was to be the most, disagreeable part of the whole evening. Be
fore that dance was over he did forget it. The music was grand,
—one of those wonderful marches of Sousa’s, and it seemed an
inspiration to him. More and more he recognized what a prize
he was losing, and that same savage spirit that had made that
magnificent last half of football possible came over him again and
he longed fierecely to draw her in against his breast till he had
crushed the life out of her. As it was, he began to hold her so
tightly that she could hardly breathe, and before the dance was
over she pleaded weariness and they stopped. They were very
near a large screen and a group of palms that stood in front of a
little arched doorway, and a sudden inspiration seized Carrie.
“Fred,” she said, “ let’s go in here and sit down, I want to
talk to you. ’ ’
“ That’s strange,” said Fred.
“ What’s strange?” “Why your wanting to talk to me,” he
answered.
The doorway opened upon a winding stairway leading up to
one of the turrets of the armory, and without further noticing his
peculiar remark Carrie slipped her hand from his arm and led the
way up around the first turn out of sight of the dancers below.
Then seating herself on a step she motioned him to come and sit
beside her. As he reluctantly obeyed, the music came to an end
with a grand flourish, and he remarked: ‘ ‘ Your partner will hardly
be able to find you here.”
“My partner,” she replied. “Oh it’s only that stupid old
Archie Custer, and he’s had enough dances with me for one even
ing. Tet him hunt. ’ ’
“ That’s hardly the way,” said Fred, “ a girl should talk about
the fellow she—she—’ ’
“She what?” queried Carrie, innocently,
“Well, if you must have it—she loves,” he almost hissed.
Carrie drew away from him and threw her pretty head back, as
with all the haughtiness she could muster she said : ‘ ‘ Fred — Mr.
Stockton, you are presuming a great deal. Your conduct has
been very strange. ’ ’ Then all her spirit gave way, and she broke
out: “Oh, Fred, that’s just what I wanted to talk to you about.
Why have you been acting so queerly these last few weeks ? Ever
since the Hamford game you have been so strange. You never
came near our house, and I wanted so much to tell you how proud
I was of your playing. When you saw me in the street or on
The Free Lance .
[June,