The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-04

red faced and not knowing whether
to be angry or merry. they looked
at each other and broke into laughter.
Faith, and | never thought OF ii at
all. at all Katie, said Norah, ad-
justing her disarcanged belt I'm
sorry ! vas so generous with my bou-
quet
Its nothing at all, retorted Katie.
but | saw Pat Deasy and Michael
O'Flanagin standing on the other side
of the room takin in the whole thing
It's mad they are, or I'm not Katie
Malone this night"
Now, Pat Deasy, though well IA
vored in the eyes OF Norah, was not
her only admirer, and she had seen
the time when his blue eyes flashed
at the presence of another young
man in her spotless kitchen. Per
haps, the thought now, he thinks
am after getting the flowers from
Tom"
At least, whether the two SWANS
took the wearing of the yellow flow
ers as personal insult or whether
they had other reasons for ignoring
their hitherto adored ones, Norah
and Katie heard the opening strains
of Come Back to Erin waited from
the orchestra without noticing the
approach of their usual partners.
Never long alone at a ball, Norah
was soon whirling about the room in
the arms OF another admirer And
from the way in which her soft Irish
laugh rippled in response to bits of
witty blarney her partner whispered
In her ear she was conscious of no
other man in the room. She was
possessed of the inherent Irish quail
ty of being all things to all people
for the time being
The ball waXed merry and waltzes
and jigs and twosteps and barn
dances We're called off one after an
other. but Pat Deasy never once
sought Norah as his partner; and she
did not know that his eyes followed
her through every turn of the dance.
If, as he believed, she had deliberate
ly worn flowers-and yellow flowers
at that-sent her by his hated rival
she must indeed have forgotten all
that he believed had been between
them
1t was late in the evening that an
Irish reel was proposed, and the or
chestra struck up the merry music
to which the feet of no true son of
the verdant land can remain quiet
Norah, a new-found admirer in her
wake, was taking her place. Her
hair had become tumbled, her checks
were as ~psy as apples and her black
dashed blue eyes sparkled like dia-
monds. If her heart was heavy she
, did not let it dangle on her sleeve so
that all who passed might see it.
In the intricacies of the reel, Norah,
by counting ahead, could see that be-
fore many moments she must clasp
| hands with Pat Dcasy, and her heart
| thumped eXcitcdly at the prospect.
| Would he recognize her? Would he
press her fingers-neyer so slightly?
1t was her turn and she put her
hand in the great one Pat extended
Yes he held it closely. more closely
than any other partner would dare
to hold it. Quick as a fash Norah
detached the green shamrock pin
from her belt and when next she met
Pat in the dance. slipped ii into his
palm. Across the petals was written
in gilt letters, Come Back to Erin"
When tie reel vas over and tbs
dancers stood about the refrcshmenr
table or sat in cool corners, Pal
sought out Norah. the message of th'
pin having been too much Tor him t
resist. And, perhaps, after all. ht
had been mistaken
"Ncr&l is it all over between u.s.
he asked, his color rising to the root.
of his well-brushed black hair.
An why should it be- asked thu
girl, saucily.
Sure, you wore the yellow flower
to the ball and who but that hateful
Tom Horton could have given then
to you-to spite me?" he asked.
It's a silly Mick you are, Pat,
she retorted, making room for hir
beside her on the bench 1T vase m
lady who gave them to me off he
own table to wear to the ball t
charm you with Oh, Pat"
And, on the way home, Pat an
! Norah decided to visit the priest BIZ
fore another St. Patrick's ball shoul
} take place. But so busy were the
: in their own affairs that they di
not see Katie and her beau decidin
, the same thing in the other end of tn
| elevated coach