Page:Teeftallow-1926.djvu/304

with girls on purely feminine terms. Perhaps he placed his cheek against Beatrice Belle's in sheer girlish effusion—it was hardly worth while to mention the matter to Mrs. Sandage.

Amid the plangent jazz Abner began looking for Adelaide again when there was a rustle of the palm leaves and he glanced around to see Adelaide holding her green skirt aside and letting herself into his retreat. She smiled at him as she eased through the leaves.

"Is this a game of hide and seek, Mr. Teeftallow?"

A little thrill travelled deliberately through the hill youth, whether of pleasure or embarrassment he did not know.

"I kain't dance good enough to come out; ever'body would laugh at me, Adelaide."

"You don't want to dance with me?" She held out her arms, pouting her lips and shaking her head as if talking to a child.

The lifting of her arms, the temptingness of the girl, her faint perfume filled Abner with a sharp desire.

"I wish I could dance!" he cried.

"You don't do so badly. I've seen you try."

"But not here, before ever'body."

"Well—if you just won't . . ." She seemed about to go.

He was on nettles to keep her. "Look here, Adelaide, if it wouldn't be askin' too much, would you min' stayin' here an' talkin' a little?"

"You mean sit out a dance?" she smiled.

"Yes, if you wouldn't mind."

"Well—all right—strangle holds barred." She sank at his side, giggling at her impropriety. "I suppose you think I'm awful wicked?"

"Why, no-o," denied Abner, a little hazy as to what she meant.

"Anyway, it's nice to talk to such a cave-looking man after the usual dancing partner."