The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1916-03-16

@~ 49,
even here in the happy, sheltering en-
vironment of her own dear home and
friends! There were still other let
tiers; a confidently friendly one from
Allison, who sent her regularly candy
and flowers on alternate days; a
substantial one from Houston Van
Ploon; a thoughtful one from Willis
Cunningham; a lorid one from Dick
Rodley; nice little notes, calculated TO
relieve her embarrassment, from all
her slaves" except the missing count,
and a discussion from the Rev. Smith
Boyd. That was one of those which
she read more than once; for 1t was
quite worth it.
There was an impromptu party at
Calls house, a jolly affair, indeed. All
her old steadfast friends, you know,
who were quite sufficient to fill her
life; and this was the night of the
gay little Mrs. Rabbits affair in New
York. How much better than those
great, glittering social pageants was a
simple, wholesome little ball like this
with all her dear girl chums, in their
pretty little Paris model frocks, and
all the boys, in their shiny white
fronts. No one had changed, and she
quite felt, except for the presence Of
Arly, that she had fallen back into her
old familiar life. Why, It seemed as
If she had been home for ages and
ages!
At the end OF the Sargent ballroom.
where Calls sedate but hospitable
mother always sat until the Home,
Sweet Home" dance was ended, we're
the same dear, familiar palms, which
Marty, the florist, always sent to ev.
erybody's house to augment the home
collection. The gorgeous big one had
a leaf gone, but II was sprouting two
others.
Tremendously gay affair. Every,
body was delighted, and said so; and
they laughed and danced and strolled
and ate ices, and said jolly nothings,
and knew, iustifiably, hat they were
nice and clever and happy young
people; and Arly Fosland, with any
number of young men wondering how
old her husband was, danced consci-
entiously, and smiled Immediately
when anyone looked at her. Gail also
was dancing conscientiously, and hav-
ing a perfectly happy evening. At
about this hour there would be some
thing near four hundred people in the
ballroom and the drawing rooms and
the conservatory of Mrs. Rabbits.
She was whirling near the balcony
windows with q tall young friend who
breathed, when there was an exclana-
ton from a group of girls at the win
dow. Vivian Jennings turned. She
was a girl with the sort of eyes which,
in one sweep, can find the only four.
leafed clover in a 40-foot field.
Call" she cried, almost dancing.
Gail! Do come and see it,"
Gail did not desert her partner; she
merely started ove to the window
with one hand trailing behind her as
an indication to follow, and immedi-
ately, without looking around, she
called:
AIRY! Where's As!y?"
What she saw WIS this. A rich.
brown limousine, in which the dome
light was brightly burning, had drawn
UP to the steps. Inside, among the
rich brown cushions and ha~ngings.
and pausing to light a l~eisurely ciga.
rette, sat the most wickedly handsome
man in the world! He was black.
haired and black-mustached and black
goateed, and had large, lustrous, melS
ing black eyes, while On his oval
cheek was the rudy bloom of health.
Every girl In the window sighed, a.,
with a movement which was grace Ia
every changing line, he stepped out
of the brilliantly lighted limousine,
and came slowly up the steps. tall,
slender, magnificent, in his shining
silk hat and his flowing Inverness,
and his white tie. and his plated shirt
front-oh. everything; correct to the
last detail, except for the trifing
touches Of originality, down to his
patent leather tips! With a wave Of
careless ease he flung back his Inver-
ness over one shoulder, and rang the
belli
"Dick!" cried a voice just behind
Calls ear. Gail had not known that
anyone was leaning heavily on her
shoulders, but now she and Arly. with
n accord, turned and raced for the
vestibule!
you handsome thing!" cried Arly,
as he stepped into the hall and held
out a hand TO each Of them. I've O
notion to kiss you!"
"All right" he beamed down on her,
sparing another beam for Gail. No,
Gail had not exaggerated in memory
the magic OF his melting eyes. II
could not be exaggerated
There aren't any words to tell you
how welcome you are!" said Gail. as
the butler disappeared with his hat
and Inverness.
What on earth brought you herr TO
bless us7" demanded Arly.
." came to propose to GAIL" an
nounced Dick calmly. and took her
hand again, bending down On her that
wonderfully nssases gaze, 90 that sfs
vas panic-stricksA - the AsA Chat -
"a about to peuoen6 VIII his profnue