The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1914-04-23

Of Ben's unfitness for such surround
tngs.
She squirmed mentally. to use a
figure, at the picture ofSBen running
the gauntlet Of her argus eyed family.
and his foregone failure to come
within even haiiing distance Of their
standards Of culture and good breed
Ing.
They would consider him. she
WINGED as she admitted II. a kind or
picturesque lout, They could never
make allowances as she did for his
mental limitations, for his crude
ideas and expression OF them. ana
sometimes. yes, sometimes for MS
raw selfishness and vanity.
No, he belonged here. In his own
setting. To transplant him was out
Of the question; she never would sub.
ject him TO their criticism. She could
adapt herself to his life. she thought,
but he could never become n part OF
or at home in. the world to which she
belonged.
II was a momentous question "a
decide, though II seemed easy enough
when Ben was there and she was
drawn to him by the attraction OF his
super abundant vitality.
She remained obdurate under Mrs.
Gallagher's final plea. and was proof
against the alluring strains OF n
Spanish waltz which the musicians
played as they marched through the
plaza to notify Las Rubertas that the
ball was about to open.
SO Mrs. Gallagher, with her black
braids freshly oiled and redolent OF
bergamot, took her departure. to re-
turn almost Immediately with tho
news that Ben Evans and Edith
Blakely were riding In to attend the
bale.
perhaps you 20. now" and she
looked at Nan keenly.
Nan did her best to reply tndtner-
entity:
"Oh. are they3 No. don't think
shall CO."
Why had Ben not sent her word
that he was coming To the dance. and
why had he not asked her?
There was no mistaking the nature
of the pang she felt, 1t was too sharp
and as astonishing to Nan as II was
real. Sho was jealous-jealous OF the
girl from the Longhorn bosQue! II
was no easy matter to greet them
without coEstraint when a little later
they rode up to the bars.
"Why. amt you going?" he asked
In surprise.
~ hadn't thought of It," she re-
piled coolly.
II supposed. of course. you'd be
ready" ne said In a disappointed
tone.
"Yes?"
Ben had an uncomfortable feeling
that somehow he had Numbered.
Edith with feminine intuition un-
derstood.
I'VE planned to stop for you a.
Lad l..
emphasized the I'VE" deliberately.
Edith really liked Nan as Mar
liked her. but on the impulse OF the
moment she could not resist the
temptation to patroni;e Nan who hac
unconsciously given her SO many
wretched hours.
Mans long eyelashes lay for jus,
an instant on her check. But heI
eyes were enismatic enough when she
raised them squarely TO Edith's and
said sweetly:
ut was good Of you both to include
me-"
Jaw: say you'll comet" Ben urged
uneasily.
Yes. | will, II you don't mind wait
ms" Nan replied in quick decision
And added laughinr'y: 1T will be q
lark, won't it?"
u thought you wouldn't mind ever
II II did seem like second choice
Edith gave a nervous little laugh
She was not accustomed to beine
mean; but joalousy has way ci
forming acids in the sweetest natures
mot at all. 40 long az II only seem,
no" Nan was still able to smile.
Nan had In her nature a great dea
Of something very like chivalry. &
masculine sense Of justice. a desir,
to be fair. and this quality woulc
have prevailed in all her intercours,
with Edith had not the girl 80 frank
~ shown her claws.
Ben was not too astute. but II re
Quired little discernment TO see tina
Edith was making more OF their ap
pnarance together than the occasion
warranted. Even while II made hin
uncomfortable. his vanity was nat
tered by II, and, as always In Edith
; society, he had an exalted sense o
importance.
He had not reasoned II out, but
A HhA 49, AAaH IA DAe