Alma record., 1914-03-26


"T-e-e-es," agreed Mrs Clifford. "but
little-what shall call it?-pre-
cipitousl II | were married to man
like that l should always be in terror
of his adopting an orphan asylum oil
turning Republican or something
equally impossible"
The doctor shut his Office door with
vicious slam and from the vantage
of the wire window-screen looked sour.
ly across the beds of marigold and
nasturtium.
Il reckon if Mrs. Poly Clifford shut
her mouth more than ten minutes
hand-running," he said malevolently
the top of her head'd fly from here
to Charlottesville"
The major, ensconced with cigar
in the easy chair behind him, -four
ished his palm-leaf fan and smote an
errant fly.
Speaking of Damory Court" he
said in his big voice. The dance idea
was happy thought of young Va
liant's. I'll be surprised If he doesn't
do it to the queens taste"
The doctor nodded This place
can't teach him much about such fol
derolings, reckon. He's led more
cotillions than I've got hairs on my
head"
I'D hardly limit it to that" said
the major, chortling at the easy thrust.
And after all, even folderolings have
their use"
Who said they hadn't? If people
choose to make whirling dervishes of
themselves, they at least can reflect
that it's better for their lives than
cane-bottom chairs. Though that's
about all you can say in favor of
the modern ball."
"Pshaw!" said the major. Il re-
member time when you used to rig
out in a claw-hammer and
Dance all night till broad daylight
And go home with the gyrls in the morn
ing
with the bravest Of us. Used to like
it, too"
Il got over it before l was old
enough to make myself a butt of hi
larity," the doctor retorted. Il see by
the papers they've invented a new
dance called the grizzly bear. | be-
lieve there's another named the zip
kyoodle l hope you've got 'em down
pat to show the young folk tonight,
Bristow."
The major got up with some irrita-
tion. "Southall," he said, sometimes
I'm tempted to think your remarks
verge upon the personal. You don't
have to watch me dance if you don't
choose to"
No, thank God" muttered the doc
tor. Il prefer to remember you when
you still preserved trace Of dignity
twenty odd years ago."
IF dignity" the majors blood was
rising now,-"consists in your eternal
tasteless chickering's, want none of it,
What on earth do you do it for? You
had some friends once"
"Friends!" snapped the other, the
fewer l have the better!"
The major clapped on his straw hat
angrily, strobe to the door, and opened
it. But on the threshold he stopped,
and presently shut it, turned back
slowly and resumed his chair. The
doctor was relighting his cigar, but an
odd furtive look had slipped to his
face and the hand that struck the
match was unsteady.
For time both sat smoking, at
first in silence, then talking in a de-
sultory way on Indifferent topics. FL
nally the major rose and tossed his
cigar into the empty CRATE.
I'll be off now," he said Il must
be on the field before the others"
AS he went down the steps car
riage, drawn by pair of dancing
grays, plunged past. Who are those
said the doctor. They're strangers
here"
The major peered "Oh," he said
over his shoulder, 81 forgot to tell you.
That's Silas Fargo, the railroad presi-
dent from New York, and his daugh-
ter Katharine. His private cars
down on the siding. They're at the
judge's-he's chief counsel for the
road in this state. They'll. be at the
tournament, reckon. You'll be there,
won't you?"
The doctor was putting some phials
and instruments into a worn leather
bag. NO" he said, shortly. I'm 60
ing to take a ten-mile drive-to add
to this county's population, l expect.
But I'm coming to the dance. Prom
ised Valiant | would, in a moment of
temporary alteration