The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-03-09

somewhere in the back OF the room
a girl in furs arose hurriedly, slipped
| from the hall and went rapidly down
the stairs to the street. Darkness was
coming on and it was beginning to
snow.
A long line of cars waited at the
curb She held up a slim hand and
summoned one in the line. 1t was a
big gray limousine.
Fritz" she said to the chauffeur
when the car was before the entrance
to the Civic club, and the man was
touching his cap to her, drive slowly
up and down here in front of the club,
a block down that way and block
back this way until further orders"
Then she got in and the car moved
OF, slowly through the sitting snow
down the street block-a whirr and
creak of shifting gears-back block
shifting gears again-then over the
same route once more. The girls face
was pressed against the window. She
waited until out of the club doorway
she saw Prof. William Perry step out
} into the dismal dusk. She opened the
| door of the limousine.
"Oh, Billy" she cried, softly, mu-
sically.
Perry came bounding to the door of
the limousine.
sylvia" he cried, his whole face
lighting up. why, this is surprise.
How do you happen to be here?"
I'm just going down to Rioli's. Want
to Gomez"
Do want to Gomez he cried boy
ishly. watch mel"
Away whrled the ear. In a mo
ment it seemed he was helping her
out at Rioli's.
Up the stairs they went, checked
their things and found themselves in
a palm-lined and more or less smoky
room. People at many little tables
were drinking tea.
From the tables came many greet
ings both to Sylvia and to himself.
Finally they found themselves at a
little table well down the room. Sylvia
WAS pouring tea for him. She was
radiantly beautiful; her cheeks we're
flushed; her red lips parted. The mu.
sic, which had momentarily ceased, be-
gan again, more haunting and wierd
than before. Sylvia put down the
Seyres cup.
"Oh, Billy" she cried, 81 just can't
resist. You must. This one. Please"
"Oh, there's no one, no one, can
dance like you, Billy breathed the
girl, "and yet, Billy, we are dancing
today those dances imported from
blindly ignorant and superstitious saw
ages"
You were there?" he said sharply.
Yes" she confessed.
And this was trap"
YES"
He glanced quickly about him. At
one of the tables were four members
OF the Civic club-four of the most
influential members.
Il am going home" he said sudden
ly, sick and disgusted and angry and
ashamed.
And so long as brought you shall
have to take you back, l suppose"
said she. so I'll go with you"
He neither acquiesced nor negatived
this plan of hers. Indeed, he made no
comment whatever. Stifly he stalked
with her to the courtroom, helped her
into her wraps, got into his own, de-
scended the stairs, and summoned the
waiting Fritz.
$50 You were there this afternoon?"
he said again, when they were in the
car.
Yes" she said, a little frightened
now.
"Why?" he asked.
Il know I'm frivolous, Billy" she
said, but there's no harm in me.
Neither is there any harm in the rest
OF them dancing back there. And you
and all your horrid old speeches before
the Civic club and such places-they
make me-they make me"
We'll, what? Say it," he demanded.
Mad" said she.
His anger was mounting. Now 1t
burst forth in all its fury.
81 think I'll get out and walk" he
said, reaching for the speaking-tube.
Sylvia caught his hand
"Oh, Billy, please" she begged pite-
ously. Wait! Wait just a minute
Listen to me-just minute!"
He drew himself up coldly. His at
titude said plainly: BE brief and be
concise"
She did not speak for minute She
was trembling in her furs.
I'm a horrid, bad-tempered little
cat" she said with torrent of self-re-
proach. But, Oh, Billy, can't you see
why | did it? I-I-you're so way,
way up above me, so big and strong
and unattainable, that-that-I want
ed you down on my level; yes, that's
it. | wanted you down within speak
ing and touching distance-and-and
cant you realize what 1t must mean
to me to make an abject confession
like this to your"
"Merciful Peter!" he cried, and
caught her In his arms.