Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-09-01

alone. all to myself" and his voice
went down two tones. He did II so
prettily.
My happy. happy childhood days"
laughed Gail The boys used to talk
that way on the way home from
| school"
Il don't doubt it," and Dick smiled
appreciatively. The dullest sort OF a
boy would find himself saying nice
things to you; but l shall stop it,
"oh. please donti" begged Gail.
you are so delightful at it,"
He pounced on a corner half hidden
b. tub of ferns There was no bench
there, but it was at least semiisolated.
aid he leaned gracefully against the
window ledge. looking down at her
| earnestly as she stood, slenderly out
lined against the green Of the ferns, in
her gown of delicate blue sparkling
with opalescent flakes.
That's Just the trouble" he COM
planned. Il don't wish you to be
aware that l ava saying what you call
pretty things. l wish. instead, to be
/ CANNNANt. anu was a
in his voice which had come for the
first time. She was trifie startled by
1t, and she lowered her eyes before
the steady gaze which he poured down
on her Why. he was in earnest!
Then take me to Lucille" she
smiled up at him. and strolled in to-
ward the ballroom.
Willis Cunningham net them at the
door.
! You promised me the first dance"
he oreathlessly informed Gail. He had
been walking rapidly.
I've the second one. remember
Gail" Dick reminded her. as he
glanced around the ballroom for his
own partner, but Gail distinctly felt
his eyes following her as she walked
away with Cunningham.
Il know now OF what your profile
reminds me-" Cunningham told her;
"the Charmeaux Praying Nymph.' 1t
is the most spiritually beautiful of all
the pictures in the Louvre"
81 wonder which is the stronger
emotion in me just now" she re-
turned; "gratified vanity or curiosity"
81 hope it's the latter" smiled Cum
ningham. Il recall now a gallery in
which there is very good copy of the
Charmeaux canvas. and I'd be delight
ed to take you"
"I'll go with pleasure" promised
Gail, and Cunningham turned to her
with a grateful smile.
81 would prefer to show you the
original" he ventured.
"Oh, look at them tuning their
drums" cried Gail, and he thought
that she had entirely missed his hint,
that the keenest delight in his life
would be to lead her through the
Louvre, and from thence to a perspec-
tive of picture sai!eries, dazzling with
all the hues of the spectrum, and as
long as life!
He had other things which he want
ed to say. but he calculatingly re-
served them for the day of the picture
viewing, when he would have her ex-
elusive attention; so, through the
dance, he talked of tribes far from his
heart. He was nice chap, too.
Dick Rodley was on hand with the
last stroke of the music, to claim her
/. for his dance. By one of those waves
of unspoken agreement. Gail was be-
ing rushed" 1t was her night. and
she enjoyed 1t to the full.
Van Ploon danced with her, danced
conscientiously, keeping perfect time
to the music, avoiding, with practiced
adroitness. every possible pocketing.
or even hem contacts with surround
ing couples, and acquitting himself of
lightly turned observations at the ex-
piration of about every seventy Sec
onds. He quite approved of her; ex-
traordinarily so. He had never met a
girl who approached so near the thou
sand per cent grade of perfection by
all the blue ribbon points.
1t was while she was enjoying her
second restful dance with Van Ploon
that Gail. swinging with him near the
south windows, heard the honk of an
auto horn, and near the conclusion of
the dance, saw Allison standing in the
uOOIMdy VI NhC OdAAAOOlng VIII Ills
hands in his pockets, watching her
with a smile. Her eyes lighted with
pleasure, and she nodded gayly to him
over Van Ploon's tall shoulder. When
the dance stopped she was on the far
side Of the room, and was instantly
the center of buzzing little knot of
dancers, from out of which carefree
laughter radiated like visibleeflashes
of musical sound. She emerged from
the group with the arms of two bright
eyed girls around her waist, and met
Allison sturdily breasting the currents
which had set towards the conserva-
tory, the drawing rooms, or the buffet
Nobody has saved me a Dance" he
complained.
Nobody expected you until tomor-
row." Gail smilingly returned, intro
ducing him to the girls. "I'll beg you