Middletown transcript., 1915-11-27

looks OF admiration, just what people |
were saying; that they were an ex'
traordinary handsome couple.
There is no century plant, The
shamelessly confessed.
Il knew It," and she laughed.
'T don't mind admitting that It was
a point-blank lie," he cheerfully told
her. Il wanted to get you out here
alone, all to myself" and his voice
went down two tones. He did it 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 shall stop it."
"Oh, please don't!" begged Gail.
You are SO delightful at It,"
He pounced on corner half hidden
by tub of ferns. There was no bench
there, but 1t was at least, semiisolated,
and 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 am saying what you call
pretty things. l wish, instead, to be
effective" and there was roughness
in his voice which had come for the
first time. She was trifle startled by
it, 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 met them at the
door.
"You promised me the first dance,
he breathlessly informed Gail. He had
been walking rapidly.
1--we 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.
81 know now of what your profile
reminds me-" Cunningham told her;
"the Charmeaux Praying Nymph.' II
is the most spiritually beautiful Of all
the pictures in the Louvre"
Il wonder which is the stronger
emotion in me just now," she re
turned; "gratifed vanity or curiosity
b Il hope it's the latter" smiled Gun
ningham. 81 recall now a gallery IL
which there is very good copy of the
Charmeaux canvas, and I'd be delight
, ed to take you"
'TIl go with pleasure" promises
Gail, and Cunningham turned to he
with a grateful smile.
II would prefer to show you thu
1 original" he ventured.
"Oh, look at them tuning thei
drums," cried Gail, and he though
:. that she had entirely missed his hint
a that the keenest delight in his lif
:. would be to lead her through tn
v Louvre, and from thence to perspeC
tive of picture galleries, dazzling wit
all the hues of the spectrum, and q
! long as life!
i He had other things which he wan
4 ed to say, but he calculatingly r.
4 served them for the day of the pictur
viewing, when he would have her e,
elusive attention; so, through tn
Il dance, he talked Of tribes far from hi
heart. He was a nice chap, too.
Dick Rodley was on hand with th
last stroke of the music, to claim he
for his dance. BY one of those wave
Of unspoken agreement, Gail was b
ing rushed" 1t was her night, an
she enjoyed It to the full.
n Van Ploon danced with her, dance
y conscientiously, keeping perfect tin
y to the music, avoiding with practice
adroitness, every possible pocketin
or even hem contacts with surroun
a ing couples, and acquitting himself
Al lightly turned observations at the e
piration of about every seventy Sc
onds. He quite approved of her; e
MI traordinarily so. He had never met
M girl who approached so near the tho
sand per cent grade of perfection
all the blue ribbon eoints.
81 It was while she was enjoying b
. + second restful dance with Van PloC
that Gail. swinging with him near Il
south windows, heard the honk Of {
auto horn, and near the conclusion
re the dance, saw Allison standing in Il
doorway of the ballroom, with h
hands in his pockets, watching a
lerI with a SMILE Her eyes lighted wi
Hell pleasure, and she nodded gayly to hi
w, over Van Ploon's tall shoulder VIII,
Ills lie dance stopped she was on the {
ro- de of the room, and was instant
he center of buzzing little knot
Of Rncers, from out Of which carefr
ltl ghteE radiated like visible flash
ouA 2 musical sound. She emerged frc
g, group with the arms Of two brigI
lry d girls around her waist, and n
lick son sturdily breasting the curFer
ackI ch had set towards the conserv
the drawing rooms, or the buff
be- Nobody has saved me Dance"
lilly n planned.
to- Nobody expected you until tom
" Gail smilingly returned. int
He t.is ng him to the girls. I'm beg y
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