The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1916-12-28

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soft curtains, the lamps glowing every
where in the tropical verdure like lit
tie moons, and the ~glimmering afromo-
bi,es spinning everywhere along the
walks.
And there was music. The dancing
was beginning a little distance away.
Gloria tried to sneak a sip Of her IA
theirs coffee, but Miss Sidney caught
her at it and took the cup away. But
except for her everything was beauti-
full and tender; the very atmosphere
was full Of pleasant reveries. And
then Miss Sidney had to look at her
watch and ruin everything with the
insulting word: Bedtime"
Gloria pretended not to hear her and
talked vigorously to David. But he
only laughed an elder brothers laugh
and lighted another cigarette. She
ran to her father and nestled in his
arms. He Rugged her close, but she
gorgon g~overness.
Daddy, darling, let me go to the
dance" He shook his head. Just
three dances" He shook his head.
Two? One!" He shook his head.
She knew that the governess had
given him his orders.
David shifted. Little girls aren't
allowed to mingle with grownups af-
ter dark"
Gloria choked for words and threw
him one glance. If looks were smacks
in the eye he would have had a good
n But he only laughed the more,
Then her father hardened his heart
and gave her q run-along-now kiss.
She went along, but she did not run.
Once more the rebellion began to sim
mer in her brain.
Her helplessness was her chief
grievance. How could a young girl
defend herself from a big governess
and a big maid, a finty-hearted father
and a brute Of a brother? She was
bordering while the maid took off her
dinner gown and hung it up and hand
ed her her sleeping suit. A pretty
time to go to bed with all Florida call
ing to her under the moon!
She said her prayers with an absent
minded lack of conviction and crawled
into bed. The governess and the maid
put out the lights and left her. But
they did not put out the moon.
The governess had a prosaic soul
and she fell asleep in spite of the
moo and the music and the pleading
call of all outdoors. She even snored!
Gloria could stand everything but
that. She stole from her bed and tip
toed to the governess' room to shake
her and beg her not to play that tune
on her nose. A better idea occurred
to her. Seeing the governess' cloth
slippers neatly placed on the bedside
rug. Gloria pinned them there, whisked
back into her own room and, fiinging
off her bedgear, slipped into her din
ner gown again. She dressed in the
dark and got away safely from her
She was afraid to face the brilliant
lights and the crowd, but she found a
nook on the piazza where she could
peer in at a window and watch the
whirling couples. The tune set her
heart to Waiting and she was so fam.
ished for a dance that when old Judge
Freeman came into sight she asked
him to waltz with her. He shook his
head ~dolefully.
I'm sorry, my child, but I've been
sent to bed, too"
She felt sorry for him, but she
wished that people would stop calling
her my child
She peeked at the ballroom again
and watched the rivalry of David and
Mr.. Ferneau for the dances of Lois
Freeman. The two men were jealous
Of each other. David was furious,
and Gloria was glad Of it.
After a time David had a great
scheme. Never dreaming that Gloria
was just outside the window, within
hearing distance, he asked Lois If she
would not enjoy a little moonlight
spin in his racer. She said that she
would. David said. Wait right here"
and left the ballroom. But Lois did
not waste any time waiting. She beck.
oned Mr.. Ferneau and told him that
she had a headache and could dance
only one more dance before she said
goodnight. Gloria knew that she was
killing time till David could get to the
garage and back.
She heard David's car coming. The
lights almost revealed her on the piaz-
"a. David stopped the car at a side
entrance and ran into the hotel for
Lois.
Then Gloria's inspiration came. She
would ave David from that siren and
she would get a bit Of moonlight for
herself.
She dashed across the lawn and,
stepping into the car, commanded 1t
to obey her wild will, and away 1t
went like a magic carpet.
Her practiced hands and feet knew
the steering wheel and the clutch and
the brakes and all. and there was a
rapture beyond words in her power,
her liberty, her speed. At last she was