The Carlisle independent., 1915-12-23

plained Y don't wish you to be aware that I am saying what you call pretty things. wish. instead. to be effective" "eand there was a roughness in his voice which had come for the first time. She was trif1e startled by the steady gaze which he poured down on her. Why, he was in earnest!
 Then take me to Lucile." she smiled up at him. and strolled in to- ward the ballroom.
 Willis Cunningham met them at the door
 You promised me the first dance" he breathlessly informed Gail. He had been walking rapidly.
 I've the second one. remember, Gail" Dick reminded her. as he glanced around the ballroom for his own partner. but Gail distinctly felt his eyes following her as she walked away with Cunningham.
 q know now of what your profile reminds me-" Cunningham told her; "the Charmeaux Praying Nymph.' It is the most spiritually beautiful of all the pictures in the Louvre"
 q wonder which is the stronger emotion in me just now" she re- turned; "gratified vanity or curiosity"
 q hope it's the latter" smiled Gun ningham. T recall now gallery in which there is a very good copy of the ~ l Do Iol3 3oh ed to take you"
 'I'll go with pleasure" promised Gail. and Cunningham turned to her with a grateful smile.
 q would prefer to show you the original" he ventured.
 "Oh, look at them tuning their drums" cried Gail, and he thought that she had entirely missed his hint, that the keenest delight in his life would be to lead her through the Louvre, and from thence to a perspec- tive of picture galleries, dazzling with all the hues of the spectrum, and as long as life!
 He had other things which he want 1 ed to say, but he calculatingly re- served them for the day of the picture viewing, when he would have her ex- elusive attention; so, through the dance, he talked of trifies far from his | heart. He was nice chap, too. Dick Rodley was on hand with the | last stroke of the music, to claim her | for his dance. By one of those waves 70 Gail ha ing rushed" It was her night. and she enjoyed it to the full. Van Ploon danced with her, danced conscientiously, keeping perfect time to the music, avoiding, with practiced adroitness, every possible pocketing. or even hem contacts with surround l ing couples, and acquitting himself of l lightly turned observations at the ex- piration of about every seventy sec | onds. He quite approved of her; ex- | traordinarily so. He had never met a girl who approached so near the thou sand per cent grade of perfection by all the blue ribbon points. It was while she was enjoying her second restful dance with Van Ploon that Gail. swinging with him near the , south windows, heard the honk of an auto horn, and near the conclusion of the dance, saw Allison standing in the | doorway of the ballroom, with his | hands in his pockets, watching her with smile. Her eyes lighted with pleasure, and she nodded gayly to him over Van Ploons tall shoulder. When the dance stopped she was on the far 1 side of the room, and was instantly the center of buzzing little knot of l dancers, from out of which carefree 1 laughter radiated like visible flashes of musical sound. She emerged from the group with the arms of two bright eyed girls around her waist, and met Allison sturdily breasting the currents which had set towards the conserva- tory, the drawing rooms, or the buffet. Nobody has saved me a dance," he complained.
 Nobody expected you until tomor- row." Gail smilingly returned, intro ducing him to the girls. 'Ill beg you one of my dances from Ted or some body"
 "One will be enough for me, unless you can steal me some more of your own." he told her, glancing down at her. from coiffure to blue pointed slip pers, with calm appreciation. You are looking great tonight" and his gaze came back to rest in her glowing eyes. Her fresh color had been height ened by the excitement of the evening. but now an added flush swept lightly over her cheeks, and passed.
 "Pll see what can do," she specu- lated, looking at her dance card. q think one is all you get"
 I'm lucky even to have that" de- clared Allison in content. "The fourth dance down. That will just give me time to punish the buffet Pm hungry as bear. l started out here without my dinner"
 Her next partner came in search of her presently, and the music struck up, and Allison, nodding to his many acquaintances jovially, for he was in