The Green Forest tribune., 1916-01-28


 friends! There were still other let ters; confidently friendly one from Allison, who sent her regularly candy and flowers on alternate days; a substantial one from Houston Van Ploon; thoughtful one from Willis Cunningham; florid 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. Babbitt's 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, were 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 it 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, justifiably, that 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. Babbitt's.
 She was whirling near the balcony windows with tall young friend who tr,ho tion from a group of girls at the win dow. Vivian Jennings turned She was girl with the sort of eyes which in one sweep, can find the only four leafed clover in 40-foot field.
 "Gail!" she cried, almost dancing. Gail! Do come and see it!'
 Gail did not desert her partner; she merely started over to the window with one hand trailing, behind her as an indication to follow, and immedi- ately, without looking around, she called:
 "Arly! Where's Arly?"
 What she saw was 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 hangings, and pausing to light a leisurely 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. melt ing black eyes, while on his oval cheek was the ruddy bloom of health. Every girl in the window sighed. as. with a movement which was grace in 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 plaited shirt front-oh, everything; correct to the last detail, except for the trifling touches of originality, down to his patent leather tips With wave of careless ease he flung back his Inver- ness over one shoulder, and rang the bell!
 "Dick!" cried voice just behind Calls ear. Gail had not known that anyone was leaning heavily on her shoulders, but now she and Arly, with one accord, turned and raced for the vestibule!
 You handsome thing!" cried Arly, as he stepped into the hall and held out hand to each of them. I've 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. It 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 here to bless us?" demanded Arly.
 T came to propose to Gail," an- nounced Dick calmly. and took her hand again, bending down on her that l wonderfully magnetic gaze, so that she was panic-stricken in the idea that he | was about to proceed with his project { right on the spot.