"Grey, Zane - Betty Zane" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grey Zane)

young man and should come a-wooing you would not get a rebuff from me,"
answered Betty, smiling on the old man, of whom she was very fond.

"Miss Zane, will you dance with me?"

The voice sounded close by Betty's side. She recognized it, and an
unaccountable sensation of shyness suddenly came over her. She had firmly made
up her mind, should Mr. Clarke ask her to dance, that she would tell him she
was tired, or engaged for that number--anything so that she could avoid
dancing with him. But, now that the moment had come she either forgot her
resolution or lacked the courage to keep it, for as the music commenced, she
turned and without saying a word or looking at him, she placed her hand on his
arm. He whirled her away. She gave a start of surprise and delight at the
familiar step and then gave herself up to the charm of the dance. Supported by
his strong arm she floated around the room in a sort of dream. Dancing as they
did was new to the young people at the Fort--it was a style then in vogue in
the east--and everyone looked on with great interest and curiosity. But all
too soon the dance ended and before Betty had recovered her composure she
found that her partner had led her to a secluded seat in the lower end of the
hall. The bench was partly obscured from the dancers by masses of autumn
leaves. "That was a very pleasant dance," said Alfred. "Miss Boggs told me you
danced the round dance."

"I was much surprised and pleased," said Betty, who had indeed enjoyed it.

"It has been a delightful day," went on Alfred, seeing that Betty was still
confused. "I almost killed myself in that race for the bottle this morning. I
never saw such logs and brush heaps and ditches in my life. I am sure that if
the fever of recklessness which seemed in the air had not suddenly seized me I
would never have put my horse at such leaps."

"I heard my brother say your horse was one of the best he had ever seen, and
that you rode superbly," murmured Betty.

"Well, to be honest, I would not care to take that ride again. It certainly
was not fair to the horse."

"How do you like the fort by this time?"

"Miss Zane, I am learning to love this free, wild life. I really think I was
made for the frontier. The odd customs and manners which seemed strange at
first have become very acceptable to me now. I find everyone so honest and
simple and brave. Here one must work to live, which is right. Do you know, I
never worked in my life until I came to Fort Henry. My life was all
uselessness, idleness."

"I can hardly believe that," answered Betty. "You have learned to dance and
ride and--"

"What?" asked Alfred, as Betty hesitated.