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was at Becky Stewart’s and Kathleen knew Mister Paul Stewart, Becky’s father, meant to announce the engagement of Becky to Ben Jackson. Kathleen envied her girlfriend. To be engaged, how wonderful! Kathleen thought of Dawson as Hannah finished buttoning up the pink cashmere dress she had chosen for the party. She had visions of herself in a long white gown, coming down the aisle to meet Dawson, handsome and proud, waiting for her at the altar, eager to make her his wife. Mrs. Dawson Harpe Blakely! A delicious chill went up her spine as she mulled the scene over in her mind. She had completely lost her heart to the dashing charmer and couldn’t wait until he popped the question. If he ever meant to. She had to admit to herself the romance was not progressing as fast as she would have liked. She had met Dawson on August eleventh. Here is was almost Thanksgiving and still he had made no effort to kiss her, though she would have been more than willing. There had been a time or two when he pressed her hand tightly and looked at her in a strange, unsettling way and she was certain he was going to bend and kiss her. Then he would pull away and talk rapidly, the moment’s magic gone.
    Kathleen frowned when she thought about it. Dawson was truly exasperating at times! Any of the young boys who came to the parties would have loved the chance to steal a kiss from her, though she would never let them. But Dawson was not a boy at all; he was twenty-seven and had surely kissed ladies before. So why not her? She knew he found her attractive, wasn’t he always telling her how pretty she was? And at the parties, didn’t he always remain at her side throughout the evening, reluctant to leave her even for a moment’s conversation with the other men. His hand stayed protectively at her waist even when they were not dancing and he never danced with any girl but her, though she could see in their eyes they were all green with envy and would be thrilled and flattered to have a dance with him. Didn’t this prove she was his sweetheart, the only girl he cared about? But if so, why in heaven’s name hadn’t he kissed her? Kathleen heard voices downstairs and the huge front doors being opened. Dawson’s clear baritone floated up to her and she smiled at the sound of his rich, enchanting voice and vowed silently to herself, “Tonight I will make him kiss me!”
    The engagement party was a gala affair and Kathleen was quite breathless from dancing: She stood beside Dawson, his hand at her waist, talking with the other guests. A gentleman she had not met until this evening, Mister Charles Byner, had approached them and, after being introduced, had apologized to her and said he must have a few words with Dawson. Dawson told the man politely he couldn’t leave Kathleen alone, but to speak freely. Not interested in what the two were discussing, Kathleen let her eyes roam around the room. She smiled when her eyes met Becky’s. Her friend looked so happy and prettier than she had ever been before. Her adoring Ben stood with his arm around her, obviously very much in love. Becky smiled and winked at Kathleen and Kathleen raised her glass of punch in a toast before letting her eyes slide further around the grand ballroom. Julie Horne sat alone in the corner. Caleb Bates walked up to her. Kathleen watched as Caleb bent down awkwardly and said something, his face a bright shade of red. Julie rose immediately and Kathleen knew Caleb had finally found the nerve to ask Julie for a dance. She read Julie’s lips as she shyly looked up at the tall, skinny boy and said, “Why, Caleb, I’d love to.” Kathleen smiled to herself; they were both so painfully shy she didn’t see how they ever got together, but somehow they had managed and Kathleen suspected they would follow Becky and Ben to the altar in a few months. Leaving only her. Unmarried. Not even engaged. An old maid.
    “The repairs were completed tonight. You can have your men load her in the