The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-01-06
ARMS And THE GIRL
A. y - m4
BY FORBES DWIGHT. y

who opened the door for him, he asked
so sharply II Miss Stanwood were In
that the girl involuntarily stepped
away from him. Presently Helen was
standing there before him.
why at this unseemly hour Of the
day, Ned?" she was asking.
I came to set my mind at rest"
said he. Il want you to tell me 1t
isn't true-that you're going to ride
at the head of the procession as Joan
OF Arc tomorrow"
She tried to smile nonchalantly,
blushed little, and turned away her
eyes.
yes, it's true" said she. IT wasn't
originally cast for that role, you un.
derstand. It was Alice MARI. But
she's Ill. So they've asked me and
I'm"
Good heavens! OF course you
can't" said he.
She made wry little face. Also
her right hand went out In little i'm
patient gesture.
'Neddy, don't be horrid," she urged.
I'm not" said he. why, goodness
gracious, child. II would be- You'd
have to be in armor, of course?" he
, broke of suddenly.
"Of course" she admitted with the
faintest of added color.
We'll, don't" said he.
T For what specific reason?" she de-
manded.
Because ask It." e%s9 I'll, q
That isn't enough" Se'F
He frowned.
Isn't it?" said he. Then let me
say, because, II you do persist--if you
don't think any more for me than that
don't think I'd better come here any
more"
She looked at him wide-eyed for
moment. Then quietly she slipped of
the ring on the third finger Of her left
hand and passed 1t to him.
"As you like" said she. Il shall be
Jeanne dare tomorrow"
Before he could remonstrate she
was gone. She stepped past him and
he heard her going very firmly up the.
stairs. He started to call after her,
but instead he squared his shoulders
and went out, and he did not close the
front door quite as softly as was his
wont.
He went to the club that night and
to forget his troubles he plunged into
game of bridge with Norton and
Babcock and old Colonel Haslxins. He
played later than he had meant to;
also he played very badly. In conse-
quence he oversight next morning,
and he had an important appointment
with a client at his office at $3.50
o'clock. II was after ten o'clock when
he rushed downtown.
Martial music gave him pause.
Hand-clappings and cheers also greet,
ed his ears. or course, the parade.
He startedSon, but at that moment the
head of the parade came abreast him.
Behind the band was a huge banner
with the legend:
VOTES FOR WOMEN"
And just back OF that was a wonder
full vision, a girl in flashing armor, trim
and 1.-THE and straight on a snow
white horse. The shimmering helmet
she carried in her hands, leaving her
hair like spun gold cleaning in the
morning sun.
Frisby stood quite still while the
rest of the procession passed. At the
end was a handful of men, marching
sturdily and looking very sheepish I'M
der the gibes that we're hurled at them
from their watching brothers on the
curb.
1 Frisby had quite forgotten that eli
ent at his Office. All he thought of
was that wonderful girl at the head OF
the procession on the snow-white
horse.
He pushed through the crowd In
another moment he had Joined those
shame-faced, marching men at the end
of the procession Then he marched
grimly. unmindful apparently that he
was being invited to go home and
wash the dishes and that he was being
told In many falsetto voices how per-
fectly sweet he looked.
There was a reviewing stand In
front Of the Women's clubhouse. On
the stand were various notables, men
and women, and before 1t while the
procession passed, the matchless Joan
of Arc sat her white charger in her
glittering armor.
As the tail Of the procession came
along she caught sight of the standard
bearer. She gasped in surprise. She
said, Edward" very softly, but quite
distinctly. Then, as the banner was
dipped to her in salute, she bent her.
head and unloosed upon him the most
dazzling smile imaginable.
She had Just reached home and run
inside, and old William, their gardener.
was holding the horse, when Frisby
burst In. In his excitement he had
even forgotten to ring. She started
with an embarrassed little laugh to
run upstairs (she was still in the ar
mor), but he caught her in his arms. !
tfTaav.fe Ia n~loI ao~k-sA-I--