Semi-weekly herald., 1911-12-25
CHAPTER XVII.
Tho elitterIns Dance.

Tho GIitterIns Dance.
Doris Missioner was affected much
more deeply than she would have
thought probable when she read the
ardor-breathing proposal of marriage
from Bruxton Sands. To say that It
surprised her would be to set feminine
intuition at discount She had known
for long time that Sands was in love
with her, and on several occasions had
been perilously close to the necessity
Of accepting or rejecting him.
Mrs. Missioner sent reply to Sands
with which, she told herself. he must
be content for the present. When she
had written It, she dressed for dinner
rather earlier than usual. dined with
only little Dorothy March as visa
Wis, and. after an hour or so spent in
working out pretty problems with
her youthful protegee. rang for her
Limousine and was whirled away to a
dance at the home of one OF her dear
I've hundred friends. Mrs. Missioner's
arrival was an instant triumph. a roy
al progross. She laughed and chatted
with men who adored her. and with
women who would have done the same
II they had not been-women.
Yet there was a monotony about n
all to her. for although she was fona
OF society, she had seen the same
faces, heard the same small talk, lis
tened to the same music, and danced
the same dances many, many times ~
the course of the season. Just when
. her vague wish for the unusual was
shaping itself into q naturalization OF
the grfsly phantom, boredom. q little
stir At the entrance to the ballroom
heralded the arrival of man who
quickly drove the little drab devil OF
ennui from his perch upon Mrs. Mis-
sioner's satin shoulder
The newcomer was q tall person.
wearing the ordinary evening attire
Of gentlemen, with addition, however.
Of . showy turban that crowned his
long black hair. like a wreath of snow
upon q darkling mountain-side. 1t
needed no second glance to tell Mrs.
Missioner that they had already met
She knew 1t long before the Swamfs
dark eyes swung their twin search
light glance In her direction. Mrs.
Missioner recognized readily the mys-
terious' stranger of the opera box. 1t
was the nrst time she had seen
him since the night In which she dig
covered the falsity of her jewels. For
4 moment, the sight Of his swsrt face
and piercing eyes recalled the panE
with which she had learned of the loss
Of the Maharanee diamond So 1t was
with q most gracious smile that she
interrupted an Introduction by her
hostess and said:
We have met quite recently" aA
she touched the tips Of her white
gloved fingers to those of the ORR
entail. She went on You see l am
more composed than at our last meet
ing; but then. dare say, you were not
troubled. Jewels. you know. mean So
much to 4 woman"
Some jewels mean more, Mrs. Mis-
sioner.. the Swami suavely. y
thoroughly understand the sense Of
loss-in fact. the bereavement that
came upon you when you found that
beautiful necklace was not what you
had supposed 1t to be-"
II rather imagine" Mrs. Missioner
i0e0ih hS0p eu1e yOA Ai~ NV AAAe
miliar with the fact that 1t WAS the
loss Of one stone among the many
which really srisved me-"
you are right. my good friend"
returned the Swami. ''I will not pro
tend to be ignorant Of the value yeu
attached to the central gem-ths ma
haranee diamond. You are not alone"
He checked himself abruptly. "It was
. stone which we'll might command sf-
fection from its possessor. Time was
whom devotion would have been tks
word"
They were strollins across the floor
~ they talked. and in a corner dis
tant from the music the widow seated
herself on a Louis Quinze chair AID
said. almost coaxingly:
II feel pretty sure you know more
about the history Of that jewel than
Do"
'Indeed!" was the swami's only con-
cession.
Yes, indeed and indeed" said tic
widow, with a gay little laugh. "Oi
course. a sage cannot be expected 10
occupy his thoughts with anything SO
frivolous as diamond. however beau.
tiful Yet am convinced that If you
were to unbend from your meditatons
Of the occult long enough to scan your
memory, you would recall facts IN
connection with It that would be very
interesting to me-"
May l inquire your reason for -
thinking. dear madam
TT is . reasonable request on your
part" she replied. Il remember my
husband told mo the stone had come