The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-09-23

;, I'm. very sorry, Colonel" BRACE
cheerfully lied, but we have another
engagement" ..>
!. The Colonel gleefully replied that
he was put into position Of deep re-
gret. He knew that Captain Drace.
would 60. much enjoy the professor:
his paper would not take up more than
three hours Of the evening. He would
tmpart to Miss Lucy that Captain
Drace found it impossible to come. The
Captain assured him that such was
the true situation and Frightening. the
Colonel gladdened himself out Of the
room. -
The. ballroom which brace entered
that night was as fantastic as gyp-
, sy's vision. II seemed that all civiliza-
. ton had lifted the lids of its worm
eaten chests to array In whimsic re-
hinder Of its former self. There was
evident poverty making itself neat in
old linen. and war victims proud in
. threadbare coats. In rags there is his
tory, but no ancestry attached to cloth
fresh from the mill. No unfriendly
eye was supposed to look upon this
gathering, no antagonistic politics per-
mitted to view 1t. The walls were
draped In the colors of France, and
senshrined in a corner was Confed-
crate banner, It's staff splintered, its
folds darkened. with sacred blood.
AS Shottle~ no longer held the hope
OF raising speculative tablestake, he
bent himself to the less interesting life
Of the dance. But not without mis-
hap!, The floor was smooth with wax
from the, ends of marriage-altar can.
dies; and Liberty's feet, more, accus-
toned to the rough mating, and
rugged carpets of the gambling-room,
Jew from under him. Catching right
and left in his fall. he came down with
a bit of lace in one hand and comb
In the. other, while women shrieked
at the devastations he had wrought,
grouping about the severest sufferer
to screen her into retiring-room.
That's what comes to horse that
wanders from his stable-lot out on the
frozen pond" said Shottle as Drace
came up to laugh at him.
you've made rip in the skirt of
the ball sure enough" BRACE replied.
taking him by the arm. And then
suddenly he halted, for he caught
sight of girl coming toward him. A
moment before, there had been nu-
merous young women in the room, but
now there was only one-the barbaric
rose maid, the girl who had touched
his heart with torch.
With her walked tall, handsome
and well-dressed young man. Her hand
rested upon his arm, and she seemed
to listen with pleasure to his evident
ly ardent wooing. She looked at
Drace, one glance, and then turned
her eyes back to her cavalier and
passed on. And fame Of jealousy
was added to the turmoil that already
held possession Of him. 90.
'''Who is she, Shottle?" demanded
BRACE.
IT don't know, but I'll hnd out.
Lord, but she is fletcher" ~ -
He moved af. lodging the dancers
here and there, while BRACE sat alone
In a window, waiting.
: The orchestra struck up the supper
march. and Shottle.y stalking his prey,
saw the lady who had so excited
Braces interest seated with her cava.
'liersin IN alcove and supping daintily.
Possessing himself Of plate and a
goodly portion of chicken. Shottle re. I
turned and brazenly seated himself
near them, listening with all his ears.
Nadine" the cavalier was saying,
"you wrong me in thinking seek to
influence you through my friendship
with your father. It. is true he owes
me much; and it is true that If I were
to become member Of his family
would forget that. But want to make
you care for me for myself. r."
flush, Mr.. Boyce," said the girl.
'There are people near-this is no
place to discuss such things
The young man lowered his voice,
and Shottie could hear no more. He
calmly finished his chicken and then
5ss5s.- a. ..s.. ~ -, s