The San Francisco call., 1909-11-14

warrens gave their annual when the season
at it's height and series of dances had been
arranged for the occasion.
They had put up a stage at end of the large
ballroom and seats were left carelessly to be pulled
into groups instead Of being placed in the usual
rows The program promised variety. There was
to be series Of national dances Cthe Merry Widow"
unless one might, perhaps. cite Mrs. Dolly-had
not yet captured New York;. Evelyn Taghern-Stew-
ard and Perry Willing were to give the Mattchiche
that had set all Paris mad with dancing the year
before
Mrs Algy Trane hiding her long limbs in the
hloomers and wells of Turkish odalisQus Jason"
Miles had inveigled old Envy Bingham into matching
himself Pierrot to her Pierrette-I hadn't idea of
how be was going to dance but fancied his cos
tune ought to be infinitely suited to him.
Dolly was guarding like state secret the nature
Of her dance. And Carley Deane and had wild,
devil-may-care jockey affair that ended furiously
We'd had only two rehearsals for It, and I'd con-
ceived means whereby It might be made to send
the ball of gossip spinning about in anew direction.
During he last few months my plan, when 1
nexed Carley, had partially succeeded. Already my
name was frequently linked with his and Mrs Grundy
throwing over title to nobility in favor of title
to millions. Carley and lin public-had become
inseparable as the Siamese twins. was astonished
at the unexpected grace with which this youth-who
had been known principally for his polo ponies and
his prodigal extravaganza backing others not used
for polo-was playing the devoted.
The baron meanwhile was still under the wing Of
my resolute mother. who, far as was concerned.
had become a mere speaking acquaintance
passed on the stairs in the halls And 1 wanted
Oh how I wanted-tonight to prove to her that was
bound to be victor in this between us!
Carley was waiting for in the smaller ballroom,
which had been converted from Louis Seize salon
into an eighteenth century garden. We entered
through bower of roses what might have been Eden
Or Titanias realm. In the soft light the women's
gowns became unreal and elusive the gauzy gleam
ing garments of fairies tempting pursuit they
and went-and there seemed to be no lack of sable
coated mortal pursuers In the center Of this para
disc fountain laughed and bubbled and sparkled
forth pungent spray that proclaimed itself
of the gods more palatable than water
Please give this arm a pinch" sighed Carley. Il
want to see whether I've died and gone to heaven
within the last few minutes"
you viii find that heaven isn't half so nice"
Planning the Dance
Carley shifted and light of comprehension grew
In his eyes approached the gurgling of
foam. Not l." he exclaimed drawing back. Il feel
messy in the head already, and not drop, I swear
since dinner don't tell the story my life
tOnight-unless you're the hand to get it,
Gyp."
Because you know I'm safe-is that it? But, Car
ley" leaned toward him breathlessly. 81
dance tonight-really dance. Dolly does. Let's
give ourselves to it, let's revel in it, You don't know
how much it's going to mean to mel"
"And to me-" he added suddenly bending over me
Nea toward with Dick My brother had
of late taken to accepting invitations he would have
laughed to few months since, and people
beginning to wonder whether Nella was the attrao-
ton hoped she was
We group Of a dozen for the first two
numbers Harrison Heating the Johnny Van Tiels
Frtzy Bigelow. Billy Stewart still keeping watch
full eye Nella, and young Lord Birmingham. with
the Graice sisters who represented 10 generations Of
Amercanism and quite willing to pay almost
as many millions for to crown Also there
the eternal baron de Berenzig who had come in
with my mother after Carley helped to escape him
in the outer
Mrs Algy Trane was on the stage waving her arms
like a windmill when Carley and 1 disappeared to
prepare for dance the others calling after to
do our worst I was ready to-even worse than
that!-and felt the rouge being laid my
face in what seemed be thick patches that might
give myself greater surprise than had laughingly
promised them.
My dress was wsp of white slashed with red and
5aunty cap Of crimson coquetted with my hair Car
ley wore white riding breeches and boots and red
and white silk blouse. The was set to repre-
sent race course and buge sounded could feel
the blood tingling through my veins In mad longing
to be of. We fairly galloped on the stage at the
signal and flung ourselves with the music into as wild
q dash for glory spurred on pair of thor
oughbreds. 1 could feel my own enthusiasm tearing
ACROSS the foofIights in the rustle and Iane f