Page:Stanwood Pier--The ancient grudge.djvu/106

Rh you want to meet some lady? I won't give away your name."

"No, thank you," said Floyd, looking him in the eyes; "I'm ready to leave whenever you are."

Farrell returned the look stolidly, then turned again to his partner. They waltzed round the room twice more; then they stopped again, and the girl tucked her hand in Farrell's arm. They approached the doorway near which Floyd was standing.

"Better get a lady and come along," Farrell said to him as they passed.

Floyd looked straight ahead as if he had not heard; and Farrell, passing out with his partner, flushed angrily, but said nothing.

A few moments later Floyd descended the stairs alone.

"Why the devil should I care!" he muttered to himself fiercely, as he walked along the street. But he did care,—that a man whom he liked, who was engaged to a nice girl, who had kissed her the night before and would kiss her again to-morrow, could be so base. Billings or Ryan might have done this thing, but Farrell—Floyd swore to himself in pessimism, "By God, it makes me ashamed myself to look at Letty."

Up on the hill the Halket Free Public Library glowed with all its lighted windows, the music-hall wing and the club-room and gymnasium wing alike showed beacons of welcome. Floyd looked up at these beneficent works of his grandfather, scornful and cynical.

"And how many of our mill-hands are amusing themselves there to-night?" he thought.