Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-07-19

ling drum so meaningless y the alb
stract-so pregnant with meaning in
each individual group Bright lights
made soft by artful globes hung sus-
pended from the frescoed ceiling by
massive linked chains, and mingled
their mellowed radiance with the
rose-colored glow of the numerous
silk k-shaded lamps that dotted the
tables. and made pale faces seem
glowing and warm. Luxurious car
pets catered to daintily shod feet;
bright silver cleaned in we'll groomed
hands and clicked an accompaniment
to the incessant clink OF long
stemmed, bubbling glasses.
In. one end of the room, from be-
hind q line of spreading palms, rose
the rhythmic pulsing, passion-laden
strains of Pagl:scci, and died out in
plaintive wall of cello and viol, as
though surfeited with the luxury Of
Its own sweet sadness-died out amid
the appreciative applause of subdued
clapping and the slightly swelled MUIR
muir OF approving voices.
NO one seemed surprised when a
low, artifully constructed door in the
wall near the palms swung back on
noiseless hinges, and a young man
entered in evening dress. Why should
they2 They had all come in that way
all this well-groomed company of
dissipated midnight diners. past the
watchful, scrutinizing gaze of the
lookout on the silent street down a
flight of dark steps, up another flight
that twisted and wound its way to
that noiseless door-A foul stem blos-
soming exotically in that dining room
OF mingled rose colored lights, soft
voices and sweet music.
To the young man who took un-
noticed his place at a snug table in q
Tar corner, the artifciality Of all this
euper-luxury was Immediately evil
dent. The richness OF the room,. SO
out or keeping with its dark ap-
proach-the flushed. eager faces OF
the diners, the too courteous solicit
tude of the oily walters, pointed un-
mistakably to some secret vice as vet
unseen. He gave his order to a def
erential waiter, and again turned his
attention to the room and its guests.
his deep set, shadowed eyes and pale,
thoughtful. abstracted expression
concealing effectively the fact that he
was keenly alive to every move in the
room.
The music again started, this time
in a brisk, accentuated Tarantelle:
there was flash of red from behind
the palms, clicking of castane;s, and
out on the raised dais flashed a slim
wisp of girl. and flung herself with
abandon into the spirited dance of
Spain. In a moment the busy hum
or voices died to few occasional
whispered communications and every
one stared in gladly given attention at
the girl on the platform.
She was dark-eyed, fair-skinned,
her cheeks rouged and lips carmtned
alluringly, her light responsive body
swaying low and Strengthening snap
PLY In perfect time to the exactinR
beat OF the music. Raised gracefully
above her head, side-tilted, her fair
round arms bent at the wrist, her
hands resolving themselves into the
hollow clucking castanets. Her face
wore a rapt, set smile as of perpetual
pleasure, her every motion betrayinR
how we'll she loved this rhythmic ex-
pression-her expression of the Beau
tiful. The music ceased suddenly,
oravely, In, spirited crash mixed
with the smart double-stamp OF the
dancers heels on the floor, and the
thrilling cluck of the castanets-there
was again that subdued applause
again the resumption OF conversation.
and the dancer. painting and flushed
beneath her rouge, came down from
the dais. and courtesying Familiarity,
threaded her way between the tables.
She stopped at one with a word of
familiar greeting on her lips and sat
down.
The young man in the corner
watched her and her companion as
the gliding waiter carefully wiped the
bottoms of their liquer glasses and set
them down. The girl seemed laugh
lagly to propose a toast that met with
the approval of her friend, who
laughed heartily-their glasses clinked
and were empited quickly, the watch
ful waiter acknowledging by cour-
teous inclination of his head their re-
order. The man she was seated with
was fiabby. pink faced, tiny-eyed
individual, his light brown hair
combed smoothly back over his head
and accentuating "a lack of forehead
that he had done better to have left
covered. His fingers tapped nervous
ly the white table cloth as IL in time
to some rhythm subconsciously domi-
mating them, the while his eyes mar
rowed doubtfully, as though reluctant
to be persuaded by the girls apparent
proposal. The second drink was
brought. disposed of in as short order
as the first, and the girl again seemed
trying to persuade the tiny-eyed man
across the table. His wavering was
gradually lessened as she coaxed, and
he at length got UP and followed her
to the wall. alongside that noiseless
door. Her fingers seemed fussing with
something on the wainscoting, when