The Washington herald., 1907-10-08

any question except In the most sensible,
practical manner" answered Senator
March. In Europe you are shackled
with the traditions and customs Of a
thousand years. You can't take down
even a tottering wall without endanger-
ing the whole structure. With US, IL is
all experimental. Nevertheless. our af-
fairs are no better managed than yours
in England"
Sir Percy at every moment felt more
and more the charm Of Roger MARGINS
manner and conversation. II was SO
simple, so manly, and so breezy. Nor
was Senator March without appreciation
Of this clean-limbed. clear-eyed English
man. Half an hour passed quickly in
animated conversation before there was
another arrival; but then the stream be-
came a torrent. In twenty minutes the
rooms were full and the dancers were
skimmlng around the ballroom TO the
thrilling strains OF music. Mrs. Chan
trey was easily identified by Sir Percy,
She was a big. handsome woman. with
an enormous gown OF various fabrics and
colors, who so blazed with diamonds that
she looked Ike a lighthouse.
Sir Percy was not a dancing man, nor
did he ever admire dancing as an art
until he saw the soft, slow, rhythmieal
waltz. as danced by Americans. His
duties as assistant host kept him busy,
but. like a born diplomat, he could see
number OF things at once and pursue
more than one train Of thought at tho
same time. AS he talked to men and
women Of many different nationalities.
ages, and conditions, his eyes wandered
toward the ballroom. where the walters
fioated around. Never In his life had he
seen so many good dancers. particularly
among the women. One girl IN particular
caught his eye. Her figure was OF me-
dunn height, and her black evening gown
showed off her exquisite slendeness. the
beautiful moIding OF her arms. and the
graceful poise Of her head. Her face he
scarcely noticed. except that she had
milk-whlte skin contrasted With very
dark hair and eyes. She danced slowly,
with a motion as soft as the zephyr at
evening time. Sir Percy's eyes dwelt with
pleasure upon her half a dozen times
while the waltz lasted. Then came the
rapid two-step. which reminded Sir
Percy OF a graceful romp. But the black
haired, white-skinned girl was not then
taking part.
The drawing-room grew crowded and
Sir Percy, moving from group to group.
did not go into the ballroom. He was
introduced TO a great number OF ladies.
young, old. and middle-aged, and the gen
eral impression made upon him was what
he expected Of the American woman en-
masse. Pretuness was almost universal,
but beauty Of a high order was rare. One
girl alone he reckoned strictly beautiful
Eleanor Chantrey. the only child OF the
lady Ike the lighthouse, but totally IN
like her. Eleanor was tall and fair, and
Sir Percy thought be had never seen a
more classic face and nobier bust and
shoulders. Her voice, TOO, was well modu-
lated and delicious 70 hear after the pea
cock screams OF most Of the women
around him. Miss Chantrey had both
read and travelled much. and had the
peculiar advantage OF knowing the best
people everywhere. quite irrespective Of
the smart set. It soon developed that she
and Sir Percy had mutual friends IN Eng
land. and had even stayed at the same
great country house, although not at the
same time. Her manner was full Of grace
and dignity, but with a touch Of GOODNESS
Ike New England August day. II was
quite unlike the English. Eleanor was
the highly priced American daughter,
whose value is impressed upon her by
that most ins'dious form Of flattery-the
being made much OF from the hour Of her
birth. Nothing, however, could be farther
from assumption than EleanOr's calm.
grave sweetness, with a little touch OF
pride. Sir Percy. smiling inwardly, could
not but be reminded, by this gentle and
graceful American beauty. OF some royal
princess before whom the world has ever
bowed. She was we'll worth seeking out.
however. and Sir Percy, thinking he was
doing the thoroughly American thing,
asked Miss Chantrey II he might, in the
name Of their mutual friends, cali upon
her
My mother will be very glad TO see
you. I am sure. We receive on Tues
days" she answered. and named house
I in the most fashionable quarter.
A little later Sir Percy found himselt
standing among a fringe OF men around
the ballroom door. The Lancers quadrfle
was being danced. sra once more be
noticed the black-haired girl dancing, and
/ this time he was surprised 70 see that
| her partner was Senator March. The
Senator went through the square dance
with the gravity and eXaotness with which
( he had learned his steps at dancing school,
/ forty years before His partner was nc
/ less graceful in the square dance than ir
/ the waltz, and was more unrestrained
/ making pretty little steps and courtesies
/ and movements Of quick grace, which
made her dancing the most exquisite thinl
/ OF the kind Sir Percy had ever seen. WheT
the Quadrile was over he suddenly found
/ her standing almost in front Of him
| laughing and clinging to Senator March.
arm. Her profile. clear cut as cameo
/ but not I'm the least classic. was directly
/ in front Of Sir Percy, and he was forced
\ to admire her sparkling face. She had
not much regular beauty, but her white
! skin, contrasted with her black hair, darI
/ eyes, and long. black lashes. was charm.
} ing. Her mouth was made for laughter
and on the left side was an elusive dim
/ pie. Sir Percy hated dimpled women, bu
/ he found himself looking at the girl'i
mobile face and watching the appearance,
/ and disappearance Of this little hiding
place of laughter upon her cheek. And
I wonderful to say, she did not screech
! but spoke in a voice that was singularly
clear and musical Some experience O.
/ the American methods Of introducing
right and left had been Sir Pereys, ant
/ he was not surprised when Senator
/ March hid q hand unnn his arm an