The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1919-11-07
CHAPTER lV--Continued.

Give me the next and the one aftel
that" he said hurriedly. recovering
some presence of mind. Just as the
nearest applicant reached them. "An(
give me every third one the rest o,
the evening"
She laughed. Are YOU asking?'
what do you mean. 'asking?"
''It sounded as though you were JUS
telling me to give you all those
dances"
well. want 'em," George insisted
s'Are you going to give me-
Good gracious." she laughed
yes"
The applicants flocked round her
urging contracts for what remained
but they did not dislodge George from
her side, though he made it eviden,
that they succeeded in annoying him
and presently he extricated her from
an accommodating siege-she must have
ronnived in the extrication-and bore
her Off to sit beside him upon the
stairway that led TO the musicians
gallery. where they were sufficiently
retired, vet had view Of the room.
How'd all those ducks get 10 know
you so quick?" George inquired, with
little enthusiasm.
"OL, I've been here a week"
"Lopks as if you'd been pretty
busy he said Most of those ducks.
don't know what my mother wanted
10 invite 'em here for
Perhaps it was on account Of their
parents" Miss My=an suggested
mildly. maybe She didn't want to
offend their fathers and mothers"
oh hardly. I don't think my
mother need worry much about Offend
Ing anybody in this old town."
1t must be WONDERFUL said Miss
Morgan. ut must be wonderful, Mr..
Amberson-Mr. Minafer I mean
What must be wonderfully"
To be so important as thar ;"
That isn't important George as
snrea her anybody that really is
anybody ought to be able TO do about
as they like in their own town. !
should think
She looked AZ him critically from
Hndec her shading lashes-but her
eyes grew gentler almost at once In
truth. they became more appreciative
than critical. Georges imperiouS good
looks were altogether manly, yet ap-
preached actual beauty as closely as
Il boys good looks should dare: and
dance music and flowers have some
effect upon nineteen-year-Old girls as
we'll as upon eishteen.year-old boys.
The stairway was drafty: the steps
wsre narrow and uncomfortable no
older person would have remained In
such n place. Moreover. these two
young people We're strangers to each
other: neither had said anything in
which the other had discovered the
slightest intrinsic interest; there had
not arisen between them the begin
nings of congeniality, or even of
friendliness-but stairways near ball
rooms have more to answer for than
have moonlt lakes and mountain sun
sets.
Age, confused by its own long &C
rumulation of foilics, is everiaStingly
tnQuiring, what does she see in him?"
;'S Il young love came about through
thinking-or through conduct. At
eighteen one goes to a dance, sits with
y stranger on stairway. feels Pc
"u5iar, thinks nothing. and becomes
Incapable Of any plan whatever. Miss
Morgan and George stayed where they
were.
They had agreed to this in silence
and without knowing it; certainly
without exchanging glances Of intelll-
S"nce-they had exchanged no glances
at all. Both sat staring vaguely out
,nto the ballroom. and, for a time,
'hcy did not speak. Here and there
We're TO be seen couples so carried
away thai, ceasing to move at the
dc"orOuS, even glide, considered most
Knowing. they pranced and whirled
through the rh"ong, from wall To wall.
salloping bounteousiy in abandon.
George suffered Il shcck of vague sur
prise when he perceived that his aunt.
Fanny Ntnafer. was the lady-half of
one OF these wild couples. she flew
over the lloor in the capable arms of
the queerlouking duck; for this per
son was her partner.
The queer-ookin- duck had been Il
zeal dancer III his day, it appeared =;
sui evidently his day was not Yet
aver. In spite Of the headon-, gay
..,pit!tv with which he bore Miss
s'aeny about the big room he danced
snthnritatively. avoiding without ef-
tUrt s!.v highest collision with other