Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1919-10-17
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 asking"
"What do you mean, 'askingT"
ut sounded as though you were just
telling me to give you all those
dances"
swell. I want 'em I" George insisted.
'Are you going to give me"
Good gracious" she laughed.
ayes 7"
The applicants fiocked 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 quick7" George inquired, with
little enthusiasm.
'Oh I've been here week."
'Looks as if you'd been pretty
busy !" he said. "Most of those ducks,
/ don't know what my mother wanted
to invite en- here for"
Perhaps i was on account of their
parents" Miss Morgan suggested
mildly. Maybe she didn't want to
offend their fathers and mothers"
TN. hardly 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, / mean.r
"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,
should think !"
She looked at him critically from
under her shading lashes-but her
eyer grew gentler almost at once. In
truth, they became more appreciatlve
than critical. Georges imperious good
looks were altogether manly, yet APP
proached 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
friendIiness-but stairways near ball
rooms have more to answer for than
have moonlit lakes and mountain sun
SETS. 4eA
Age. confused by. its own long ac
cumulation of follies, is everlastingly
inquiring, "what does she see in him?'
es if5young love came about through
thinking--or through conduct. Al
eighteen one goes to a dance, sits witt
a stranger on stairway, feels pc
culiar. thinks nothing, and becomes
incapable of any plan whatever. Miss
Morgan and George stayed where they
were. llg,
They. had agreed to this In silence
and without knowing it,; certainl,
without exchanging glances of intelli
gence--they had exchanged no glance'
at all. Both sat staring vaguely ou
into the ballroom. and. for a time
they did not speak. Here and Their
were TO be seen couples so carries
away that, ceasing to move at tn
decorous, even glide. considered mos
knowing. they pranced and whirle'
through the throng, from wall to wall
gaIloping bounteously In abandon
George suffered shock of vague SUI
prise when he perceived that his aunt
Tnnny Mlnafer. was the iady-half 0
one Of those wild couples. She fie,
over the floor In the capable arms o
the queer-looking duck; for this pei
son WAS her partner.
The queer-Iooking duck had been
real dancer IN his day. 1t appeared
and evidently his day was not "
over. In spite Of the headlong, ga
rnoidity with which he bore Mis-
Gnnny about the big room he dance
lnukhoritatively. avoiding without. e
4of4 the lfGh1egt collision with oths