Argosy All-Story Weekly, October 7, 1922 — page 121: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

MAGNIFICENT FOLLY. “It reminds me of a sunset at sea,” re- flected the young connoisseur. “ That’s on account of the prairie,” said Charlie. ‘You oughta see the plains— they’re so flat they seem to rise away from you in every direction. Makes you feel like you’re down in a hollow.” “ Just as it does at sea,” flashed the youth. “TI never knew until I crossed the ocean the meaning of the term ‘ high seas.’ The prairies are almost a counterpart.” He swept his eyes over the landscape with pleasure. The Indian pinks were in full bloom and the fire of their fringed blossoms was so lit by the dying sun that the prairie was transformed into a field of the cloth of gold. The picture was a solace. The harsh details of the day had begun to take on the soft and luminous glow of night. Knox drew a deep breath of near-contentment. He was surprised to meet Charlie’s appre- hensive glance. “ >Twill rain before morning,” said the plainsman, practical as his partner was poetic. The program was in progress. Mrs. Dowdy had reserved two seats for her favorites, and Charlie accepted his with a mumbled word of appreciation, but Knox was too restless to be seated. The elevation of his previous mood had been but tempo- rary, and he found himself yielding to an unaccountable depression. He moved un- easily about the outskirts of the gathering. He longed for a glimpse of Iris, yet dreaded to meet her direct gaze. Presently he saw her flitting back and forth behind the scenes, her hands full of bright-colored ribbons. With hungry eyes he took in her beauty and grace. Hers was the proud stateliness of the born ‘aristocrat of the South—just the way she moved among the throng was im- pressive. And yet—she had preferred the contemptible Oily Duke to himself. He turned away. Something cold and repellent gripped his heart. He wandered blindly, and Iris, at that moment seeking a youthful performer, met him face to face. She smiled a little tremu- lously as their eyes met, and he blurted a conventional ‘“‘ Good evening.” ‘It is a lovely night,” said she, glancing at the star-strewn sky. 267 “Yes, but it will rain before morning,” mechanically replied Knox. “That will be nice—we need rain—I mean, I hope it will wait until the exercises end—” She became a little incoherent as they thus thoroughly reviewed the weather. Knox searched her face closely. Her starry eyes were very soft and very sad. With a faint sigh she looked away. Then, catching sight of the recalcitrant performer, she ran to bring him for the waiting exercise. Knox looked after her desolately. Presently, the children were on the stage, grouped for the grand finale. This was a Maypole dance employing the whole school. The Dowdy youngsters were all three cast for stellar parts. Babe and Toots stood in the center and the youthful Willy led the group who pirouetted, with weaving ribbons, around them. Mrs. Dowdy, her fond face flushed with pleasure, dropped into the seat beside Char- lie, which he still reserved for his partner. “ It’s lovely, ain’t it, Charlie?” “* Pretty keen,’’ admitted Charlie, watch- ing the colorful picture of the platform. “The whole exhibition’s been a grand success. Miss Irish—Iris—sort of lost in- terest these last few weeks—lI think it’s the weather, it’s been so hot and all—but, law, I took hold and told her not to worry about the arrangements—the platform or curtains or nothin’—I’d see to them. It would be enough for her just to get the children ready—”’ Mrs. Dowdy was “‘ hitting on all cylinders and going strong,” as Charlie would have expressed it, but he was not paying much attention to her at that moment. His eyes were fixed severely upon the spectacle be- fore him. The youthful Willy, laying out a course of his own diametrically opposed to that taught by Iris, had confused the other children, and the dance was in danger of being spoiled. Willy, unheeding the frantic signals of Iris, held his ribbon aloft and cavorted jubilantly in and out among the be- wildered children. Charlie frowned and doubled his fists. Mrs. Dowdy, unconscious of the entangle- ment on the stage, rippled on. ‘I don’t think she’s right happy, though—it may be my imagination, but—have you noticed comicboooks C©