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Kelsey's friend； was responsible for the final change。 She it was
who had sold him his ticket and urged him to be present。 He and
she had met several times since the first meeting at the post…
office。 Usually when they met they talked concerning poetry and
kindred lofty topics。 Albert liked Miss Fosdick。 It is hard not
to like a pretty； attractive young lady who takes such a flattering
interest in one's aspirations and literary efforts。 The 〃high brow
chit…chats〃quoting Miss Kelsey againwere pleasant in many ways；
for instance； they were in the nature of a tonic for weakened self…
esteem； and the Speranza self…esteem was suffering just at this
time； from shock。
Albert had； when he first heard that the dance was to take place；
intended inviting Helen to accompany him。 He had taken her
acceptance for granted； he having acted as her escort to so many
dances and social affairs。 So he neglected inviting her and then
came Issy's mischief…making remarks and the trouble which followed。
So； as inviting her was out of the question； he resolved not to
attend； himself。 But Miss Fosdick urged so prettily that he bought
his ticket and promised to be among those present。
〃Provided； of course；〃 he ventured； being in a reckless mood； 〃that
you save me at least four dances。〃 She raised her brows in mock
dismay。
〃Oh； my goodness！〃 she exclaimed。 〃I'm afraid I couldn't do that。
Four is much too many。 One I will promise； but no more。〃
However； as he persisted； she yielded another。 He was to have two
dances and； possibly an 〃extra。〃
〃And you are a lucky young man；〃 declared Jane Kelsey； who had also
promised two。 〃If you knew how many fellows have begged for just
one。 But； of course；〃 she added； 〃THEY were not poets； second
editions of Tennyson and Keats and all that。 It is Keats who was
the poet； isn't it； Madeline？〃 she added； turning to her friend。
〃Oh； I'm so glad I got it right the first time。 I'm always mixing
him up with Watts； the man who invented the hymns and wrote the
steam…engineor something。〃
The Wednesday evening in the middle of September was a beautiful
one and the hotel was crowded。 The Item； in its account the
following week； enumerating those present； spoke of 〃Our new
residents； Mrs。 Fletcher Story Fosdick and Miss Madeline Fosdick；
who are to occupy the magnificent residence now about being built
on the Inlet Hill by their husband and father； respectively；
Fletcher Story Fosdick； Esquire； the well…known New York banker。〃
The phrasing of this news note caused much joy in South Harniss；
and the Item gained several new and hopeful subscribers。
But when the gushing reporter responsible for this added that 〃Miss
Fosdick was a dream of loveliness on this occasion〃 he was stating
only the truth。 She was very beautiful indeed and a certain young
man who stepped up to claim his first dance realized the fact。 The
said young man was outwardly cool； but red…hot within； the internal
rise in temperature being caused by the sight of Helen Kendall
crossing the floor arm in arm with Edwin Raymond。 Albert's face
was white with anger； except for two red spots on his cheeks； and
his black eyes flashed。 Consequently he； too； was considered quite
worth the looking at and feminine glances followed him。
〃Who is that handsome； foreign…looking fellow your friend is
dancing with？〃 whispered one young lady； a guest at the hotel； to
Miss Kelsey。 Jane told her。
〃But he isn't a foreigner；〃 she added。 〃He lives here in South
Harniss all the year。 He is a poet； I believe； and Madeline； who
knows about such thingsinherits it from her mother； I suppose
says his poetry is beautiful。〃
Her companion watched the subject of their conversation as； with
Miss Fosdick； he moved lightly and surely through the crowd on the
floor。
〃He LOOKS like a poet；〃 she said； slowly。 〃He is wonderfully
handsome； so distinguished； and SUCH a dancer！ But why should a
poet live hereall the year？ Is that all he does for a living
write poetry？〃
Jane pretended not to hear her and； a masculine friend coming to
claim his dance； seized the opportunity to escape。 However；
another 〃sitter out〃 supplied the information。
〃He is a sort of assistant bookkeeper at the lumber yard by the
railroad station；〃 said this person。 〃His grandfather owns the
place； I believe。 One would never guess it to look at him now。 。 。 。
Humph！ I wonder if Mrs。 Fosdick knows。 They say she iswell；
not democratically inclined； to say the least。〃
Albert had his two promised dances with Madeline Fosdick； but the
〃extra〃 he did not obtain。 Mrs。 Fosdick； the ever watchful； had
seen and made inquiries。 Then she called her daughter to her and
issued an ultimatum。
〃I am SO sorry；〃 said the young lady； in refusing the plea for the
〃extra。〃 〃I should like to； but Ibut Mother has asked me to
dance with a friend of ours from home。 II AM sorry； really。〃
She looked as if she meant it。 Albert was sorry； too。 This had
been a strange evening； another combination of sweet and sour。 He
glanced across the floor and saw Helen and the inevitable Raymond
emerge together from the room where the refreshments were served。
Raging jealousy seized him at the sight。 Helen had not been near
him； had scarcely spoken to him since his arrival。 He forgot that
he had not been near nor spoken to her。
He danced twice or thrice more with acquaintances； 〃summer〃 or
permanent； and then decided to go home。 Madeline Fosdick he saw at
the other end of the room surrounded by a group of young masculinity。
Helen he could not see at the moment。 He moved in the direction of
the coatroom。 Just as he reached the door he was surprised to see
Ed Raymond stride by him； head down and looking anything but joyful。
He watched and was still more astonished to see the young man get
his coat and hat from the attendant and walk out of the hotel。 He
saw him stride away along the drive and down the moonlit road。 He
was； apparently； going homegoing home alone。
He got his own coat and hat and； before putting them on； stepped
back for a final look at the ballroom。 As he stood by the
cloakroom door someone touched his arm。 Turning he saw Helen。
〃Whywhy； Helen！〃 he exclaimed； in surprise。
〃Are you going home？〃 she asked； in a low tone。
〃Yes； I〃
〃And you are going alone？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Would you mindwould it trouble you too much to walk with me as
far as our house？〃
〃Whywhy of course not。 I shall be delighted。 But I thought you
I thought Ed Raymond〃
〃No； I'm alone。 Wait here； I will be ready in just a minute。〃
She hurried away。 He gazed after her in bewilderment。 She and he
had scarcely exchanged a word during the evening； and now； when the
evening was almost over； she came and asked him to be her escort。
What in the wide world？
The minute she had specified had hardly elapsed when she reappeared；
ready for out of doors。 She took his arm and they walked down the
steps of the hotel； past the group of lights at the head of the
drive and along the road； with the moon shining down upon it and the
damp； salt breeze from the ocean blowing across it。 They walked for
the first few m