Evening star., 1923-11-04
I The Ancestral Engagement E Jep
Were lnstortant IN One Chat
tof Life for Ne1'y-Lou : and s.

your II
It. was playing the, game rather mere
frankly than Gainesville girls wsre 20.
customed. 70 do. but Larry found some
thing refrsShing In the absence Of con-
ventional reticences. :
|, III you leave it to me-" he assured
her smilingly. "rll b. the only man
in town that, night" -
Sara rose. the music was beginning
again. and slid her slender white
fingers into hts.
you don't think I'm queer and hor.
rid. do your" shei said pleadinsly. Il
can never learn, to hide what I feel
like other Giris."a
II think you're wonderful" said
Larry. TITS odd to- find q woman who
isn't afraid to- say what she's think
ing. I rather-like it myself" z-
He told Nelly-Lou on the, way home
| that he thought Miss Stanton was an
unusually attractive. girl.
II think you'd like her, Nelly-Lou," !"
said Larry.
Nelly-Lou merely curled down closer
in the low seat Of Larry's roadster and
said nothing at all. *
I'm going to, take her to the Mer-
| riwells' dinner-darice on Tuesday"
Larry continued. He ) almost felt
Nelly-Lou vince away from him.
"How are, YOU going, Nelly. Lou?" he
; blundered on. -. why couldn't I'VE all
go together" .is-.
Jimmy Wythe asked me tonight" ["
said Nelly-Lou in small, clear voice.
Thanks, Larry-pm lunching at the
club that day and getting, homo late.
I'd rather@not feel that Jimmy and I
might keep you all waiting:
She drew long breath and added:
Apparently thxts going. to be q very
; nice party. Miss stanton dances well.
dosen't sh4?'' SGT
mot any better than you do." said
Larry b!untly. turning into the John
ston's long. dimly, shining driveway.
Nov. Larry" said Nelly-Lou with
a little laugh.
Larry didn't. want to be asked for
an explanation. but he wanted, insist
emily, to offer one. Nelly-Lo didn't
give him a chance.
She said good night at the big white
door Of her fathers house.
1--WE had a. wonderful time, Larry"
said Nelly Lou. Thank you so much.''
When he fingered uneasily, she added
with gentle Significance: TITS really
awfully late
And Larry went home.
.-r'--l.' 49, 7&-k X
THAT was the beginning Of very
i definite unhappiness for Nelly
Lou and of a. kind Of intangible pur-
gatory for Larry.
He went to the. Merriwell party with
! Sara and Nelly.Lou went with Jimmy
Wythe. . =
She carried her head high, smiled all
evening on Jimmy danced once or
| twice with Larry-and went home at
last to cry. herself to sleep.
So far as Gainesville was concerned,
/ Neliy-Loul became. during Miss Stan
toms visit, delightfully."- gay. She went
to one tea after another. sat at one
after another of the pretty luncheons
which everybody was by way Of giving
for, Julia's lovely guest, and wore an
! Tamazing number OF new gowns in which
she looked more than ordinarily sweet.
When people commented on Sara
stanton's triumphs. Neily-Lou smiled
sweetly. and murmured:
Eyes, she certainly In an attractive
girl!"
More could not have been expected
Of any woman.
AS for Larry. he still called upon her.
took her driving, telephoned her Of q
morning. danced with her at parties.
They talked endlessly.~ but said nothing
Their smiles went no deeper than each
others eyelashes. ,f.
So things just drifted with the cur
rent until the day of Mrs. Proudft's
luncheon. -
. 1t was odd. in the first place. Mrs.
Proudfit's entertaining fof Sara Stan
tom There were. those. who almost ex.
pected an announcement. But Nelly
Lou still kept a vestige of trust In
Larry's sincerity. : It WAS that that
helped her. into her prettiest frock.
pinned valley lilies at her sash and
sent her forth that day in the shade
Of dropping blue-plumed hat that
would have made Du Barry herself
look like a. Greuze.. + ., - -,
But not the frock, not the hat. not
even the valley lilies held Nelly-Lou
erect as a little solder when she saw
her place card next to Sara Stanton's.
That was the fighting spirit of the
Johnstons. All around the dainty