take my hat off,
though" cries Belinda, preparing to
start without loss of time. Hi!
Costa boy, guard"
She filings back her ragged hat to
the old dog, who ever since Rogers
appearance upon the scene has been
watching matters suspiciously, and is
nov peering with jealous eyes round
a corner of one of the doors. Then
she puts her slim, sunburnt hand
upon Captain Temples arm.
81 asked you to dance just to try
you," she whispers, when they have
gone once or twice round the room.
IT thought-yes, and I hoped-you
would be too ashamed to be seen with
me, and then I should have had a
good excuse for hating you. But
you were not. You are a better fell
low at heart than 1 took you for, al
though you are"
ALTHOUGH I am-what, my dear?"
II wish you would leave off calling
me my dear, and-and I can never
talk when I am dancing" says Be-
linda illogically.
"At all events you have not made
up your mind to hate me YETI" whis-
pers Roger in her ear.
Fate lands them, when the waltz
is over, exactly opposite Rosie and
her train of attendants. And Roger
Temple, for the first time certainly
in his life, feels himself a coward.
Something about the lips of the little
pink and white woman who owns him
makes him tremble; yes, tremble!
What a wax Rosie is in," says Be-
linda, who possesses to the full the
cruel acumen of her age. II remem-
Der that particular smile Of hers so
well. 1t always came before my
worst whippings."
Roger is silent. He shifts the SUBJ
ject, and puts off the lecture that he
knows to be in store for him by pro-
posing that they shall go outside
again. Does BelindaGnind the smell
Of a pipe? If not"
Mind" the girl interrupts him.
Now, just once and for all, Captain
Temple, understand this-Belinda
minds nothing!"
They go outside, where Costa, bear
ing the hat between his teeth, joins
them; he lays it down at the feet of
his little mistress, and with a low,
half-impatient, half-loving bark,
thrusts his nose beneath her hand for
a caress.
This is the best friend I have on
earth, Captain Temple. He would
pull you down-oh as soon as look at
you, if I held up my finger. Would
you not, Costa?"
Costa, at this appeal, moves stealth
lily round to Roger Temple and criti-
cises his heels dog fashion.
Here, poor fellow, here, Costa!"
says Roger, holding out his hand.
And, wonder of wonders to Belin-
da, Costa c%rouches, fawns, ticks it.
Evidently, whether she likes her IA
theirs successor or not-and she is
uolnS nef pest, yes, ala her best,
throughout every moment of the
waltz, to detest him-Costa means
to accept Roger Temple as a friend.
She calls the dog off instantly.
IT did not think you would fawn on
newcomers, Costa-down with you,
down! I want none of your hypo-
critical attentions. You are the first
Of my stepmamma's favorites I have
ever known Costa to speak to, sir.
You should see his delicious hatred
of Burke and Mr.. Jones'"
"Ah, dogs understand some mat
ters better than We understand them,
Belinda. Costa has seen too much of
life to put all men in the same cate
CORY, as you do"
To be Continued.