Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-01-19
4 WONDERFUL DANCE
BY EARL REED sILvERs.

yours"
"Are you surer
"Sure."
"Positive?"
Positive"
'"Whose eyes are thoseT
Yours"
"Whose lipsT
yours"
"ShOw me-"
A crescent moon pushed itself over
the edge of silver-tinted cloud, and
peered down upon the porch OF the
Country club. 1t saw two figures nes-
tied in the shadows; and then discreet
ly withdrew. Neither Of the figures
moved. From the dance floor came
the sound of soft music. Then the boy
he was only boy, twenty-five and
just out of cOllege-spoke again.
I'm crazy, crazy about you," he
said.
"Are you sureT
1t was a girly's voice that an
swered; voice that reminded one Of
far-off singing In the depths Of a
dream forest.
"Sure"
"POsitive?"
Positive"
A long moment elapsed.
sand I'm always going to be-" he
added. always and always"
The music died away, signifying the
end Of the dance. and footsteps sound
ed on the stone porch. The two peo-
pie in the shadows became more dis
tinctly two people. A moment ago
they had resembled one indetermin-
ate bulk.
"Have you the next dance with any
One?" the boy asked.
"No."
"Then we can keep on sitting out
here?"
"Yes." She paused a moment. 81
want to tell you something"
"What?"
"Tll let you know in Just three min
utes."
The music started again and the peo-
pie sitting near by passed through the
doorway. The two were alone again.
so nobody but the girl heard what the
boy had to say.
81 love you," he whispered.
A pair of round arms encircled his
neck; cool. white arms which he had
dreamed about for ages.
The girl was silent for moment be-
fore she spoke.
! 81 hate to spoil this wonderful, Won
derful evening"" she said, "but l must
do it. 1 simply must tell you some
thing"
"What is it?"
Its about Arthur Thorp," she ex-
planned. Her voice wavered a little.
HE and have-have known each 9TH
er all our lives. We've been very,
very good friends, and It's been gen.
orally understood that we would be
married some day."
you haven't promised him. have
your :,
mo. We never said much about It:
but all the time you were away at
college we went together steadily, and
and he's been saving up"
"But II you aren't engaged to him
it's all right" The boy moved for
ward .impulsively. II love you" he
said.
IL know, DEAR" She placed her
hand on his arm. But don't you see
that I must tell Arthur first? It's only
fair to him; and If he-and II he
| xclx Sv, hn
suppose that-that shouldn't become
engaged to you"
The boy looked wistfully In the dis
lance.
II guess it's the only thing to do"
he said. "When are you going to tell
him?"
During the next dance. I have 1t
with him.
"And4 how shall know"
you'll know by watching us. As
soon as the music starts, l shall tell
him that II care for someone else. II
he holds. me- to my half-promise, we
will go home. If he doesn't and every
thing is all right, Arthur and I Will
dance the encore together"
The music ceased, ana sne arose.
81 am going now"
Through the window the boy saw
her meet the other man and smile into
his eyes. After what seemed an eter-
nifty of waiting, the music started for
the next dance. As the moments sped
on, 1t seemed 10 the one. waiting on
the porch that the suspense was just
a little more than he could bear. And
as he waited, the two upon whom his
thoughts were conferred sat togethe.
in another room.
Arthur" the girl said slowly, II
know now that I can never care for
you the way you want me to. There's
someone else-you know who he is
and l love him because he says won
derful things, and because-well. just
because :. :"
For a moment the "other fellow"
dropped his head In his hands. Then
he squared his shoulders.
81 understand" he said.
After a brief silence he led her into
the main room and danced the very
best he knew how.
The boy on the porch watched them