Page:Love Insurance - Earl Biggers (1914).djvu/384

Rh much bitter conversation at table began to break out. Minot hunted up the balcony and stood gazing miserably down at fairy-land below.

There Miss Meyrick found him when the fifth dance was imminent

"Is it customary for girls to pursue their partners?" she inquired.

"I'm sorry," he said weakly. "Shall we go in?"

"It's so—so glorious out here."

He sighed—a sigh of resignation. He turned to her.

"You asked me—what is woman's greatest privilege," he said.

"Yes."

"Is it—to change her mind?"

She looked timidly into his eyes.

"It—is," she whispered faintly.

The most miserably happy man in history, he gasped.

"Cynthia! It's too late—you're to be married to-morrow. Do you mean—you'd call it all off now—at the last minute?"

She nodded her head, her eyes on the ground.

"My God!" he moaned, and turned away.