Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1917-10-25
Metropolitan Magazine.

"He's looking at Lola Pratt" said
Mrs. Parcher.
"Don't you suppose l can see that?"
Mr.. Parcher returned, with some irri-
tation. "That's what's the trouble
with him. Why don't he quit looking
at herr"
81 think probably he feels bad be-
cause she's dancing with one Of the
other boys" said his wife mildly.
"Then why can't he dance With m
body else HIMSELF" Mr.. Parcher in
quired testify, "instead of standing
around like a calf looking out of the
butchers wagon? By George, he looks
as if he was just going to moo!!"
"Of course he ought to be dancing
with somebody" Mrs. Parcher remark
ed thoaghtfully. "There are one or
two more girls than boys here, and
he's the only boy not dancing. 1 be-
lieve ZIP And, not stopping to COM
plete the sentence, she rose and walk
ed across the interval Of grass to Will
liam. Good evening, William" she
said pleasantly. Don't you want to
dance?"
"Ma'am?" said William blankly, and
the eyes he turned upon her were
CLASSY with anxiety.
Don't you want to dancer" Mrs.
Parcher repeated. "Have YOU looked
around for 4 girl without a partner?"
"Girl?" he echoed in a tone of feeble
inquiry.
She smiled and nodded, taking bis
arm. "You come With me- she said.
"1ll fix you up"
William suffered her to conduct him
across the yard. Intensely preoccupied
with what he meant to do as soon SO
the music PAUSED, he was somewhat
hazy, but VIXEN he perceived that he
was being led in the direction Of a
girl sitting solitary under II of the
maple trees the sudden shock of fear
aroused his faculties.
"What-Hhere'- he stammered, halt
his hostess.
"What is it?' she asked.
II got-I got to- William began un-
easily. 81 got to-
His purpose was to xcu himself
! on the ground that he had to find a
man and tell him something important
before the next dance, for in the con-
fusion of the moment his powers re-
fused him greater originality. But the
vital part Of his intended excuse re-
NAMED unspoken. being d%isregarded
and cut short, as millions of other mas
culine diplomacies have been through
out the centuries by the decisive action
of ladies.
Miss Boke had been sitting under the
maple tree for a long time-so long. in
deed, that she was acquiring a pro-
found distaste for forestry and even
for maple sirup. In fact. her state of
mind was as desperate in its way as
; Williams. And when a hostess leads
q youth in almost perfectly fitting ON
ventional black toward Il girl who has
been sitting alone through dance after
dance that girl knows what that youth
is going to have to do.
1t must be confessed for Miss Boke
that her eyes had been upon William
from the moment Mrs. Parcher ad-
dlIssed him. She sprang to her feet
and met Mrs. Parcher more than half
way.
"Oh, Mrs. Parcher!" she called, COM
ing forward.
II GOT the panic stricken William
again hastily began. 81 got to-
"Oh, Mrs. Parcher," cried Miss Boke,
I've been so worried! There's a can
die in that Japanese lantern just over
head, and l think it is going out"
I'll run and get a fresh one in a
minute" said Mrs. Parcher, smiling
benevolently and retaining Williams
arm with a little difficulty. I'VE were
just coming to find you. I've brought
II got to- got to find a M Will
liam made a last stricken effort.
Miss Boke. this is Mr.. Baxter" said
Mrs. Parcher, and she added, with
what seemed to William hideous gar
rulity: He and you both came late,
dear, and he hasn't any dances engaged
either. So run and dance and have a
nice time together"
The full horror Of his position was
revealed to William in the relieved
confident. proprietor's smile of Miss
Boke, for William lived by a code
from which nc previous experience had
taught him any means Of escape. Mrs.
Parcher had made the statement, so
needless and 81 ruinous, that he had
no engagements, and in his dismay he
had been unable to deny this fatal
truth. He had been obliged to let it
stand.
He had to give form to the fatal
invitation. "M'av' this dance 'thyouY"
he muttered doggedly.
CURRY pleased to-" Miss Boke re-
sponded, whereupon they walked in
silence to the platform, stepped upon
its surface and embraced.
They made a false start, then an
other. They stood swaying to catch
the time, then made another. After
that they tried again and were saved
from n fall only by spasmodic and no.
ticeable contortions.
Miss Roka lauUhad tolapantlv no ~