Page:The leopard's spots - a romance of the white man's burden-1865-1900 (IA leopardsspotsrom00dixo).pdf/234

 took up his party paper, "The Old Timer's Gazette" and read over again the sure prophecies of victory and felt better.

Gaston accepted the invitation with feverish haste. He had it all ready to put in the office for the return mail to Independence. But he was ashamed to appear in such a hurry, so he held the letter over until the next day. He proudly showed the invitation to Mrs. Durham.

"What do you think of that, Auntie?"

"Immense. You will meet Miss Sallie sure. That letter is in her handwriting. She's the Secretary of the Association and signed the Committee's names."

"You don't say that's the great and only one's handwriting!"

"Couldn't be mistaken. It has a delicate distinction about it. I'd know it anywhere."

"It is beautiful," acknowledged Gaston looking thoughtfully at the letter.

"I wish you had a new suit, Charlie."

"I wouldn't mind it myself, if I had the money. But clothes don't interest me much, just so I'm fairly decent."

"I'll loan you the money, if you will promise me to devote yourself faithfully to Sallie."

"Never. I'll not sell my interest in all those acres of pretty girls just for one I never saw and a suit of clothes. No thanks. I'm going down there with a premonition I may find Her of whom I've dreamed. They say that town is full of beauties."

"You're so conceited. That's all the more reason you should look your best."

"I don't care so much about looks. I'm going to do my best, whatever I look."

"Oh, you know you're good looking and you don't care," said his foster mother with pride.