Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-04-04
CHAPTERR X.
A Startling Sequence.

his appreciation of certain forms OF
dancing and rhythm the motion -epics
of the Far East, based on the varying
moods of nature, were for him espe-
cial delectation. The Viennese waltz
he had not liked so we'll, even while he
had perforce glided to its three-four
reiteration. The dance had seemed
as it were, naive; wanting in sugges-
ton of symbolism. Its barrenness in
this regard failed to impress him now.
He gazed down. The girls face, so
near his shoulder, revealed no cynical
doubts; he regarded it on a sudden,
with an airy, almost boyish trust. He
experienced an unreasoning pleasure;
yes, joy! He did not know why; he
did not care. 1t did not admit of ar
gument or reason. 1t was as If, stand
ing at the foot of temples steps on
the dull banks of the Pie-ho, in the
first flush of youths golden dream, he
had been about to embark, when at
the rivers edge he saw her, with hair
dark as an eastern princess and eyes
like the blue flowers that lie in the
desert beyond the walled cities-saw
her and took her with him, wherever
that might be,
1t happened like something out of
space, out of time-like the birth OF
a star or the death of one! Only the
environment now, the actual surround
ing figures, seemed unreal, wooden.
His eyes had a new ardor. An odd
sense of possession dominated him.
She was his!-his! Did he not al
ways attain what he coveted? His!
He drew her closer, very gently; so
gently, she did not seem to notice.
Oh, for the magic carpet of China,
that might whisk them up to the plain
of Han, the sea of stars! But one
could take, carry off what was of great
worth without oriental sorcery! If he
only would One! two! three! the
rhythms continued.
After the first few tentative moments,
the important, crucial test of a part
ner, Marjorie Wood had resigned her
self to Bruce with a confidence all
would be we'll. She yielded unreserv-
edly to the glad measures; il was quite
primeval, dancing like that, under the
stars. The latter seemed to whirl
around bewilderingly: mad, dancing
stars, when one tried to sort them out!
Chimerical points of light!-Venus,
Mars, the Dipper all became merged,
mixed! She laughed softly, and Bruce
again looked down-at blue eyes-like
bright merry flowers now, dancing in
the breeze The parted red lips were
curved to a smile; flying tress OF
dark hair touched his cheek. At that
moment Chatfield Bruce and Marjorie
Wood nearly collided with Sir Archi-
bald.
The young man, just in time caught
sight, for an instant, of the heavy, now
rubicund face; a flare of white pearls,
agitated by the swift whirling and
Miss Goldberg's rapid breathing.
Then Bruce with slight tightening of
his arm about the slender, supple
waist swept deftly away from the
threatening danger, and Miss Wood re-
manned unaware of that narrow mar
gin of escape from what, in this in
stance, owing to Sir Archibald's bulk,
would have been a distinct physical
shock.
The music came to an end. She re-
garded Chatfield Bruce blithely; he
had not disappointed her.
Thank you, Miss Wood" MOcking
irony, futility of words, though he
bent to the part, eyes agleam.
Her small, white -gloved hand rested
now on his arm; she found herself
walking away with him quite naturally
across the lawn, through shaded paths
to the verge of the more thickly wood
ed park. She hardly noted which way
they went, he still seemed to guide her
as he had i'm the dance. Only now he
talked-jOyous fantastic nonsense, like
a boy! She answered, unreasoningly
vibrant, responsive to his mood, as ii
some of the magic of the night had
crept into and swayed her thoughts
too Though now and then she looked
at him with eyes a little questioning
whimsiCally surprised, as if asking
was he the incisive, sometimes ironi-
cal. man of the world she had con-
ccived him to be?
Did he read, between her gay words
the intrusive query? If so, he swept
it aside light as thistledown and con-
tinued to lead her on arbitrarily, with
implied authority. Her hand like q
lily leaf seemed about to fail from his
black sleeve. He looked at it: ii yet
lingered-though so lightly. as if il
might float off and away for ever. or
an instant.
They paused, at length, where the
bank descended precipitately. How
beautiful the valley sleeping beneatf
its diaphanous mantle of haze! The
world, typifed by the concourse ol
small red dots of light, human habita'
tions. how far away. The blithe
words died on the girls lips; her gaze
beneath sweeping lashes. looked out
from shadows of ineffable dreaminess
Bruce too. ceased to speak, but the
glad light of his glance rested only OF
her: the pale perfect contour of hel
face, the hair, black as the wing O
a night bird. He who few moment:
before had held her in his arms,
whiterobed, youthful Aphrodite, ra
dating with life, would not now have
dared To touch her. Yet spell o
wonderful nearness seemed to haV'
fallen on them.
70 hold them so still. A moment
an eternity. Below, a stone or bit
gravel became loosened and fell. Sh'
stirred their glances met. brighter
more intense light shone abruptly IRON
his, as If the glad diffuscd rays were
suddenly gathered and focused int
points of fire and warmth. that played
on her like a clear white flame. send
ing with discOncerting swiftness {
flood of color to her cheeks, stirring
fuller. stronger pulsatiOns from finger