The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-05-28
BY Anna Woodward

chair. privilege to which he had
come to assume some right, but she
did not move her feet to make room
for him.
u am sorry" he said, standing be.
fore her. Our challenge was to play
Quoits at half past four. was on
the upper deck precisely at the time
appointed. ] looked everywhere for
you. ! waited five minutes-even
more ! thought you had forgotten"
The wind had blown my hair.
had gone below for minute. You
might have waited. What became Of
you, anyway" she asked, frOwning q
little.
i have been in the music room"
he said. They wanted me to accom-.
pany a song"
They? You mean Miss Roberts!
Everything is explained--and forgiv.
en-" she added lightly.
"Jealous?" he said, smiling.
Yes. dying with jealousy" she said
and laughed merrily.
He was disconnected. II he could
have taken her by her shoulders and
shaken her he would have done %
with pleasure at that moment
"Jealousy-it is. of course, an un.
pardonable emotion" he ventured.
But the prince, who was sitting next
to her. had bent over to make some
trivial observation. to which she had
begun to reply with animation.
lie strolled down the deck toward
the smoking room. quite light hearted
now over his determination. Almost
since they had left the docks at TIL
bury. since Gibraltar. at all events, II
had been plain sailing between them.
It was even possible he had been too
devoted. he thought lie had been
testing his power over her q little In
the matter Of this game Of quoits. To
night he would ind out
He was wanted to make up . party
OF four to play bridge. In two minutes
he was happily absorbed In the smoke
room. On the deck outside she. equal
ly happy. was talking 10 the prince.
It was the night Of the fancy dress
ball and In his cabin the steward had
laid out the costume he had brought
for him. and to which she had put
some finishing touches. II vas the
costume Of an Arab chief which he
had bought II Port Said. and though
OF all men the least vain. he might
DO excused for thinking that the sky
blue cloak and vest embroidered with
gold. the flowing white hair and scar
let slippers were not unbecoming.
The bugle sounded for dinner and
he found himself descending to the
saloon with motley crowd Of fellow
pAssengers-a brilliant and gay assem-.
blage. making scene all the more
Impressive because this night those
who wore fancy dress we're seated TO-
gether ut the long tables down the
center Of the room.
She-her name was Iris did not ap
pear till rather late, and It WAS a sud.
den burst Of applause which made him
look up not To recognize her for mo-
ment ~ an Egyptian water carrier.
bearing on her head an earthenwars
vessel.
The Egyptian will win the first
PRISE" people were saying.
Certainly she looked beautiful and
hs was pleased at the tributes 10 her
grace and charms. He had expected
that she would take the vacan, chair
opposite to his own and !, had cross-
"a his mind that after all he would.
% on the night Of other dances. claim
all. or nearly all. the waltzes. the
Arab chief must dance with the water
carrier OF the Nile. But she found q
place at the farther end Of the able,
a seat next to the prince.
After all. then. he would not dance:
he would not even crafty her vanity
BY praising her costume, when. with
her sister. she. az they AWAY did.
took their coffee with him IL the
lounge.
He went up early to secure the ia
vorite sofa. ordered his cigar lis cof-
fee and brandy. and waited.
But Iris and her sister did not ap-
pear until just a. the procession Of the
masqusraders was being formed. be-
fore the dance they were to parade
twice around the deck 90 thai their
fellow passenger might inspec; the
costumes and vote. and In the process
sion hs found himself far removed
from Iris.
Il was beautiful on deck. Tie cir
was warm and delicious: the tropical
moon vas rising In full splendor b.
hind . bank Of clouds. The fore
part Of the deck vas hung with nass
and . hundred Chinese lanterns light
"a The broad space stretched from side
70 side which formed the ballroom Of
The liner.
The competitors were divided into
two classes. those who had made their
costumes aboard and those who Ike
himseN and like iris, wore clothes taey
| la houshf IN fho VOYAGE. In Italy or