Putnam patriot., 1914-07-31
DAY OF
 I)A
By LOUIS JOSEPH VANCE
Copyright l0Il. by the Frank A. Muusey Co.

as-.sSuss-sS---.s~z~ waning night On the famous floor twelve score couples swung and swayed to the in toXicating rhythmS of an unseen or chestra
 Searching narrowly each fair face that flashed past in anothers arms. he waited with seeming patience A ran corous discOntent gnawed at his fam ished heart But of a sudden he forgot self pity and vain repining in the discovery of the one particular woman swinging dizzily past in the arms of an incroy. able. whose giddy plumage served only to render the more striking her ex- quisite fairness and the fine simplicity of her costume.
 For she was all in the black and white uniform of a Blessington shop girl. black skirt and blouse. stockings and pumps. relieved by showy linen at throat and wrists, with at waist the white patch of her tiny lace and linen apron.
 Her gaze veered to his silent and aloof figure. and for an instant his eyes held hers. At once. to his con sternation. the hot blood stained her lovely face from throat to brow.
 Then. holding with an air of friend ly diffidence. she flashed him strange. perplexing smile and was swept on and away.
 For a thought he checked his breath in stupefaction. Had she. then, recog nized him? Was it possible that her in tuition had been keen enough to pierce his disguise. visor and all?
 But the next moment he could have sworn in chagrined appreciation of his colossal stupidity. Of coursei His costume was that worn by Peter Ken ny earlier in the evening.
 So. after all. her emotion had been due solely to embarrassment and re- gret for the pain she had caused poor Peter by refusing his offer of mar riagei
 In good time the music ended. and near great. high window wide to the night the breathless shop girl had drop ped into chair.
 At Beelzebubs approach the fneroy- able. perhaps mindful of obligations in another quarter bowed and moved off. leaving the field temporarily quite clear.
 She greeted him with a faint recur- renee of her former blush.
 "Whv. Peterr she cried. and so set the seal of confirmation on his surmise as to her misapprehension. "I was won dering what had become of you. Thought you must have gone home"
 Peter did go home,' F. Sybarite af- firmed, bending over her hand.
 "You-you're not Peter Kenny?'
 "No more than you are Molly Les sing"
 Molly Lessingl What do you know? Who can you be? Why are you masked?"
 "Is it permitted?" he asked, taking the tiny printed card of dance engage ments that dangled from her fingers by it's silken thong.
 His lips hardened as he read the in itials peneiled opposite the last dance; they were ''B. S.'
 "Bayard Shaynon?" he queried.
 She assented with a nod. her brows gathering.
 Coolly. with the miniature pencil at tached to the card. he changed the small. faint B to a large. black F. strengthened the to correspond and added to that "ybarite;" then, with bow, returned the card.
 "You-Mr. Sybarite!'
 q. Miss Bessington."
 "But-oh, ineredbler' she cried. 'I can't believe you"
 Facing her. he lifted his scarlet vizor, meeting her stare with his wistful and diffident smile.
 Miss Blessington," he pursued seri ously, If you have patience to listen to what I've been through since we parted in Thirty eighth street. En. outraged by her silence, he told her of the nights happenings. And all it appears. that l might come at last to beg d favor of you. l am about to transgress your privacy with ques- tion-two in fact. Will you tell me. please, in confidence why you refused my cousin. Peter Kenny, when he ask ed you to marry him:"
 Coloring. she met his eyes honestly.
 "Because- Why. it was so utterly absurd. He's only a boy. Besides. don't care for him-that way
 You care for some one else-'that way?'"
 Yes" said the girl softly, averting her face.
 "Is it Mir Bayard Shaynon"
 No" she replied after a perceptible pause,
 But you have promised to marry himy'
 Tt was my fathers wish.'
 And yet-you don't like him?"
 Looking steadily before her. the girl said tensely. "I loathe him"
 Then" cried P. Sybarite in a joyful voice. T may tell you something. You needn't marry him
 She turned startled eyes to his. in. eredulous.