The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1919-09-26
CHAPTER iV-Continued.

"Give me the next and the one after
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 askingF"
What do you mean, 'asking?"
at sounded as though you were just
telling me to give you all those
dances"
"Wen, i want 'em!" George insisted.
"Are you going to give me-"
"Good graciousw she laughed.
.'Yesw
The applicants flocked round her,
urging contracts for what remained,
but they did not dislodge George from
her side, though he made it evident
that they succeeded in annoying him
and presently he extricated her from
an accommodating siege-she must have
connived 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, yet had view of the room.
How'd all those ducks get to know
you so quick" George inquired, with
little enthusiasm.
"Oh, I've been here a week."
J'ooks as If you'd been pretty
busy!" he said. 'Most of those ducks,
don't know what my mother wanted
to invite 'em here for"
Perhaps it was on account of their
parents" Miss Morgan suggested
mildly. Maybe she didn't want to
offend their fathers and mothers"
ooh, 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. 1T must be wonderful, Mr.
Amberson-Mr. Minafer, 1 mean"
What must be wonderful"
ITO be so important as that"
THAT 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, I
should thinkr'
She looked at him critically from
under 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
"a boys good looks should dare; and
dance music and flowers have some
effect upon nineteen-year-Old girls as
well as upon eighteen-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
nings of congeniality, or even of
friendliness-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 everlastingly
inquiring, what does she see in him."
az If young love came about through
thinking-or through conduct. At
eighteen one goes to 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
Awithout exchanging glances of intelli-
gence-they had exchanged no glances
at all. Both sat staring vaguely out
into the ballroom, and, for a 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 whirled
through the throng, from wall to wall,
galloping bounteously in abandon.
George suffered shock of vague sur
prise when he perceived that his aunt,
Fanny Minafer, was the lady-half of
one of those wild couples. She flew
over the floor in the capable arms of
the Queer-lOoking duck; for this per
son was her partner.
The queer-looking duck had been a
real dancer in his day, 1t appeared /;
and evidently his day was not yet
over. In spite of the headlong, gay
rapidity with which he bore Miss
Fanny about the big room he danced
authoritatively, avoiding without eff
fort the highest collision with other
couples, maintaining sufficient grace
throughout his widest moments, and
all the while laughing and talking
with his partner. What was most re
markable to George, and little irri-
tating, this stranger in the Anderson
mansion had no vestige of the air of
Difference proper to stranger in such
place: he seemed thoroughly at
home. He seemed Extensively so, in
deed, when, passing the entrance to
the gallery stairway. he disengaged
his hand from Miss Fanny's for an in
slant, and not pausing in the dance,
waved laughing sautation more