Cheyenne record., 1919-10-23
CHAPTER Iv-contInued.

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"Giye 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. 'askIngr"
ut sounded as though you were Just
telling me to give you all those
dances"
"Well. want 'emw George insisted.
-Are you going to give me"
Good gracious!" she laughed.
"Yesl"
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 or to sit beside him upon the
gallery. where they were sufficiently
retired. yet had n 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 week."
Looks as If you'd been pretty
busyI" he said. "Most of those ducks,
l don't know what my mother wanted
to invite 'em here for"
Do -
parents" Miss Morgan suggested
mildly. maybe she didn't want to
offend their fathers and mothers"
"Oh. hardly! don't think my
mother need worry much about offend.
Ing anybody in this old town"
1T must be wonderful" said Hiss
Morgan. 1T must 30 wonderful, Mr.
Amherson-Mr. Minafer. I mean"
"What must Se wonderful2"
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
eyes grew gentler almost at once. In
truth. they became more appreciative
than critical. Georges imperious good
cooks were altogether manly. yet ap-
preached actual beauty as closely as
a boys good looks should dare; and
dauco music and flowers have some
effect upon nlneteen-year-old girls as
we'll as upon elghteen-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 congeniality. or even Of
trtendllness-but stairways near ball
rooms have more to answer for than
have moonlit lakes and mountain sun
Gets.
Age. confused by its own long ac-
cunulation Of follies. is everlastlngly
.nquiring. what does she see In him7"
~ II young love came about through
talnking-or through conduct. At
eighteen one goes to a dance. sits with
\ stranger on stairway. feels pc
cuiiar. thinks nothing. and becomes
incapable of any plan whatever. Miss
were.
They had agreed to this In silence
and without knowing 1t; certainly
without exchanging glances of intellI-
Eence-they had exchanged no glances
at all. Both sat staring vaguely out
into the ballroom. and. for a time,
-hey did not speak. Here and there
were to be seen couples so carried
away that. ceasing to move Mt the
decorous. even glide. considered most
knowing. they pranced and whirled
through the throng. from wall to wall.
galioping bounteously In abandon.
George suffered shock Of vagne sur
prise when he perceived that his aunt.
Fanny Mlnafer. was the lady-half Of
1ne Of those wild couples. She few
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
zeal dancer in his day. 1t appeared !;
and evidently his day wns not yet
Vver. In spite Of the headlong. gay
Fapidity with which he bore Miss
Fanny about the big room he danced
sutho.:tative!y. avoiding without ef-
es-~ ~ nsAssst cealislon with other