Evening star., 1923-11-04
ELLY-LoU JOHNSTON was
]: the incest girl. In Gainesville
7 and Larry Proudflti was the

I'm and Larry Proudnts was the
4 incest man and. they were
.eSrysneariy engaged to be married. .
: Ana so things stood when Sara
Stanton came to town.
Sara was twenty-five to Nelly-Lou's
twenty as much like a
somewhat overpowering but lovely
gardenia as Nelly-Iou was like wild
Tho; people whom Sara came to
Gainesville to visit were compara-
lively, new, and rolling in wealth.
Wythe was the name. Julia, the
daughter. had gone to school with
Sara, somewhere In the east, and
Jimmy Wythe, the son. was an un-
successful rival Of Larry for Nelly
LOUIS favor. Upon Sara's second night
in Gainesville the wythes gave a
dance. at the country club in Sara's
honor.
At the dance most Of the county
was present ,...
who's the man with the girl. in
blue tulle?" Sara inquired Of. Julia
Wythe after Larry and Nelly-Lou had
passed along the receiving line.
That? Oh, that's Larry -Proudfit-
incest man In town; going to marry
the girl he's with-Nelly-Lou Johns
ton-daughter Of old Judge Johnston
-
'Ts hep inquired Sara -innocently.
'.Do you. know, rather like his
looks" -. -
watch your STEP" whispered Julia.
'NelIy.Ilou has him tied and labeled
That. first dance. set the seal Of
Gainesyille's emphasize approval upon
Sara When Home, Sweet Home"
was played, at three in the morning.
she had engagements for week
ahead In. the matter of dinners and
motor rides and dances. And just
hero 1t may be stated that one of the
dances was Larry's. .-..
Which marked an epoch in. Larry's
life. He had taken no one but Nelly
Lou to dances since he was twenty
and she seventeen.
He didn't quite know how he came
to ask Sara. but Sara could have told
him., He had taken her out upon
one Of the clubhouse verandas after
A.dance for a breath of. air and a
ctgarette-and the conversation had
turned, naturally enough, upon dane
ing. .-.' -. -. -
Sara had looked up at him from
under heavy lashes and said>
TT isn't dancing-with you-it's
like flying. It's perfect. Just the
music and the lights--and-and- drift
ing through the air. You know. 1
almost forgot you were there. I felt
h,,$f arAx at
''You may feel as much like a but
terfiy as you want" said Larry coolly:
but you don't want to forget that
Pm here"
IT remembered, before we stopped"
murmured Sara with a soft little
laugh. e.. a.. =. 49,
"Poor little. fingers"'.. said Larry
boldly. "Did hurt 'enn?". He. picked
up Sara's hand and kissed it with a
delightful air of gallantry. Now one
Of those things which a. girl from the
north is always, slow Of learning Is
this: That when. man from the
south kisses the hand of pretty
woman, he means by it-approxi-
mately nothing.
X x ***
CARA heaved a prettiIy careless sigh
- and asked: do you dance a great
deal?" =
Probably shall while you're here.
said Larry. - ~
There are one or two dances next
week, I know-Julia said So"
II suppose said Larry lazily. II
suppose you're engaged weeks ahead
forAall. these parties?' !
"Oh, not weeks!' sighed Sara.
please. don't laugh at me" b.
lord, child-Tm not laughing"
said Larry, amused. -.'
"For instance" pursued Sara, with
a touch Of wistfulness. there's. the
Merriwell party next Tuesday. night
their dinner-dance.. you know"
Aren't you engaged for that?"
''Oh, dare say shall be. Some one
win ask me- .... ,......
eff some one does, will you tell him
you're going with me?" Larry suggest
ed pleasantly. -
Sara lifted wide, dark eyes and
smiled at him. r-
''I'm so glad you asked me-" she
said happily do you know, / shall
be looking forward to that party all
week. You'll have to dance with me