The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-04-20

, large and semipublic dance where the vari'
Gus sets OF that section of New York wert
| gathered. and Miss Coles was dressed in ar
ecru gown that she had labored six weeks
to make-had, indeed, completed that after
noon.
The strain Of the e~xacting occupation had
told In the dark circles under her eyes, but
| her cheeks were flushed with the certainty
of its complete effectiveness, and the Sigh;
trace of fatigue gave to her usually shallow
beauty a new and deeper tone.
She was the success of the evening. Young
men who had met her at other functions
stared, wondering whence this sudden
beauty could have sprung, and young wom-
en- found their only solace in comments on
the fit of her gown. And she was FULLY
aware OF her triumph. From the moment
her eyes first swept the ballroom she had
seen that in a PARKWAY corner Reading
Payne and his wife formed part of d group
whose most conspicuous figure. a stout man
Of about 60, had put On his glasses to look
at her.
And she read in the professors small
gray eyes the proposal hat she had a
vague desire to postpone, for she felt that
he would not be satisfied with less than a
categorical yes or no. and she was not pre-
pared 20 give either. When he asked her TO
sit out a dance with him and she declined
he was not discouraged, for he knew her
well enough to realize that, even TO accept
an offer, she would not consent to leave the
lime light for 80 long.
From time to time as she danced she cast
furtive gianees at the Payne party. and
saw that the stout, s~ray-haired man was
still looking at her. And she wondered who
he could be. The other members of the
group had gradually drifted away, and he
stood in apparently earnest conversation
with Mr.. and Mrs. Payne Suddenly came
a swift impression that they spoke of her.
She saw Payne glance furtive!y in her di-
~rection, and move His head in u scarcely
perceptible negation.
Then the waltz absorbed her. and when
she again looked in their direction the poll
tician and his wife had disappeared. But
their friend was talking with an old gen.
tleman she knew. and she was not at al
surprised, when. after q few moments. the
couple moyec toward her. As they APP
preached her slim figure stiffened with hos
tility, for she was not disposed TO be over
civil to any friend of the Reading Paynes.
Her mouth hardened into an expression OF
almost insOlent Indifference.
Miss Coles said her friend. with smiling
benevolence. may I introduce Mr.. Long
streth?"
She quivered. breathless with astonish-
ment at the name: then suddenly an Idea
smote her with instant, overwhelming force,
dazing her almost like a physical blow. for
she had never handled an idea before and
quite unprepared for the recoil. But
the next moment she broke into a smile, so
lovely that the professor. staring at her
across his partners shoulder. wondered why
he had never noticed her dimples before.
while the old millionaire. who had braved q
family difference to make her acquaintance,
felt in its sudden radiance the renewal Of
his youth.
For the rest Of the evening Miss Coles
had but a vague idea of her surroundings.
She talked she hardly knew what, but she
felt that her remarks, however childish,
were received with an appreciative defer