Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1919-10-17


misunderstanding widower!
well, will be shot y he muttered
aloud. II well-I certainly will be
shot" And he began to laugh.
Lord 'lmighty!"
But presently, at the thought of the
Notwithstanding widower's daugh-
ter, his grimness returned, and he re-
solved upon line Of conduct for the
evening. He would nod to her care
lessly when he first saw her; and
after that he would notice her no
more: he would not dance with her;
he would not favor her in the cotil-
liOn-he would not go near her
He descended to dinner upon
the third urgent summons of the col
ored butler, having spent two hours
dressing-an rehearsing.
The Hon. George Anderson was
congressman who led cotillions- the
sort of congressman an Anderson
would be. He did it negligently to-
night, yet with infallible dexterity,
now and then glancing humorously at
the spectators, people of his own age.
George had carried out his re-
hearsed projects with precision. He
had given Miss Morgan nod studied
into perfection during his lengthy tot
let before dinner. "Oh, yes, do
seem to remember that curious little
outsider!' this nod seemed to say.
Thereafter all cognizance of her eyap-
Grated: the curious little outsider was
permitted no further existence worth
the struggle. Nevertheless she flashed
in the corner of his eyes too often.
She seemed to be having a wonder
full time !"
An unbearable soreness accumulat-
ed in his chest: his dislike of the girl
and her conduct increased until he
thought of leaving this sickening As
sembly and going home to bed. That
would show her! But just then he
heard her laughing and decided that
1t wouldn't show her. So he remained.
When the young couples seated
themselves in chairs against the walls
round three sides of the room for the
cotillion George Joined brazen-faced
group clustering about the doorway
youths with no partners, yet eligible
to be "called OUT and favored. He
marked that his uncle placed the in
fernal Kinney and Miss Morgan, as
the leading couple, in the first chairs
at the head of the line upon the lead
er's right; and this disloyalty on the
part of Uncle George was inexcusable,
for in the family circle the nephew
had often expressed his opinion of
Fred Kinney. In his bitterness George
uttered a significant monosyllable.
The music flourished, whereupon
Mr.. Kinney, Miss Morgan and six of
their neighbors rose and waltzed
knowingly. Mr.. Amberson's whistle
blew; then the eight young people
went to the favor table and were
given toys and trinkets wherewith to
delight the new partners 1t was 1ow
their privilege to select.
George strolled with bored ajr to
the tropical grove, where sat his eld-
ers, and seated himself beside his
Uncle Sydney. His mother leaned
across Miss Fanny, raising her voice
over the music to speak to him.
George, nobody will be able to see
you here. You'll not be favored. You
ought to be where you can dance"
Don't care to-" he returned.
"BoreY'
"But you ought" She stopped
and laughed, waving her fan to direct
his attention behind him. ''Look-
Over your shoulder!'
He turned and discovered Miss
Lucy Morgan in the act of offering
him purple toy balloon.
II found your she laughed.
George was startled. "Well-" he
said.
would you rather sit it out 2"
Lucy asked quickly as he did not
move. Il don't care to dance if
you"
"No," he said, rising. "It would be
better to dance" His tone was SOL
emn, and solemnly he departed with
her from the grove. Solemnly he
danced with her.
-Four times, with not the slightest
encouragement, she brought him a
favor: four times in succession.
When the fourth came, "Look here |"
said George huskily. "You going to
keep this up all night? What do you
mean by it?'
For an instant she seemed con-
fused That's what cotillions are
for, aren't they?" she murmured.
"What do you mean: what they're
for?"
$50 that girl can dance with
person she wants to-"
Georges huskiness increased. 'Well,
do you mean you-you want to dance
with me all the time-all EVENING""
f"Well, this much of it-evidently /"
she laughed.
"Is it because you want to even
things up for making me angry
mean for hurting my feelings on the
way homer"
With her eyes averted-for girls of
nineteen can be as shy as boys,
sometimes - she said. 'Well - you