The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-12-31

red faced and not knowing whether
to be angry or merry. they looked
at each other and broke into laughter.
Faith, and | never thought OF it at
all, at all, Katie" said Norah, ad-
justing her disarranged belt I'm
sorry | was so generous with my bou-
quet"
Its nothing at all" retorted Katie,
but | saw Pat Deasy and Michael
O'Flanagin standing on the other side
of the room takin' in the whole thing.
It's mad they are, or I'm not Katie
Malone this night"
: Now, Pat Deasy, though we'll fa-
vored in the eyes of Norah, was not
! her only admirer, and she had seen
the time when his blue eyes flashed
: at the presence OF another young
man in her spotless kitchen. Per
, haps," the thought now, he thinks
! am after getting the flowers from
| Tom
At least, whether the two SWANS
4,
ers as a personal insult or whether
| they had other reasons for ignoring
their hitherto adored ones, Norah
and Katie heard the opening strains
of Come Back to Erin waited from
the orchestra without noticing the
approach of their usual partners.
I Never long alone at ball, Norah
| L., ,IN tha N
the arms of another admirer. And
from the way in which her soft Irish
laugh rippled in response to bits OF
witty blarney her partner whispered
in her ear she was conscious of ne
other man in the room. She was
possessed of the inherent Irish quail
!, ty of being all things to all people
for the time being
The ball waxed merry and waltze:
and jigs and twosteps and barn
dances were called off one after an
other, but Pat Deasy never once
sought Norah as his partner; and sh'
did not know that his eyes followed
hei through every turn of the dance
If, as he believed she had deliberate
~ worn flowers-and yellow flower
: at that-sent her by his hated rival
she must indeed have forgotten al
: that he believed had been betwee
them.
1t was late in the evening that a
d Irish reel was proposed, and the o.
d chestra struck up the merry musi
I to which the feet OF no true son {
e the verdant land can remain quie
Norah, a new-found admirer in he
| wake. was taking her place. lie
| hair had become tumbled, her. cheel
| were as rosy as apples and her blac
| dashed blue eyes sparkled like di
| monds If her heart was heavy 81
| did not let il dangie on her sleeve 5
i that all who passed might see it.
| In the intricacics Of the reel. Nora
| by counting abs ad, could SEQ that b
| fore many moments she must ella.
hands with Pat Drasy. and her hea
thumped excite dly at the prospe,
| Would he recognize her? Would
N press her finSers-nevcr so slight.
Al 1t was her turn and she put h
III hand in the great one Pat eXtendo
Yes; he held it closely, more close
than any other partner would da
to hold it, Quick as flash. Nor;
! detached the green shamrock p
| from her belt and when next She m
Pat in the dance. slipped it into i
palm Across the petals was WRIT
in gilt letters, Come Back to Erin.
When the reel was over and {
dancers stood about the reireshme
table or sat in cool corners,
sought out Norah. the message of t
pin having been too much for him
resist And, perhaps. after all,
had been mistaken.
"Norah. is it all over between us
he asked, his color rising to the roc
= of his we'll brushed black hair
Nv An why should it be-" asked t
girl, saucly
1t. sure. YOU wore the yellow howt
as to the bah and who but that hate
at Tom Horton could have given Tho
1t, to you--to spite me-" he asked.
at ITS silly Mick you are. Pa
re. she retorted, making room for h
all beside her on the bench. 1T vase
IN, lady who gave them to me off !
all own table to wear to the ball
charm you with. Oh, Pat"
et And on the way home, Pat a
he Norah decided to visit the priest
err fore another St. Patrick's ball sho'
SO take place But so busy were Il
ler in their own affairs that they
not see Katie and her beau decid
as the same thing in the other end of
le- elevated coach
ey -
re