The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1919-08-28
CHAPTER iv-continued.

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, 'asking?"
ut sounded as though you were just
telling me to give you all those
dances"
"Well. I want 'emw George insisted.
"Are you going to give me-"
"Good graciousw she laughed.
"Yes!"
The applicants focked 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'accumulating 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 a 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 q week."
"Looks as if you'd. been pretty
busy!" he said. "Most Of those ducks,
I 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"
"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, A1r.
Amberson-Mr. Minafer, I 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
Is they like in their own town, I
should think!
She looked at him critically from
under her shading lashes-but her
eyes grew gentler almost at once. In
, truth, they became 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
seHect upon nineteen-year-old girls as
we'll as upon eighteen-yearold 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 c~ongeniality, 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 it's own long ac-
emulation of follies, is everlastingly
inquiring. "what does she see in him?"
as If young love came about through
thinking-or through conduct. At
eighteen one goes to q dance, sits with
a 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 intelli-
g~ence--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 eel couples SO carried
away that, ceasing to move at the
decorous. Y glide, considered most
knowing, they pranced and whirled
through the throng, from wall to wall,
gnlloping bounteously in abandon.
George suffered a shock of vague, sur
prise when he perceived that his aunt.
Fanny Minafer, was the lady-half of
one Of those wild couples. She few
over the floor in the capable arms Of
the queerlooking duck; for this per-
son was her partner.
The queer-looking duck had been q
real dancer in his day, 1t appeared;
and evidently his day was not yet
over. In spite. Of the headlong, gay
'sspidity with which he bore Miss
Fanny about the big roo he danced
authoritatively, avoiding without ef-
fort the highest collision with other