Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1910-07-22

For one blissful moment he had held
her In his arms.
Charming, with difficulty, drew out
a yes" and mo-" and nothing more
from his shy neighbor At the end of
two courses he felt decidedly bored.
People were noticing that he and Pa
tr1c1a had turned their backs to each
other and even the poised Mrs.
Orme now and then shot an inquir-
ing glance of distress at him He
was inwardly vexed and in despera-
ton turned boldly to Patricia.
This is a horrible bore" he said,
and ] am going to talk to you, and
you've got to listen and look inter
ested, or else Mrs Orme and all the
others will be shocked and talk about
1t. AS you have a conscience, you
need not say anything at all. But"
he lowered his vofce-''it's immense,
Pat. You look adorable in that white
gown. | never saw you in evening
dress before, you know, and I'd like
to pick you up in my arms and run
away with you
Charming controlled his expression
in some unaccountable way and to
anyone looking on he might have been
making conversation about the wealth
eT. But Patricia grew very pink and
confused as he went on making love
to her under the very eyes Of Mr.. and
Mrs. Grundy. At first she smiled and
nodded once or twice, but kept her
red lips tightly closed, as though
afraid word would slip out involun-
tarily. Then, suddenly, she picked up
her place card and regarded the fat
Cupid painted upon it.
do you know" she said to it, that
am not sorry to see certain per-
son again. I'm talking to you, you
lovely pink cherub," she explained.
But you may tell him, the certain
person, whose name cannot be men,
toned, all that l say, and If you can.
all that I think as we'll"
She flashed Charming little glance
through her long lashes-a look that
sent the blood racing through his
veins. Then her face clouded and she
shook her head mournfully at the still
smiling little love god.
There will be horrible row later"
she conf1ded to the card. Grand
mamma is coming to the reception
after dinner, and, oh, when she sees
a certain person, there will be such
row, and l shall be snatched away,
and she won't believe that I've not
To him little CrniI -
she implored, cant you live up to
your reputation and come to the res
cue and help me out ?"
Under cover of the chatter and the
laughter and the subdued confusion of
large dinner the two, apparently
conversing, felt quite alone, and we're
no longer watched.
Dearest Patricia" Charming ex-
claimed. II don't care. I'm going to
steal you away from your dragon
grandmother. Can't Mrs. Orme tell
her that I'm respectable?"
Patricia looked up at him with love-
ly, se1.ous eyes, then glanced down
again at the card "You know" she
instructed Cupid, grandmother does
not, and can never, know a certain
person. He lives in Chicago, which
Is beyond the pale. He was never in
troduced properly"
Its not all over, Patricia Ames,"
he muttered. ITS only just begun.
If you think I'm going to give in to
her you are much mistaken. l don't
care If she is your grandmother and
a Boston Ames. I warn you I'm 60
ing to run away with you, if she won't
give you to me properly"
AS Mrs. Orme rose, Patricia hastily
tore flower from her corsage bou-
quet and absently held it to her lips,
her eyes on Charming Then, in the
confusion caused by the women leav-
ing the table, she slipped it into his
hand.
Go lovely rose,
she misquoted to the ceiling
Tell him who wastes his time and me,
That now he knows,
That-that-I love him so!
Then she brushed past him and
went out of the room.
Charming, with the rose in his hand,
smoked nervously, not listening to the
stories of the other men and only
half answering when he was directly
addressed. AS soon as possible he
went to the drawing-rooms, where the
guests for the reception were already
assembling. Across the great space
he caught sight of frightened Patri-
cia sending him warning glance, and
at the same moment saw the cause of
her terror There, standing near
their hostess, he beheld the tall and
commanding form of Mrs. Ames Of
Beacon street. They were talking ami
matedly and Mrs. Ames was smiling.
actually smiling-he had never seen
her smile beforehand nodding her
stately head as if something pleased
her. Then, suddenly, she turned and
swept ponderously forward, bearing
down toward Charming like a full
rugged ship.
l. &or. E1l