The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-12

hood. She had never thought OF him
as sweetheart-for one reason other
young fellows had not given her time
Being an heiress. with a wide and
wise family connection, if she married
the wrong man it would certainly be
IN the face of light and leading.
She had liked several suitors well
enough to consider them, but it had
never gone further. At twenty-five
her heart was still virgin, more truly
virgin indeed than that ~of poor
skimped and thwarted Elise, who had
bestowed her affections silently upon
this or that manikin, OF whom she
knew no more than the outside, but
whom she had turned into hero,
knight or demigod with the drapery
OF girls fervid fancy.
She forget them-forget they had
ever been, the minute she had looked
up and found George regarding her
with whimsical intentness.
DO they know you have run
away" he asked. Those elders? II
they come to take you back home, you
shall climb into my pocket and stay
snug till they go. We can't spare
you.
She was indeed wistfully childish,
withal full of woman-longing for life
and love. Her mouth set hard when.
ever she thought of going back to the
drab home life at the end of this
marvellous fortnight. She would not
do it-she could not. There must be
think of Georgy as the way out, but
OF late he haunted her. awake or
sleeping-her king, her hero. her de-
liverer
This Peggy read as in a lightning
flash, when she felt the tremor OF
Elises slim fingers as Georgy. com.
ing behind them, spoke, pretending to
rebuke them for keeping the stage
waiting
Elise was humming over the dance
music-a plantation air she had
caught from her nurse, and twisted
into something rather wonderful Miss
Ball had fine ear-she caught 1t
| quickly-still that took a clinute or
so. Moreover Elise did not mean to
dance in view until the music was in
| full swing
Singing, her voice high and sweet,
| stage, bowed right and left, then lift
| ing their joined hands higher than
their heads, she guided Peggy through
performance truly marvellous. Up,
| down, back. forth, with intricate
| swings and side steps, and wonderful
small shuffles, the two OF them
swept the stage, the audience ap
plauding madly
Decidedly the Pompadour Sisters
We're the hit OF the evening. Peggy
smiled happily, thinking in what re-
quest Elise was likely to find herself
She looked half angel, half nymph,
her face deeply flushed, her silky hair
| beautifully disordered Peggy knew
she herself was showing scarlet
through the yelling made up-she had
subdued her color with grease paint,
but it was no longer effective. Still
she footed it lightly, consciously maxi
ing of herself mainly support for
Elise-Elise whose secret she had sur
prised, and thereby surprised herself
even more.
| She was not Indifferent to Georgy.
Rather in him lay the root of her in.
difference to the others. Duly she
wondered II he-with catching
breath she stole glance at him,
where he stood watching the dance.
and particularly the chief dancer.
AS the curtain rang down after the
third encore he caught Elise under
the arms, and tossed her up, as one
might toss a child, saying:
Il must To find out II you are
mortal or fairy No." as the applause
rose madden than ever. you mustn't
60 back could look at you all night
but you have done enough. Run
outside and sit down now-just as
you are-but don't drink more than
seven lemonades-nor let more than
nine fellows propose at once"
Elise obeyed without word
Georgy busted himself getting ready
for the next turn. Peggy was steal
ing away-he had not spoken to her
when he wheeled and caught both
her hands, saying:
"Peggy-my love didn't bat an eye
over seeing you in pink-and you were
fright sure enough. So | think you
ought to reward it Let's set the
day tomorrow"
But Elise!" Peggy gasped. though
her head swan with happiness.
Georgy looked carefully over her
head. I'm attend to that" he said
in her ear. "She thinks of me as
Opportunity We will see to 1t. she
has many and better. opportunities.
Impossible, Peggy said. turning
away her face. But we will see that
she is happy-almost as happy as
ourselves