The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-11-27
CHAPTER Iv-con,inued.


that" he said hurriedly. recovering
some presence Of mind. just as the
nearest applicant reached them. "And
give me every third one the rest Of
the evening"
She laughed. "Are you asklngr
"What do you mean. 'asklngr"
'Tt sounded as though you were Just
telling me to give you all those
Dances"
swell I want 'em :" George insisted.
Are You going TO give ne"
"Good gracionsi" she laughed.
-Yesw
The applicants focked round her.
urging contracts for what remained.
but they did not dislodge George from
her side. though he made II evident
that they succeeded In annoying him |:
and presently he extricated her from
IN accommodating slege-she must have
,onnived In the extrication-and bore
her OF to sit beside him upon the
stairway that led to the musicians
gallery. where they were sufficiently
retired. yet had view or the room.
"How'd nll those ducks get to know
rou 80 quickY George inquired. with
little enthusiasm.
"Oh, I've been here q week"
Looks rs II you'd been pretty
busyi" he said. Most OF those ducks.
I don't know what my mother wanted
TO invite 'em here for"
perhaps II was on account Of their
parents" Miss Morgan suggested
mildly 'Maybe she didn't want to
offend their fathers and mothers"
"Oh. hardlyi l 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. Mlnafer. l mean"
"What must be wonderfully"
ITO be so important rs thatw
"Thnt isn't important George as
sured her. Anybody that really is
anybody ought to be able TO do about
as they like In their own town. !
should thlnkp
She looked at him critically from
under her shading lashes-but her
eyes grew gentler almost Mt once. In
truth. they became more appreciative
than critical. Georges imperious good
looks were altogether manly, yet ap-
preached actual beauty as closely as
n boys good looks should dare; and
dance music and flowers have some
effect upon nineteen-year-old girls as
well as upon elghteen-year-old boys.
The stairway was drafty: the steps
were narrow and uncomfortable; no
older person would have remained in
such a place. Moreover. these two
young people were 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
nlngs OF congeniality, or even OF
friendllness-but stairways near ball
rooms have more to answer for than
have moonlit lakes and mountain sun
sets.
Age, confused by Its own long ac-
emulation OF follies, is eyerlastlngly
inquiring. "what does she see in hImi"
as II young love came about through
thlnking-or through conduct. At
eighteen one goes to a dance, sits with
stranger on a stairway. feels pc
culiar. 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'
gence-they had exchanged no glances
at all. Both sat staring vaguely out
into the ballroom. and, for time
they did not speak. Here and there
were to be seen couples SO carried
away that, ceasing to move at the
decorous. even glide. considered most
knowing. they pranced and whIrlcd
through the throng. from wall TO wall
galloping bounteously In abandon
George suffered a shock OF vague sur
prise when he perceived that his aunt
Fanny Mlnafer. was the lady-half oi
one OF those wild couples. She few
ever the floor In the capable arms OF
the gueer-looking duck; for this per
son was her partner.
The queer-loolSing duck had been 4
real dancer in his day. II appeared
and evidently his day was not yel
oyer. In spIte Of the hendlong. ga,