Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-02-03

ana Il halt
L III cheated" he earnestly complain
Ell. There are certain formnlities
which am lieenly missing. I'm com.
ing out"
The governors ball being considered
by common consent the first social gun
OF the season, after which lesser so
cal lights might presume to shine
with authorization. everybody who
was anybody made it Il point to be
there and compare artillery. They
maue 1t Il special point this year since
Governor Waivers term WAS expiring,
and Il share ut least of the governors
social glory would flicker out with his
nllice.
Molly Marley in the first breathing
moment after the grand circle of intro.
auctions led Fern about the stately
modern mansion With an air of pro
prlctorship, for this was her second
visit, and she displayed with glce the
conservatory fountains. the marble
swimming pool, the pipe organ. the
outdoor sleeping rooms and the sunkcn
gardens. all of which she had mention
ed to Sledge the previous day. She
had not known until afterward that
she had had this very place in mind.
Its Il Dream declared Fern. With
aWcd enthusiasm. 'Wouldn't YOU like
TO w Il wonderful place like this.
Molly:'
1T isn't worth the moral price"
judged Molly, looking about the beau
tiful grounds with u sigh of admira-
ton. nevertheless. ut would be nice,
though, after all" she finally admitted.
Mrs. Waiver doesn't seem to eniov
t." wondered Fern. she hides as
much as possible, | think"
She has overcome her fear of
using the wrong fork" guessed Molly.
THAT wasn't nice. Fern" she quickly
added, Mrs. Waiver is a good, sweet
woman, like my OWL mother, but l
don't believe she is quite comfortable
i'll all this magni1iccnce. Governor
Waiver, on the other hand, likes it and
consequently looks as if he belonged
here"
THAT'S the trouble with most mar
riagcS,' observed Fern from the depth
OF her twcnty-onc years of wisdom,
"They're so unequal. It's perfectly
ghastly, Molly, for either Il man or Il
woman to marry beneath ones own
capabilities of expansions"
What does it say on the next page?'
laughed Molly.
They were winding up out of the
quantity lighted sunken gardens, and
they both stopped to admire the cold
ly severe beauty of the big white mar
bic house as it lay cleaning in the
moonlight.
THAT there's III danger of that with
you and Bert, you lucky girl" replied
Fern, with Il queer note in her voice,
at which Molly wondered. "Bert's a
dandy fellow. 1t makes me hopping
mad on your account when anybody
knocks him"
Has the Lord Help the Absent
Member club got at him, too?' asked
Molly, with a smile. Il thought only
women were eligible for discussion"
They take anybody" dryly COM
mented Fern. But, after all. it is
you who are up"
Me- gasped Molly. Tell me the
worst about myself"
SNn11'vn rOn1n 81 conc1tinnr hit - ciC.
gled Fern, land that's enough to send
you to the electrical chair any place.
However. they're taking it out in
pity"
They must hate me, then" Molly
felt assured at last of her success.
But why pity"
Bert" responded Fern. He isn't
here"
He %telephoncd mt this afternoon he
might be late said Molly, With a
slightly worried air. What of it,"
Common malice, on view in the
c%loakroom. has it that he is at the
present moment unprescntable," stat
ed Fern and waited. at would be
absurd if it We're not so mean. | gave
one cat q piece of my mind about it,
the feather chinned woman With the
purple coincidence ribbons fastened on
her cerise chiffon With brass furniture
tacks."
Molly howled at the description.
"Wow.." she gasped. That's Mrs.
Senator Allerton. What did you say
to her?'
'That she seemed so happy to be-
lieve the worst and that
"In give you my little spangle fan
for that as soon as we go home"
promised Molly.
You're almost as liberal as Sledge,'
complimented Fern. Il wouldn't give
up that spangle fan for worlds. What
do you suppose is keeping Bert, Molly?'
Hes probably 'slewed,' to use the
Sledge dictionary" responded Molly
calmly.
Does that mean the same as jag
ged?'
"Spiff1icated, "elucidated Molly. Don't
look so shocked. Fern. Bert isn't in the