Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-07-05
THE SCREEN

tmnS you ask! ne panteQ. Let me KISS
your lips and your hair, your wonderful
hair"
Her moment had come-sooner than she
had dared to hope.
"Do you mean it?" she whispered, her
breath on his hot face. Anything 1 ask?
Then-kisS mel"
lHAN1AR'S voice spoke sharply just out
IL side the door: q Gamma tell for certain,
Miss Erskine, that the 1esson'1l be Ger
1t was warning. Daura tore herself free,
and the two whose hearts had beaten to-
gether stood apart, trying to look like
dancing mistress and pupil. The door
opened, and Miss Erskine came in, sharp
eyed, expectant.
Daura could have burst into tears of rage.
She had acted this scene and brought it to
successful climax-all in vain! For it would
be vain, she felt. Something told her that
this was intended to be more than mere
interruption. Vane had come for purpose,
to take the revenge she had threatened and
Daura was at loss how to defend herself,
because she did not know in which direction
to look for the blow.
ooh, you have finished the lesson, haven't
your" Miss Erskine exclaimed. Il was sure
you would by this time, or l shouldn't have
burst in and interrupted you. l shouldn't
have come now, only I did so want to ask
you before it was too late to do the sword
dance, and let me look on. 1 asked Annira,
and she said you knew how as well as she
did-or better. But l see you have been
dancing for Mr.. Troy already, as the
swords are on the floor, and your hair has
come down. You and Mira are just like
girls in novels! Your hair always contrives
to come down at just the right moment,
when you want it to. You know, Mr.. Troy,
Mira did the sword dance at Lady Mac
Intyres the first time Mr.. Conway saw her,
and he fell in love with her hair. Now do
be good girl, and dance again for me, won't
you? Or are you too tired? You have the
air of being simply dead! But perhaps it's
the light gives you that haggard looke Dear
Uncle doesn't study becomingness in his
sanctum."
I'm afraid can't dance again." Daura
said, trying to make her voice sound per-
fectly natural. @Father wanted me to show
Mr. Troy the sword dance
She began nervously plating her hair,
which hung loose over her shoulders; and
in silence Troy picked up the fallen tortoise
shell pins. As he gave them to her he looked
her in the eyes, and hope stirred once more
in her heart. Perhaps, after all, she might
not need to begin again at the beginning of
things. Perhaps she would not be forced
| OICe lIlOTG W luIllludlS duo uSSlduC uClSCu,
as she had done tonight, in order to win this
mans love. His look did not seem to say
that Vane had wholly succeeded in making
him despise her. Rather, it said, ell keep
my word for good or evil, if you keep to
yours" And She tried to answer, in spite
of shame for herself and anger with Vane,
@What have promised, have promised"
PUT Miss Erskine had not finished yet.
y @This is lovely old room, isn't it2' she
remarked, gazing appreciatively round her:
ats as good as scene in theater-
you make it exactly like that, Daura dear,
with your crossed swords and your queen
dress, and your disheveled locks. always
think this is quite the incest room in the
house, except one other-and that doesn't
count, because, though it's so handsome,
nobody would like to stay in it alone for
half an hour. 1 mean that dreadful Black
Breton room. And, by the way, my maid
has told me the silliest thing. Of course it's
nonsense! l can't think how she got it into
her head. But she has ridiculous story,
picked up in the servants hall, suppose,
oh, yes, come to think of it, man called
Emmons told her!-that you, Daura, had
insisted on putting Mr.. Troy into the Black
Breton room. AS if you could! Why, it
| would he a n,,1rdero,1s THING to dor