The Monticellonian., 1918-02-08
Inthe Dark
GA<1
Ry eERvEIsE FLOYD


 simple in their lives. and love anu friendship were eIempii-ied as Hasl..'l' earnest emotions. devoid Of guile ! --s young folks had thelr social gather in-s. parties. barn dances aad Aass--l7 bees. custom and mid 5aE-=r-l45t.'i~' Ike Halloween fiction lending ei.tt--l u especial occasions Qa5Ie ID ll5 course of events each Darby I9u1u his Joan. and ar Ia<z Rodney ! Fi-i-l5.-'- was sure he had discovered his.
 There was not a sWeeter or pretl4s1 girl ia Rockt6a than Ivg Lane. anu Rodney had known her fer a3olt d year. The parents 0f both smiled H. diligently upon the manifest I1iesaa4 sentiments of= the couple. Rodney r. garded Ivy as being ethereal lie was so inbued with sense of her priceless perfection that hs grew aha9i-- ed when he dared Q hoHe be Has co gain the love e this peerless creature naturally If q shy nature he had ta4le little progress Ia hIs IaveIlaS.lz.
 There was to be 3 party Il the home q ". and about q week before mat Rodney saw her home from 3 eaaEeA social. As thay were about to part at the garden gate h. mustered up the courage f0 disclose what hal been If- gently upon hls mind for many hours. .Ivy.. he said. ~when I come To the party e year haass next Weaass- day. I want you ID accept 2 Ettle kzel'- sake from ne. VIII y0ut
 ~But y0u gave me q lovely bouquet of roses only yesterday and
 @But this isn't roses. want te ave you a rlag.
 -Oh. Rodaey-sAeekiaz z laughed Ivy.
 -Irs coming from the cir. where | have ordered He= ard f Eaa vii aaty wear t on yoar engagement finger.
 Thee Is mother calling Good night. Rodne4-e and Ivy G1fed assay- prob ably happier than she hal aver been ia her lie.
 eShe did nor say she NalL-a.F ac- cept tha ring breatEzd Rodney Ea1r- azeouSly. and couat-d tH= hoazz al ths arrival of the evening party IFy received him with 2 gracious smile that set every nerEs ti1ez#a-- tes as tae hostess af th= evening she could give hln no further exclusive azzen- ton. 4 Miss Li>la fel ta his charge parrlv through the efforts z he Eagns lady in question to make E s9. aa8 in al courtesy Rodney fa11z himself set ted as partner and =sseo=z sar tas oc- casion Q thar flashing 6=1E-T from The efty, temporarily visiting 5 married sls- ter in Reckten.
 Miss IisIe was str=z l- mild way. While she lHHs- 5=# she termed the crude Saezzz zz===os Rack f6a. she set he=Sals E= Ez $ =5-.z-H#Ee ffrt. and had half sH= Zz az ears because of her azzz@ a-=azzIa- ion of their heauz NZ seemed that she had Sst aaszz z1=zS5 If Ivy's poor lone IaCa -5s though l. thus singled oHt by -1- 5-zz-l--- queen of beauty. louged 9-v = aae mo- ment's sweet converse zzss the Eeal Idol of his heart
 At last Rodney watching k5sehaHee. saw Ivy dart through the doorway If a darkened wing nom t9 reach The front hall as there were some arrlv- aIs. Rodney hasteaed mo the unit apartment. He cIutched an escaping figure.
 .-The ring,a he whispered ardzlely. Here 1t is. You will make me so happy to wear it on your engagement finger"
 The yielding form auttered in his arms.
 "You-you wouldn't kiss me would youT' he added in wild desperation.
 4 pair Of lips met his own. He seemed in paradise. Voices neared. They parted precipitately. Rodney has tened back to a crowded room and sank 10 chair. feeling as if the world had been won. He was h such q state Of rhapsody that he wished to b. alone. He looked up with a shock He made out Ivy. and smiled at her She seemed to turn her back on him She was speaking to Miss Lisle, who was animatedly fiouriShing a ring on her engag agement finger, and glanclng knowingly in the direction of Rod. ney.
 The latter was crushed. He real ized the truth in a flash. He had not met and kissed Ivy in the dark, but oh fatal blunder, Miss Lisle. She came toward him now in her artful way oi gracefulness.
 .'I have just been telling our dear mutual friend. Miss Lane. of your pretty present" she said. And oh Mir. Trumbun. promised sister to be home by eleven. and it is now nearly midnight. Won't you see to my wraps" and almost without realizins ft Rodney was hustled out of tht house and Miss Lisle was languishly hanging on his arm. prattling pretty nOthings in the mellow moonlight.
 He hated himself as an arrant COW ard as he left Miss LiSle at the dool Of her sisters home. She was a flash ing flame of coQuetry, she plainly con sidered that they were engaged. Sb, insisted on his joining herself and het friends in an auto drive the next aft ernoon.
 T will tell her plainly of the erro she is laboring under And I mus see Ivy resolved Rodney. But whel he rang at the door bell If the Ian. home the next day Mrs. Lane receive, him coldly and stated that Ivy was in disposed. As Rodney went out of th yard IYvss father stepped up to hin