The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-04-14

W. . W htSiu HNWtpsptE oJu
Gavis stopped abruptly when he
saw the man and girl In the balcony.
He swung ABOUT and blindly found his
way through the dancers until he came
to a quiet, unused card room, where he
could be alone.
He lighted q cigarette, but did not
smoke. The picture he had seen in
the balcony-Latimer fitting a ring
upon Gracia Moore's slim finger-had
frozen his face into a stern mask,
while his heart thumped in an odd
way. From his pocket he extracted
a small jewel case and, pressing n
spring, his panied eyes were daZzled
by the brllliance of the splendid dia-
mond he had chosen for Gracia If she
should accept him. He had waited
until tonight because, In the crowded
house, there would be many quiet
nooks-he had just arrived and he was
TOO late-Dick Latimer had won her!
Yet, he had been. so sure of her love
and she had fooled him. Well, she
should never know the hurt he had
received.
The door opened and his. host APP
peared and dragged him out to the
ballroom to swell the hin ranks of
dancing men. 'This will never do,
old man." said Whyte. "There are
ows of wallflowers whiting in the
shade-just neal that orchestral Go
TO i'll"
Gavls smiled wryly and found n
partner. She danced eyluisitely, but
he felt no thrill I'm the touch Of her
hand or the nearness of her fluffy hair.
So he danced several times. and at
last he went to Gracia, who sat in a
deep chair, for once unattended. Her
swee face was quite pale and her
dnrl. blue eyes were a little frightened
as she lifted them to his stern face.
She managed to smile when she
gave him her card and with his keen
eyes scanned 1t eagerly. Latimer's
name was down for two dances
there were other initials scrawled
here and there and several blank
spaces.
II saved several for you,' she said
gently.
~ was late-toO late" he remarked,
scratching his initials In the blank
spaces.
In a moment they we're weaving
through the maze Of dancers. All
the old-time w!tchery possessed Gavis
now that she was with him. She was
SO different from the other ~girls-there
could never be another one In the
whole world TO fill her place when she
mnrriaI DiaE Tattmor His haarf
thudded In rhythm to the music. She
smiled once and shook her head at
Dick Latim,r as they passed him In
the dance.
"You are very quiet" she ventured
after a while.
81 am sorry" he a~pologized. I'm
afraid / am rather a dull fellow after
all, Gracia."
mo, oh, no, Bob" she said a little
breathlessly. "Just think of the bril-
liant speeches you nave made in court.
Perhaps you have had a busy day and
do not feel like chattering to women.
Listen, the orchestra is playing some
thing you love-"
He bit his lip fercely as they
swayed to the dreamy waltz music
something he lovedl" Did she guess
that the only thing he loved was going
from him to another mans arms?
Perhaps she did know; all women were
deceivers-well, he could and would
talk. He c~leverly led her from one
topic to another in the brief pauses be-
tween dances and at last he resigned
her to Dick Latimer, who claimed the
supper dance. Bob Gavis made sew
eral swift decisions in the interval.
He sought and found his host.
"Whyte,' he said, "'you were talking
about a hunting trip to Canada-ls the
party completeY
Not without you." returned the
other promptly.
Thanks. When are you going3"
Tuesday"
Good. Count me In" and Gavis
went away unsmiling.
When he reached his bachelor apart
ment he did not go to bed. but spent
the hours ~overhauling his hunting gear
and packing his outfit for the expedi-
walk downtown he prepared to argue
an important case which had been
pending for some time.
Two days afterward he met Latimer
on the street. Congratulations r.
cried Dick.
Bob's, eyebrows went up.
winning your case. explained Lat
inner cheerfully. swish you luck. old
man, when 1t comes to matrimonial
cases" He went away %chuckling. and
Gavis realized that he was beginning
TO dislike Dick. Once they had been
very good friends, but since Gracia-
he squared his shoulders and tried to
whistle. The North woods would cure
all that, he told himself.
He was wrong, after all. The woods
alleviated his pain, but It did not cure.
Ha haard tho roIca af his laua In tho