Middletown transcript., 1911-01-14
An rioht. said Nom risine.

shall be there, and I'll have O.
dance with yon, anyway.
If you can capture it, said
Kittie, saucily, flashing her blue
eyes at him. It's a German,
you know and there are to be
some awfully nice figures.
Tom looked at the trim little
figure before him, but did not
venture TO express his thoughts.
One is the candle hgure, con-
tinued his tormentor. You know
the lady stands on a hassock or
something and holds a lighted
candle as high as she or as
she wants to! The gentlemen
i have TO try TO blow 1t OUT aud
the first who succeeds wins the
1.-The lady. That's the last dance
I believe.
Wins the ladyH repeated Tom.
Kittie, if I'mlgiven half a chance
I'll blow out that candle and hold
you to your word! He spoke in
a iocuIar way, but underlying
lhis words was a strain of earn.
estness, strengthened by the
Intent look he bent upon her
Is that a bargain, Kittie9 Do
you agree to keep your part of it
if I win in t,1e candle test? Kittie
flushed rosily, hesitated, then
started to speak but before she
could frame a reply or disclaim
any serious intent to her words,
Toms steps echoed down the
walk to the street. He was
much too wise a young man to
press the matter further at that
particular time. Kittie's smile
to herself was enigmatical as she
I turned out the parlor lamp and
betook herself TO her own room.
Maybe she was not just certain
as to her own feelings and was
willing to leave the decision in
the hands of Fate.
4 All the gay W orld was at Mrs.
J HaWthorne's Assembly. The
German proceeded merrily
enough and even Tom had q
good time, dancing through
! figure after figure with only an
occasional glance at Kittie, who
was in the gsyest Of spirits.
Twice she took ont Arthur Mil
ton, and of course he reciprocal
ed. They certainly made q
handsome pair as they foated
about the room in perfect step
with each other and in equally
perfect time to the( music. Little
ripples of gossipy comment on
their appearance reached Tom 8
ears from time to time, and one
maliciously inclined. young maid
en- asked him direct if he did not
think Miss Mcfarland and Mr..
Milten must be engaged they
seemed SO devoted. If she want
ed to see how the suggestion
acted upon the young man she
was doomed to disappointment,
for he merely answered with of
hand coolness that if all the
young men who. were devoted to
Miss Kittie expected to be eD-
gagged to her she would not have
fingers enough to acc6mmodate
the rings.
The last dance was aA Anounced,
and the third lady to oppt her
: pedestal, holding the Cd aloft
like the Statue Of LiEef was
Miss Mcfarland. Thg foot
stool which raised her some nine
or ten inches above the floor was
By no means steady and required
careful balancing on her part to
retain her position. Then again
a lighted candle with melted tai
low dropping at interV is on
ones fingers or worse still on
ones dainty gown was not con.
duciye to tranquility, but the
little lady closed her mouth with
a delightful attempt at iirmness
and bravely held up at arms
length the tWinkling taper, 1.-Two
gentlemen in succession essayed
to blow it out, but only exiting
uished their own hopes, and re-
tired amid general laughter.
Then Mr.. Milton advanced with
Light and graceful step. His
manner was confident, and all
eyes were centered upon him as
he advanced, although the ma
jority, like himself imagined it
knew exactly what the outcome
would be. He smiled at Kittie,
! whose cheeks were flushed and
: eyes shining like stars. Never
had she looked more lovely, and
} more than one victim to her
! charms in the past inwardly
sighed as they watched to see
the prize carried off before their
a avas. for kha tanse atmosnhere