ly, 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 things--inherits 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
here--all 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 is--well, 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 I--but Mother has asked me to dance with
a friend of ours from home. I--I AM sorry,