Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-12
CHAPTER XVII.
An Interrupted Dance.

An Interrupted Dance.
| You darling!''
| Posie Stanton. all lace, muslin and fiow-
ers, rushed toward Elinor, as the latter pre-
ceding Mr.. and Mrs. Rossiter and a man
with luggage. descended the gangway of
| the boat from New York and now stood
| upon the wharf before old Newport town.
| Really, my dear" expostulated Mrs Ros-
| sitter. Miss Stanton, turning from her girl
| friend, impetuously flew to that startled but
| worthy lady.
Wont you let Elinor drive up to the
hotel with me?" swiftly went on Posie after
the greetings were over. II came down
with my cart and"
GO along, then, at oncer' laughed Mr.
Rossiter, good-naturedly. Your mother
and will follow in few moments, lin an
swer to his daughters look. of course
| you've so much to tell 1t won't keep"
Mr.. Rossiter looked approvingly after
| them, while Mrs. Rossiter readjusted her
| India shawl and ruff1ed Mechlin laces. not
without some show Of ruff1ed eomposure.
Through throngs of tourists and summer
visitors Posie and Elinor pushed their way
| TO where, near the wharf, stood an English
| dog cart, with a tandem team. Entering
| this vehicle which attracted some attention,
not altogether commendatory, from the
year-round jewellers in the narrow streets
| near the wharves, Miss Stanton grasped
| the reins and they were whired along past
| the quaint, old-time houses into the newer
part OF the town; thence onward across the
southern portion of the island dotted here
and there with modest cottages. The beach
lay white before them, shimmering near by
| In sandy rfpples left by the receding tide;
afar, gulls with lazy wings cleft the mists
that curfed torpidly around the isle.
! How delightful of Mr.. Strong to let you
come here, instead Of dragging you out west
among the Indians and the cowboys" said
/ MISS stanton bea ming bor 90
many men insist upon taking their wives
with them everywhere, like the rest of their
| luggage"
| Elinor's gaze seemed suddenly to be d.
| rected Tar out on the ocean, and she MUIR
| INJURED some vague reply. But you haven't
| told me yet who is here?' she added, turns
! ing.
| Quite a number of people you know" re-
| Piled Posie, they approached the hotel
| Mrs Fanning-1t was at my house dear
Einor first met Mr.. Strongr-Miss Webber
ana her dogs; the Northumberland going to
get divorce - Miss Garnett - who asks
often about you-you must know her very
| WE'LL"
i knew an eye at window. or peeping
| through half-closed shutters-if that could
| be called an acquaintance!
Posie nodded comprehensively. Yes"
| she said she lived opposite you! Then
| there's the Rev. DR.. Clement and as for
| the rest of them"-drawing the cart up
| closely before the door-''you must see for
| yourself!''
Thereafter time Jagged not Though her
moods were often variable. Elinors ca
pacty for enjoyment seemed to grow with
the indulgence she permitted herself Mr..
Rossiter watched her with meditative eyes
but Mrs. Rossiter looked on with unqualified
approval To her it was quite proper and
to be expected that ElinOr should take her
place in society, grasp at its pastimes and
seize upon its pleasures.
One morning about fortnight after their
arrival Elinor and Miss Stanton were driv-
n he vxyha
were summing themselves in costumes the
antithesis to the Greek Idea Of chaste and
appropriate drapery. Here If beauty was
sacrificed. modesty at any rate. did not
suffer, for the expansive material distorted
the figures of the wearers until no trace
of the human form divine was discernible
even to the lively imagination. Children.
as unsymmetrical in line and outline as
their elders-miniature counterparts In
pantalets and ample blouses Of their moth
ers and aunts played upon the shining
strand. An umbrella, lying open upon the
beach, presumably shaded a sleeping old
gentlemen, or, perhaps, screened from gen.
eral view an engaged or newly welded pair.
Suddenly Elinor, who was driving, drew in
the reins. AS the cart came to a standstill
Miss Stanton perceived two masculine fig
ures not CARRIED for the sea, but in conven-
tional business attire. outlined in the sum
shine against the sand dune.
once or twice-a fowery beacon for way
farers out of their reckoning on that sandy
stretchl The signal was seen and answered
and the couple drew near with evidence OF
reciprocal recognition; the foremost swing
ing a switch cane, the other holding his
'cedar-berry" gloves very primly in his
left hand!
Glad to see you, Elinor" exclaimed the
taller of the two. his eyes lighting with I'M
mistakable pleasure
She extended her hand.
"And Miss stanton-you are here, too?'
yes" said Elinor. 1T was Posie's per-
suasive letter that induced me to come to
Newport But where did you drop from?"
From Narragansett
"oh, the races! l should have known
that"
IT didn't know you were of sporting pro-
cliyities, Mr.. Marks" observed Posie, di-
recting her glance upon that person, who
held himself reluctantly back In the shadow
of Dalton.
Mr.. Marks blushed ingenuously, while
Charlie laughed.
Tom can pick winner with the best
ten-to-one shot he looked her over.
There's knee-action.' says he, and wind
and heart for a rally! Sure enough, Lott
erer came down the stretch like rocket,
and was flrst at the finish"
Dear mep remarked Pose. The lmpid
eyes shone with unqualified admiration for
the discerning Mr.. Marks who shifted un-
easily.
REALLY. you mustn't believe"
But the races at Narragansett do not ex-
plain your presence here, Charlie" said
Elinor.
Just thought we would run over for a
changer! His gaze fingered on her. The
slanting rays of the sun kissed her cheek;
beneath her chin ribbon f1uttered in the
breeze from the sea. Besides, Tom was
tired Of winning"
Now, you might have said you ran over
to see usF" put in Posie Although we
haven't any races to offer you here"
II dare say you have amusements equally
diverting. You may not have trottng
but"
I'VE have galleps." interrupted Elinor.
Exactly! he laughed, and again regard
ed her.
She drew in the reins.
why don't you and Mr.. Marks come to
the dance at the hotel tonightT' urged
Posie.
Charlie looked from her to Elinor.
Shall we?" he asked.
She aecked the horse tentatively with the
whip.
I'm afraid 1t will be very dull after
Narragansett"
"But if we want to chance itf'
I'm that case, don't suppose any one
would prevent YOU" she answered. and the
vehicle sped on.
What did you tell her about my picking