“Leave you now, when we are hap
py, and are to bejoarted bo soon No,
I cannot, darling,” he whiaperod, fond
ly. “But never fear, we will keep out
of his way.”
She did not urge him any more. She
did not fully understand the magnitude
of the offense, nor the risk it involved,
and was too glad to keep him a little
longer by all available means.
There were a number of reception
rooms in the locality whercjthe ball was
held, all of which were thrown open for
the occasion. Keeping a cautious eye
around them, the young people con
trived to pass from one apartment to
another whenever they detected the
dreaded form of the Colonel approach
ing. After a time he settled down
quietly ala whist-table in the distance,
and they gave themselves up with
reckless gayity to the enjoyment of the
evening. Another hour passed, and
supper time came, and still they danc
ed or lingered in quiet nooks, and man
aged successfully to elude those eyes
whose recognition was so carefully to
be avoided.
“What a comfort it is that he is such
a maypole, and may be observed from
afar!” laughed the girl, who had caught
the infection of her lover’s gayity.
