The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1939-09-30
SHORT
SHORT
STORY
usually gave.

usually gave.
Maisie knew Just what was in
their minds, and for once her usual
ly mild, shy spirit rebelled. Some
of them pitied her because she
seemed to be without a real friend
among the men; others found in her
attitude source of fun.
ooh, 1 will have someone, don't
you worry!" she said with a quick
toss of her head.
Really" EthePs bold eyes took
on keen interest and then widened
with sudden discovery. ooh, I see
I,see! So that's why you don't take
any interest in the men-you're
engaged to someone. Well, you have
kept it a secret! What do you know
about that!"
Sweet as were the triumphs of
that moment, later on, in her room
Maisie became again her own shy
diffident self.
''Why, why did say that-when
it isn't true; and now, now, l SIM
ply must invite somebody. If Dick
had only" Then her dreams be-
gan.
Last summer, in the little country
village where she had stolen away
for her two weeks vacation, she
had met Richard Selles. He was
the only man with whom she had
ever felt entirely at ease; and she
could recall, it seemed to her, every
moment of their good times togeth-
Az 4HA Ar,I 81, H.
him, and the gentleness in his eyes
when he looked at her had seemed
to tell her that he loved her. But
he had gone without speaking.
A S THE days went by before his
letter arrived, she said nothing
to the girls, hating to spoil the sweet
ness of their sudden change of atti-
tude toward her. She hoped that he
wouldn't come-and then she hoped
he would.
The letter, however, told her that
he would be able to get away in
time for the evening.
She lived the rest of the week in
alternate moods of happiness and
despair. She simply could not bring
herself to tell the true situation to
the girls; she had let the rumor go
too far; and finally she made up
her mind to keep still.
When he came, she was in her
room, and one of the girls rushed
in. ooh, Midget, he's here, and
he's handsome as they make 'em.
Gee, l guess I'll make eyes at him
myself"
Maisie fairly trembled as she hur-
rled into her simple evening frock,
but as she neared the door of the
room that served the girls as a re-
ception-roonn, the old GOODNESS came
over her, and though she was ex-
element within, she was outward
ly much contained as she stepped
into the room.
He rose with a gay and glad greet
ing on his lips. She was astonished
at his appearance. He had been
thin and gaunt when she knew him
and not very prosperous looking.
''Maisie, l sure am glad to see
you'll" he told her. "And it was
mighty good of you to invite me-"
cts good to see you, too, Dick"
she said quietly.
When she entered the dance hall
with him, she was aware that inter-
ested eyes were turned toward
them. She was shyly proud of him,
and she was not -urprised at the
interest. In her happiness in being
with him, the memory of the wrong
impression she had given had faded,
but it came to life with a sharp
pain when one of the girls whis-
pered in her ear:
''You lucky little witch! and to
think how you fooled us!"
THEN in her distress she began to
plan some way of keeping him
from the girls, but he saved her by
saying before the programs were
filled out: Little girl, I have come
these miles to see something of you,
remember. want a big share of
these dances"
The evening went along beautiful
ly until, after the last dance, just
as they were about to leave the hall.
Edith, flushed and excited with the
CNGAAA4iS AOli3 AeiollCO NAP dllO lJOh
Dicks hand and exploded.
ooh, Mr. Welles, you are to be
congratulated on being engaged to
such a dear as Maisie, and we vote
her lucky to get you"
The floor went down beneath
Maisie's feet; it seemed to her she
could not breathe.
Then Dicks voice said gently, 81
am lucky, indeed, and l know itl'
Blindly, Maisie took his arm, and
they went out to the taxi.
"Am l engaged to you, Maisie?"
She did not catch his tone of voice
but buried her face against his coat
, and then she explained.
Last summer" he said after a
moment, 81 was recovering from a
bad illness and had no job in view.
J l couldn't tell you then what want
: ed to, but made up my mind that
if got my health back and a good
position, I'd see you"
Does tnat mean anything?" she
asked