The Ordway new era., 1916-03-17

-WAysr - am hessA o. -
ga1 u erncklA
Ma Davies thought II better y ut
down. ~ +.
my dssr. : srsat honor has come
TO you"
Gail leaned forward towards her
aunt. and tilted her chin.
Houston wants to propose. ana mes
sent his father and sister to find out
II he may!" she charged.
YES" acknowledged Mrs- Davies.
driven past the possibility of delay or
preparation. and feeling herself unjust
ly on the defensive.
II shall not be at homo this eve
ming" announced Gall decisively.. and
stretched out her feet again. and
crossed her little gray slippers. and
took a chocolate. "Or any other eve-
ming" she added.
Mrs. Davies lost her nutter imme-
diately. This was too stupendousiy
serious a matter to be weakly treated.
MY dear. you don't understand"
she protested. not in anger. but In pa
tient reason Houston Van Ploon has
been the unattainable match Of New
York. He is a gentleman in every par
ticular. a desirable young man in every
respect, and gifted with everything
young girl would want He has so
much money that you could buy
kingdom and be a queen, II you chose
to amuse yourself that way. He has
dignitied old family, which makes mere
social position seem like an tGnonini'
Gus scramble for cotillion favors; and
it is universally admitted that he Is
the most perfect of all the Van Ploons
for many generations. Not exception
ally clever; but that is one Of the rea'
sons the Van Ploons are SO particular
to find suitable matrimonial alliance
for him"
Gail. nibbling daintily at her choco-
late. closed her eyelids for second
the long. brown lashes curved down on
her cheeks. and from beneath them
there escaped a sparkle like the snap
OF live Goals. while the corners Of her
lips twitched in that little smile which
she kept for her own enjoyment
You cannot appreciate the compli-
ment which has been paid you. Gall.
Every debutante for the past FIVE
years has been most carefully cousid
cred by the Van Ploons. and | sincere.
ly believe this to be the first time
they have unanimously agreed on
choice. 1t is a matter of eugenics. Gail.
but in addition to that, MIR. Van Ploon
assures me that Houston is most fer
vently interested"
How careless OF them" criticized
Gail They have neither asked for
my measurements nor examined my
teeth"
Call" Her chaperon and sponsor
was both shocked and stern.
Il positively decline to even discuss
the Van Ploon eugenics." stated Gail.
pushing aside her chocolates. while a
red spot began to appear on her
cheeks. II shall no1, as stated be-
fore. be at home to Houston Van Ploon
this evening-or any other evening""
81 shall not deliver that message"
lips. las your present sponsor. shall
insist that you take more time to con.
slider matter SO important"
81 shall insist on refusing to con
slider 1t for one second" returned Gail
quietly. Il am very fond of Houston
Van Ploon and | hope to remain so.
but | wouldn't marry him under any
circumstances. This Is firm, fat, and
final
Mrs. Helen Davies dropped patient
reason instantly. She was aware OF
an impulsive wish that Gail were in
pinafores. and her own child. so she
could box her ears.
Gail, you compel me to lose my pa.
tience!" she declared When you
came. | strained every influence
possessed to have YOU meet the most
desirable eligibles this big city could
otfer. just as if you were my own
daughter! have succeeded in work.
ing miracles! | have given you an
opportunity to interest the very besti
You have interested them, but have
never seen such extravaganza in the
waste OF opportunities You have re-
fused men whom thousands in the
h!.'kest circles have sought; and now
you refuse the very choice of them
all! What or whom do you want?"
Calls red spots were deepening. but
she only clasped her knee in her inter.
locked fingers. her brown hair waving
about her face. and her chin uptilted
You can't always expect to retain
your youth. and beauty and charm!"
went nm her Aunf uelop "you ,on,t
expect to come to New York every
year and look over the eligibles until
you find one to suit your fastidious
taste! You're capricious. you're un-
grateful. and you're unsatisfactoryM