Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-18

emily, so tar as Ihurley was concerned, the
affair of the afternoou was dismissed, dis
concerted Gaillard utterly. Indeed, the
last person he had expected to encounter
here was Thurley Ruxton. Already his
evening was beginning with scowl.
1t was Thurley's hour. Never had any
hour within her life been more thoroughly
conceded to her queenship.
GAILLARD, unable to endure it longer,
forced his way, as if by unsurrendered
right, through the group to her side.
She met his gaze and nodded brightly.
MAY ask for your card?" he said, burn
ing red to his ears. Il hope for a waltz-or
two-or three
There isn't one-too bad!" she said,
smiling at him gaily. "Per laps you could
ask for an extra. Ask Mrs. White
Il will, he said.
He did, and was granted his boon. Thur
ley danced with him gladly.
And something that savored of divinity in
motion was generously bestowed upon her.
Something possessed her to waltz in Gail
lard's arms as she never had waltzed in her
life. She led him to Drinks of new infatua-
ton, all to hide the truth that for an hour
he had crushed her like rose beneath his
feet. 1t appeared to all that nothing had
been changed, as they watched the pair to-
gether on the floor.
Gaillard himself was bewildered, not only
by her wonderful recovery, but far more
than ever by her beauty. Some mad i'm
patience to snatch back his ownership goaded
his vanity anew.
"Thurley," he said, looking down in her
eyes, Il want one more of those waltzes.
I've got to have two or three more"
She laughed. doesn't that sound like
little Oliver Twist? Mustn't it be dreadful
to want more mush, school mush, or college
mush, especially when there isn't any more
left?"
He felt she was laughing at him, treating
his wishes as Joke. 81 didn't know you
were coming here .>o-a:gLt," he said. you
might have invit-1 me."
Il thought you might be packing your
trunk" she answered innocently. I'm al
most sure you said you were leaving to-
morrow"
He glared down at her half angrily. "You
don't care!" he said.
About WHAT" she answered. "Danc-
ing3 Oh, yes do-and that tall, ungainly
looking Billy Linkerton waltzes like swal-
low. You'd never believe it in the world.
He's bifurcated poem. He glides like a
jellyfsh in cream. You d as soon expect
ladder to attempt minuet; but he really
has soul for 1.yI.ii1l.c motion"
She could think :. nothing further to add
W dill ILLS lllOpSIv, dIO 0dllldIU, utterly III
capable of comprehending her mood, and
annoyed and piqued, relapsed into sullenness.
TO Thurley, in the moment that the waltz
L was ended, came ineffable relief A dozen
eager SWANS were presently swarming about
her as before, and Gaillard could do nothing
but retreat.
Nevertheless, she was faint at heart, now
that the worst of it was over. The dance
with Gaillard had proved to be an ordeal
taxing all her powers. She was weak, despite
her air of buoyancy, and conscious always of
deep lying hurt.
By twelve o'clock, when her purpose was
fulfilled, the reaction came upon her. Be-
ginning to be physically exhausted, she
found herself the ready prey of all the aches
postponed by her artificial joys. Her game
had been played, her triumph was complete;
but she had barely the strength to meet the
demands of her most exacting role through
the process of making her escape.
She left with Shattuck in his waiting car
and was taken directly home. A final sparkle
OF incandescence was conjured to her eyes in
the smile she gave him at parting: Then at
last she was once more alone in her room,
sadly recurring rest