The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-04-11
Copyright, 1919, b. Associated Lit
cray Press.)

Charming escaped from the baii-room
with a Sigh OF relief and wandered
aimlessiy down the softly lighted cor
ridor. The ailuring strains of waltz
music arose above the slip Of feet on
the polished floor and the rustic of
silks and satins.
The bail room provided SO many
coy ante rooms for quiet talk or fir
tattcn that the corridor was quite de-
serted. At the farther end Claiming
paused abruptly before narrow door
way hung with dark velvet. A faint
pencil OF light shot from between the
hangings and from the opening the
music Of the orchestra came softly.
He pushed the curtains aside and.
Passing TIP Il winding stttf way, step
ped iuto d small balcony overhanging
the bali room. Behind d high bank OF
palms and oIeanders he was screened
from the throng below.
Charming looked down on the NOV
ing. shimmering crowd below. now and
then picking out 8 familiar form as IL
whirled along His hostess Mrs. Bow
ring. splendid in violet brocade. was
dancing With Eliery Bee The dia-
monds in her white hair sparkled with
a thousand points Of flame rs she nod
ded and smiled. Her daughters, Eve
Tyn and f1UrEuCe. fashionable proto-
Types Of = fashionable nlnthet-- 1calt2ea
their way under his vision. flashing
and sparkling and very gorgeous as TO
Iair7cnt-
1t was not until he looked about
Tor chair that Howard Charming dis
covered that he was not alone. Sitting
among the oleanders. looking Hisfully
down into the room below, was a girl.
slender and graceful and very lovely.
with softly tinted cheeks cupped In
her slender white hands. Her gown
was OF some soft green stuff that melt
ed into the foliage Of the oieanders
and palms. 1t WAS no wonder she had
been undiscovered until now.
Al the same moment she looked up
and saw him. and wave of crimson
swept her face from brow to chin.
The wide brown eyes had frightened
look. and Charming saw that she was
young.
Il am afraid startled you" he said
eourteously. Il did not see yoA~~~l
thought / was quite alone"
Il did not hear YOU come in she
said In a low. embarrassed voice. 1T
did not occur TO me that anyone might
come here You need not leaVa--l
shall go away presently"
Sit is your retreat by right Of prior
occupancy.'' he said with one OF his
rare smiles. Il came To get away
from the crowd" He found chair
and seated himself behind the green
screen.
The girl turned her small we'll
poised head away from him and re-
sumed her observation of the dancers
Charming watched her charming
profile. narvelinE that one 80 young
and SO beautiful should voluntarily
become an exile from the gay scene
below.
Pardon nae, but / am sure you are
one of -. Bowrtngs daughters.
The centurna to say after many min
nto* raa passed. am Howard
Charming
She turned quickly. Il knew that
FL recognized you at once" She
glance.
You are very good" he said pug
zled. Il know l could not have for
gotten you If we had met"
we haven't met have seen
your picture, she confessed. Mother
mas 30 many photographs. and Flo
renee has told me all about the origi-
Aals--that IL how ] knew you
Then you are Mrs, Bowring's
daughter he asked once more.
The girl NODDED. with little friend
ning's hitherto imperyious heart. Il
s1rrr sAstrr-~tfe youngest and not So
very young at that' I'm not out yet
you see. 70 ] simply have to steal
these little pleasures Mother would
not hear of my watching the ball
from this balcony. After IL had be-
gum just slipped on one of Eve
lyn's downs. ] had TO have green
one, SO ] might not be discovered.
suppose you think / am very deceit
full
Charming was thinking at that mo-
ment several highly important things.
One was that ne was glad that he
was glad that he had come To the
Bowring ball; another, that he had
stolen away to the balcony, and again
he was thinking that Nan herself
looked very much like pink ole
ander blossom set In the foliage OF
her dark green gown.
Now that you are here, you may
as well enjoy the ball." he said hun
riedly. Next TO the dancing one
enjoys something good 10 eat At
least, ! do"
Il don't have many opportunities 10
taste ballroom fare" said Nan mis-
ehievousIy; hut, of course. YOU know
schoolgirls are always hungry. and
XII" - the supper is to be delicious to-
night"
We Will have our share" eald
Charming decidedly, II will return
IN few minutes If you will wait"
he was gone then, and Nan looked
after his tall form with growing nd
miration- For several years she had
been familiar with Howard Chan
nGng's name. She knew that of ali
the eligible men her clever mother
mad IN MIND AS possible husbands for
Evelyn and Florence, Claiming stood
highest in Mrs. BowrIng's esteem.
II VAS tedious waiting for the two
older girls to marry and make way
Tor neF own appearance on the social
stage. She was twenty now. yet Mrs
-Bnwring had postponed the coming
out OF her youngest and most beau
uful daughter until another season.
once or twice before this Nan had
watched similar scene In the ball
room. bat the meeting with Howard
Charming made the present occasion
one not to be forgotten. The music
seemed sweeter than she had ever
heard ii before, the light were more
exquisite. and somehow she did not
seem 10 care whether she ever came
out Officially" or not To- night she
lived for the first time.
Once more the hangings were part
ed and Charming entered. bearing a
carefully prepared tray.
Supper is being served now" he
said gayly.
"oh. how perfectly lovely every
thing looks"