The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-24

ed himself only to be carried away by
other dancers. who would not listen to
| his protests and then he left the room,
and Nathalie felt, she could not tell why,
him.
For supper. which was to come between
| the first and second half, Nathalie was
making her way with her cousin George
ana Tommy Stevens, to a secluded spot
Blaire, dressed in travelling clothes with
his hat In his hand, coming out OF the
locker room. He came to her with I'm
smiling face and the other two men with
drew. He looked down at her with eyes
that were narrowly shut and critical and
a mouth that was set in a cold, drawn
line.
"Goodby, Nathalie" he said. 81 am
sorry this happened as it did. You might
have let me know in another way. 1t
wasn't fair. Nathalie.
wait minute Nathalie begged. Cant
you take later train? 1 know what the
trouble was You put your dances down
George Just looked at my card and dis
covered what was the trouble
1T was the half you gave me- Stanley
continued. 81 am afraid I don't under
stand. 1 came home this vacation be-
cause 1 thought that you would let me
talk to you. Goodby." He put his hand
the front door.
Nathalie stood for a minute and then
as he passed into the dark shadows of
the road that led to the trolley line that
was to carry him to the station. She had
a quick impulse to follow him. STANLEY"
she whispered and held out her arms to-
ward him.
Then she turned and came in. She was
AS matters stood now she had no partners
for the second half, but that was a mat
ter soon remedied. First she went to her
cousin George.
i Cousin George" she demanded in her
most entreating manner. II haven't
single partner for my next half, all be,
cause of the way 1 got my order mixed
up. Please give me a dance. You aren't
all taken up
Her cousin turned to her abruptly. You
treated Stanley Blaire abominably, he
said. Remember, Nat, that he's too fine
a man to trifle with, and as for the dances
1 won't give you any. You don't deserve
them
Nathalie was too piqutd to speak. She
took her violets from her girdle and press
ed them to her lips. Her cousin went on:
Honest Nathalie, the boys will fool
with YOU and flatter you and all that,
but they won't have any use for you If
you go on doing things like that. You
are an abominable little flirt."
Nathalie, still pressing the violetS to her
lips turned from her cousin and passed
unnoticed to the dirnly lighted club study
at the end of the corridor, where she and
Tommy had made plans for the tennis
tournament. She was hot and tired and
unhappy. She threw herself down on the
lounge and buried her face in the flowers.
For a few minutes she sobbed and then
lulled by the subdued strains of the dance
music, she fell asleep.
In few minutes she awoke and turned
over with her face to the wall why
didn't I follow him?" she asked herself
why didn't 1 go and tell him?" But she
reflected, 'I didn't know how much
loved him then. Stanley" she whispered
as she crushed her violets to her lips,
STANLEY
There was a sound of footsteps in the
room and then Nathalie turned over to
see Stanley Blaires tall figure bending
over her. She sat up and rubbed her eyes
ct am afraid I crushed my violets," she
said, lingering the flowers that she had
been holding to her lips. Then as she
realized that it really Stanley and
hand out and let it rest lightly on his
arm. st am glad you came back. L was
afraid you didn't quite understand"
Stanley Blaire sat down beside her still
with the look of unsmiling scrutiny. ma
thalie" he said, Il came back because
it seemed to me 1 went down the drive
from the club that if L left you now, our
ways might never cross again, and then
as 1 looked back 1 thought I saw you
standing in the door. But decioeo TO
go anyway
He looked longinsly at Nathalie ana
as the impulse swept over them both. he
took her into his arms and kissed her.
Nathalie quickly drew away from him,
still resting her hand in his.
What made you come back, then?' she
asked.
Stanley laughed, and holding her race
nm to his he said: 'It was because that
cousin of yours followed me in his car. |
He brought me back. He told me that
YOU were waiting in here to say you were
rry''-(Copyright 1918, by the Mcclure |
Syndicate)