The Iola register., 1902-06-20
THE SPUR
OF FATE
BY Ashley Towne
Copyright, 1901, by
Charles B. Etherington.

upon the dancing floor. Darrell felt
Vera's hand on his arm; she seemed to
he drawing him forward.
DO you care to see it?' he asked.
-Why, yes" said she, "since we are
here. What are they doing? know
znothing of these grand entertainments.
was too young to see much of such
sfetes as we had in Stavropol. There Is
IN place from which we can see."
And with the words she stepped
-nimbly ahead of him, securing a re-
Emarkably good position.
1T is the procession" said he, stand
ing close behind her. II did not ex-
pect to see 1t at this hour. 1t repre-
asents the entry of Roman conqueror
Into a captured city of Assyria."
'1t is like scene in theaterp she
cried. "See the painted palacesl How
sDeautiful, and with such an air of
antiquity! There is the conqueror in
mis- chariot. There are the warriors
sand the captives. 1t Is magnihcentv
She turned and looked up at Darrell,
land he noted how her eyes were shin
inR through the mask.
There had been music. 1t ceased and
aAhCfA puisI lOllh dkdlh III utllllOub
melody, which was instantly caught up
aby the throng upon the floor. The pro-
session had passed around the circle,
winding among the painted palaces, in
whose windows could be seen men and
wwomen In the ancient Assyrian cos
s1ume, copied with great exactitude
from the memorials of that vanished
,scra. Dancers were crowding upon the
lsnoor. Quadrllles formed as IL by
amagic. One caught glimpses of ia
;emous men In the world of art, and
samong them, dominating the scene,
Were the beautiful women of that
rwOrld, the famous models, garbed in
costumes the most magnificent or the
most simple, some shod in gold leath-
ser. others barefoot, some shining with
Jewels, others garlanded with cheap
posies daintily put on.
And they all sang till the voices
drowned the great orchestra and the
roof rang with the song.
"What is itT asked Vera. 81 have
heard it in the street"
I 'It is 'L'Heure Charmante,' the lat
Sest craze of the Quarter" replied Oar
rel. "You know 1t, then?" for she had
ibegun to sing. "Then why not? 1t Is
In the air."
He added his own strong and clear
A. austily.
Suddenly the people on their left
Seered toward the dancing floor. Vera
turned quickly, her eyes burning. He
nodded, and their hands were claspcd
.fOgether Another moment and these
two. so strangely met, were dancing
among the revelers-this woman with
The scars of fetters on her wrists, this
man who was alive because q bullet
fred half an hour before and meant for
MIN had gone astray. 1t was in har-
-nony with the nights adventure that
they should dance and sing together in
this mad throng that whirled them
hither and thlther, aimless as fate.
The music stopped with an abrupt
enash of the instruments and break
spf the voices from song to shouting,
then to silence. All looked toward the
Aighest gallery, where appeared Lucia,
acclaimed the favorite model and now
nroudly perched upon pedestal. She
wAs small of stature, and her beauty
swas not Of the type that carries" to a
great distance. Her costume, however,
Was wonderfully effective. She wore
% gown of pale green. brocaded with
T1Efses, and she held In her hands a yel-
bow veil so variable In quality under
che lights that 1t seemed to waver
enound her body like a tongue Of flame.
"A famous artist made quick sketch
OF her as she stood there, and then the
sseldest OF the students, giant, dressed
nike gladiator, gave her his hand, and
ms she stepped down from the pedestal
he kissed her on the forehead, as II to
typify the reverence for beauty in the
hearts of all that vast assembly of Its
worshipers. Applause rewarded him,
and then the band struck up once more
.L'Heure Charmante." A thousand
voices seized upon the strain, the dan
GERS whirled away into new measures,
and upon the instant Darrell said in
his companions ear:
"There are the Gordons"
He had deserted his friends at the
edge of the lower gallery.
1--WE must hurry" he added, "or they
will escape u.s." Then suddenly, Upon
my word, am glad that we dancedr
'I, too" she replied. ut is something
Tor me to have known this life II only
Tor a moment But am ashamed 10 go
40 your friends. II is like asking fa-
~or. / am too proud"
1--WE ask nothing" returned Darrell,
mot even advice. We merely tell our
amusing little story for their greater
soy In the midst of this merrymaking.
II Is a favor that we confer upon them.
HRstenT
II proved to be easy to overtake the
Esordons, for they returned immediate