Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1917-11-01

Her cruelty was all unwilling. She
intended to rally him sweetly. But
seventeen is deathly serious at such
iunctures, and William was in a sensi-
tive condition.
100 tross?" whispered Lola.
He spake not.
"'Twasn't my fault bout dancing"
she said. Dad boy! What made 90
tum so late?"
He maintained his silence and the
accompanying icy dignity, whereupon
she made a charming little pout.
100 be SO tross," she said. lola
talk to nice Man uvyer side of herr
With that she turned her back upon
him and prattled mcrrily to the gen
tlcman of sixteen pon her right
Still and cold sat William. Let her
talk to the Man at the other side or
her as she would, and eve so gayly.
William knew that she was conscious
every instant of the reproachful pres
ence upon her left. And somehow
these moments of quiet and melan-
choly dignity became the NEST salts
factory he had known that evening.
for as he sat. so silent. so austere, and
not yet eating. though a plate of chick
en- salad had been p'occd upon his lap,
he began to feel TN & here was some
where about him a mysterious superi-
GRITTY which set him apart from other
people and above them.
And, although Miss Pratt continued
to make merry with the Man upon
her right, it seemed to William that
this was but outward show. He had
a strange, subtle impression that the
mysterious superiority which set him
apart from others was becoming per-
ceptible to her; that she was feeling
it too.
Over the chatter and laughter of the
guests rose a too familiar voice. Lem
me hep you to nice tongue samwich,
lady. Nom? Nice green lettuce sam
WITCH, lady?
Genesis!
Nice tongue samwich, sub? Nice
lettuce samwich. lady?' he could be
heard vociferat:ng, perhaps a little too
much as if he had sandwiches for sale.
"Lemme jes' lay this nice green let
tuce Samwich on you plate fer ycu,
lady"
Because he was q new waiter he
strongly wished to show familiarity
with his duties-familiarity, i'll fact,
with everything and everybody. This
yearning, born of self doubt and in
beyond question the inspiration of his
painful behavior when he came near
the circle of chairs where sat Mr..
and Mrs. Parchcr, Miss parchcr, Miss
Pratt, Miss Bokc, Mr.. Watson, Mr.,
Bullitt, others and William.
Nice tongue samwich, lady!' he an
nounced semicake walking beneath his
high borne tray. Nice green lettuce
sam He came suddenly to a dra-
matte dead stop as he bcheld William
sitting before him, wearing that strange
new dignity and Mr.. Bakers evening
clothes. Name O. ~goo'ness.." Genesis
exclaimed, so loudly that every one
looked up. How in the livin' worl
you evuh come to git here? You dad.
dy sut'ny nus "a weakened way down
TO he let you wear his low cut YES
an pants an long tail coat! | bet
any man 80 cents you gone an stole
EN- u aftuh he done went to bed!.'
And he burst into a wild, free Afri
al laugh.
At seventeen such things are not
embarrassing: they are catastrophical
But, mercifuily. c~atastrophes often pro
duce numbness in the victims. More
as in q trance than actually William
heard the outbreak of his young com
panions.
A flourish of music challenged the
dancers. Couples appeared upon the
platform.
The dreadful supper was over.
The ineffable One, Supremacy pink
rose from her seat at Williams side
and moved toward the platform Will
the glowing Joe Bullitt. Then Viii
liam, reused to action by this sight
sprang to his feet and took a step to-
ward them, but it was only one weak
step.
A warm and ample hand placed it
self firmly inside the crook of his ell
bow. Lets get started for this one
before the floor gets all crowded up
said Miss Boke.
Miss Boke danced and DANCED with
him. She danced him On and on
and on.
n =
At half past l the orchestra played
Home, Sweet Home" AS the last
bars sounded a group of earnest young
men who had surrounded the lovely
guest Of honor, talking vehemently
broke into loud shouts, embraced one
another and capered ~variously ovel
the lawn. Mr.. Parcher beheld from
a distance these manifestations and
then, with an establishment ever more
profound, took note of the tragic Will
liam. who was running toward him
radiant, Miss Boke lowering futilely
in the far background.
whats all the hullabaloo?" Mr.