Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-05-25

what How to Behave in the Best So
ciety" taught young ladies to say
"Why do you ask" said Gwendoline
i Gerald quietly.
| Got to-" said Bob.
"Why have you got to-" ~
81 promised l would"
who made you promise?"
Bob told.
do you have to do what she tells
you?"
I'm this instance
"Of course you know what my re
ply will be-"
Il told her you would refuse
"You would hardly expect me tc
dance with you after all know about
you, would you?" There was still that
deadly quietness in her tones.
"All you think you know about me,
Bob had the courage to correct her
"Of course not
! l"Some one has taken one of my
rings" observed Miss Gerald even
more quietly.
/ II haven't got it, exclaimed Bob
.Honest!' Wasn't he glad he had got
rid Of it? !,
The violet eyes studied Bob as if
he were something strange and imam
imate-an odd kind OF pebble or a
she'll "You are sure?' said Miss
Gwendoline.
positive" answered Bob in his
most confident tones. He remember
ed now that during his dance with the
jolly little pal he had observed the
monocle man talking with Miss Ger
I aid. Perhaps he had told her he had
seen the ring In Bob's fingers when
the latter had gone to the window.
The monocle man might have been
spying all the while, on the other
side. There might have been two
Peeping Toms interested in Bob's ac-
tons in the billiard room.
Are you so positive you would be
willing to submit to be searched =
81 am that positive" Bob answered.
And then went on more eagerly:
Maybe you haven't really lost it af-
ter ALL" He could say that and still
tell the truth. "Why, it may be in
your room now You may find it on
your table or your. dresser when you
go upstairs to retire.
Miss Gerald looked at him. You
seem to be rather certain?" she said
tentatively.
81 am said Bob. "Td almost
swear" He stopped suddenly. 1t
wouldn't do to be too certain.
Don't you find your own words
rather stranger" the girl asked.
"Everythings funny about me
nowadays" said Bob.
/ Did you enjoy renewing your &C
quaintance with Miss -?" She call.
ed Gee-gee by that other, more con-
ventional name.
II did not. l dislike her profound
ly."
"Are you sure?" The violet eyes
we're almost meditative. Now
should have thought" She paused.
Bob read the thought, however. A man
like him was on plane with Gee
gee; indeed, much lower. Miss Ger
aid would be finding in Gee-gee Bob's
affinity next.
you haven't refused me out-and-
out, yet he suggested. ITO dance,
l mean"
s'You would rather, of course, did
refuse your
"Of course Bob stammered. The
mere thought of dancing with her once
again as Of yore gave him a sensa'
ton of exquisite pain. But naturally
she would never dream of dancing
with one she considered "a
well, you may have the pleasure"
she said mockingly
Bob could not credit his hearing.
She would permit him to touch her,
Incredible A great awe fell over him.
He could not believe.
Il said you might have the pleas.
ure,' she repeated, accenting in the
least the last word.
Bob caught that accent. All, she
knew then, what exquisite pain it
would be for him to dance with her!
She was purposely Furnishing him;
she wished to make him suffer. She
would drive gimlet in his heart and
turn it around. Bob somehow got
his arm about his divinity and found
himself floating around the room. ex-
periencing that dual sensation of be-
ing in heaven and in the other place
at one and the same time.
It was weird and wonderful dance.
Through it all he kept looking down
at her hair, though it's brightness
seemed to dazzle him. Miss Dolly had
confided to Bob that he guided
divinely,' but he didn't guide divinely
now; he was too bewildered. Once
he bumped his divinity into some one
and this did not improve his mental
condition But she bore with him
with deadly patience; she was bound
to punish him thoroughly, it seemed.