Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1910-08-18

NO danger at an they're all per-
fectly amiable when you know how to
manage them"
Aunt Julia, this is a real compli-
ment! Thanks very much. This is
Olive Merriam. And Uncle Rodney,
here's the star, to whom / expect you
to say something particularly nice. Mr..
Merriam, Miss Merriam"-and Zelda
smiled at the old gentleman bowed low
over the hand of his brothers daugh-
ter.
"Olive Merriam" said Zelda, lis my
cousin and my very dearest friend"
Olive was not afraid. She smiled at
Rodney Merriam; and there was some-
thing very winning in Olive Merriam s
smile. Zelda looked demurely at her
aunt, who seemed alarmed lest some
thing unpleasant might happen; but
Rodney Merriam laughed, half at find
ing himself caught. and half at the
sight of Olive Merriam's blue eyes, her
glowing cheeks with their furtive dim
Piles and the fair hair that Zelda was
now compelling her to wear in the pre-
vailing mode.
Il am delighted; am proud of you,"
he declared, quite honestly.
Il think-I may say that 1 recipro-
cate" replied Olive. Il haven't seen
you for long time-Uncsle Rodney
except at a distance"
Altogether my fault and my loss!
trust that the distance may be con-
siderably lessened hereafter"
A number of people were watching
this by-play with keen interest. Some
thing had surely happened among the
Merriams. 1t had been many years
since so many members of the family
had been seen together at any social
gathering.
There's draft somewhere" said
Mrs. Forrest, suddenly 1--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"-Zel-
da was looking at her aunt intently-
Miss Merriam, I do hope you will
come to see me. l 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; 'it 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 1 shall know him."
But l prefer"
please don't prefer! I'm having
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.
Il 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. l hope that
girl won't take advantage of Zee's
kindness" said Mrs. Forrest as her
brother left her at her door
Il shouldn't worry about her if I
were you" a,
Il certainly shan't; but you were al
ways down on her father"
Il 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 refiectively 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 a way
that had commanded attention, and
Zelda was thoroughly happy over it.
She did not care in the least what peo-
pie might say about the healing of old
| a.
her the only unalloyed joy of her
home coming to see Olive established
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 young friend from
the country whom he had asked to
witness his triumph Beyond Pol
locks head Zelda could see Balcomb's
profile. though she could not hear him.
she's a regular piece, that girl l
was scared to death for fear she'd
throw me in that duet-we'd never
sung it together-but l carried it
through all right. She's that stunning
Miss Damerons cousin. She's rather
stuck on me, I'm afraid-I'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
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, should say!"
Pollock heard him distinctly, and he
shut his eyes two or three times in
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.
"A person, I should say, OF most
egregious and monumental gall"-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.
The promoter was standing at the side
haT bf- 1--ou ro~r-~.r~T.~