Omaha daily bee., 1918-09-01
CHAPTER XIII (Continued).
"Oh-hp subsidized the man.


| "Oh-hp subsided the man.
| THAT is why it distresses me to see
my daughter so carried away with the
mere idea OF spending. thought I'd
taught her differently" sighed the
woman.
perhaps you taught her-too we'll
But | wouldn't worry" smiled Mr.
Smith, as he turned away.
Deliberately then Mr.. Smith went
in search of Mellicent. He found her
in the music room, which had been
cleared for dancing. She was sur
rounded by four young men. One
held her fan, one carried her white
scarf on his arm. third was handing
her glass of water. The fourth was
apparently riting his name on her
dance card. The one with the scarf
Mr.. Smith recognized as Carl Pen
mock. The one writing on the dance
program he knew was young Hib-
bard Gaylord.
Mr.. Smith did not approach at
once. Leaning against a window cas-
ing near by, he watched the kaleido-
scopic throng, bestowing a not too
conspicuous attention upon the group
about Miss Mellicent Blaisdell.
Mellicent was the picture of rad
liant loneliness. The rose in her
cheeks matched the rose of her gown,
and her eyes sparkled with happi-
ness. So far as Mr.. Smith could see,
she dispensed her favors with rare
impartiality; though as he came
toward them finally, he realized at
once that there was merry wrangle
of some sort afoot. He had not quite
reached them when, to his surprise,
Mellicent turned to him in very evil
dent relief.
There, here's Mr.. Smith," she cried
gayly. "I'm going to sit it out with
him. shan't dance it with either of
you"
"Oh, Miss Blaisdell! protested
young Gaylord and Carl Pennock, ab-
jectly.
But Mellicent shook her head.
mo. If you will both write your
names down for the same dance, it is
nothing more than you ought to ex-
pect."
"But divide it, then. Please divide
it," they begged. We'll be satisfied"
II shan't bep Mellicent shook her
head again merrily.
II shan't be satisfied with anything
but to sit it out with Mr.. Smith.
Thank you, Mr.. Smith," she bowed, as
she took his promptly offered arm.
And Mr.. Smith bore her away fol-
lowed by the despairing groans of the
two disappointed youths and the
taunting gibes of their companions.
"Therel Oh, I'm so glad you came"
sighed Mellicent. "You didn't mind?"
"Mind2 I'm in the seventh heavenp
avowed Mr.. Smith with exaggerated
gallantry. "And it looked like real
rescue, too"
Mellicent. laughed. Her color deep
ened.
"Those boys-they're so sillyp she
pouted.
Wasn't one of them young Pen
nock?"
"Yes, the tall, dark one"
"He's come back, I see"
She flashed an understanding look
into his eyes.
"Oh, yes, he's come back. I wonder
if he thinks I don't know-whyw
"And-you?" Mr.. Smith was smiling
quizzically.
She shrugged her shoulders with
demure dropping of her eyes.
"Oh, I let him come back--to GER
tain extent. | shouldn't want him to
think | cared or noticed enough to
keep him from coming back-some.
"But there's line beyond which he
may not pass, chr"
There certainly is!-but let's not
talk of him. Oh. Mr.. Smith I'm so
happy" she breathed, ecstatically.
I'm very glad"
In a secluded corner they sat down
on a gilt settee.
"And it's all SO wonderful, this-all
this! Why Mr. Smith, I'm so happy |
i want to cry all the time. And
that's so silly-to want to cry! But /
do. So long-all my 'iife--I've had to
wait for things so. 1t was always by
and by, in the future that was going
to have--anything that I wanted. And
now to have them like this, all at
once, everything want-why, Mr..
Smith, it doesn't seem as if it could
be true. 1t just can't be true!"
"But it is true, dear child: and I'm
so glad-you've got your five-pound
box of candy all at once at last. And
| hope you can treat your friends to
unlimited soda waters"
"Oh, I can! But that isn't all. Lis
ten! A new eagerness came to her
yes. "I'm going to give mother pres
ent--a frivolous, foolish present.
such as I've always wanted to. I'm
going to give her a gold breastpin
with an amethyst in it. She's always
wanted one. And I'm going to take
my own money for it. too-not the
money that father gives me, but some
money I've been saving up for years
dimes and quarters and half-dollars
in my baby-bank. Mother always
made me save most every cent got
you see. And I'm going to take it
now for this pin. She won't mind if
| do spend it foolishly now--with all
the rest we have. And she'll be so
pleased with the pinp
"And she's always wanted onef"
Eyes. always; but she never thought
she could afford it. But nowl I'm go.
ing to open the bank tomorrow and
count it; and I'm so excited over itr'
She laughed shamefacedly. II don't
believe Mr.. Fulton himself ever took
more JOY counting his millions than
! shall take in counting those quart
ers and half-dollars tomorrow"
II don't believe he ever did" Mr..
Smith spoke with confident emphasis,
! yet in voice that was not quite
steady. "I'm sure he never did"
what a comfort you are, Mr..
L -