The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-05-10

shouldered fellow-domino to become
also a fellow-participant in making
things gay. Reluctantly, at first, but
gradually more willingly, the tail fig
ure began to move about with some
show of life -
When their leader had assembled a
dozen black-gowned figures together.
they marched about shaking their
heads and raising their hands in horri-
fled protest at the ludicrous and dar-
ing costumes they encountered. As
they approached the band OF gypSieS,
one of the gypsy men sized them up
carefully and then deliberately walked
up to Dorothy and kissed her, where
upon the tall, broadshouldered man in
the domino caught her in his arms and
whirled her off in waltz When the
waltz ended they were at a far side of
the big ballroom AS the crowd grew
more mirthful, Dorothy became less
and less gay. Her tall companion
could see that she was vainly search
ing for some one He squeezed her
hand reassuringly and broke the long
silence between them
81 see that you have lost your
friends he said simply. Will you
allow me to help you find them or to
take you home if you can't find
them?'
Dorothy nodded her head in fran
tic affirmative, and whispered just
two Home-now."
A few moments later, they were en-
tering a taxi, to whose driver Dorothy
gave the half of a visiting card con-
tanning her residence number, having
nodded a vigorous negative when her
escort asked her destination. AS they
were whirled along in the taxi, the
man softly asked her to speak to
him, as he was sure her voice must
be as charming as were her grace and
ease in dancing. He even squeezed her
hand lightly, and although she was
unresisting she still shook her head
and remained silent. This seemed to
add to the young mans determine ton,
for no began 10 plead eloquently, but
was astounded to be roughly pushed
away with two tiny but determined
hands.
As the taxi turned corner. Dorothy
realized that she was nearing her
home. and she quickly sprang up and
covered the eyes of her escort with
her hands.
Swear you won't look" she whis-
pered hoarsely, and with those soft
hands pressing his eyelids, the man
willingly promised. A few moments
Dorothy electrified her companion by
kissing him full in the mouth and
springing from the door the instant
the driver opened it.
Quite forgetting his promise, he
sprang after her, but took in his sur
SldnCex
About six strides took him the dis
lance that Dorothy had covered in
sixty rapid steps, and he overlook her
just as she reached the marbIe-lined
vestibule to her home.
Dorothy, dear" he pleaded "Whv
didn't you let me know it was YOU %
Just because I wanted to see how
far you'd go in doing the very things
you tried to forbid me doing when I
limited L was going to this ball." she
eyed him defiantly, like a p1ucky
fighter at bay. Your tender pleading
for the sound of my voice and your
gentle squeezing of my hand when you
thought I was somebody you didn't
even know convince mo that you are
at least human enough to be incon-
slstent and also that you're not to be
trusted She made a quick move
ment for the door bell, but he caught
her hands and held them tightly.
which ought also to convince Won
that it's time to treat me like human
and take me for better or worse'
Then, very softly, he added: Don't
you know, dear, that it was only be-
cause wanted to look after you that
went to that old ball ?''
Dorothy had backed up against the
bell so that with her elbow she had
managed to press the button without
Gerard's knowledge
And don't you know" she retort-
ed, that 1T was only because / recog-
nlzed you by your dancing that / pre-
tended to be lost from my friends and
ent1ced you into bringing me home ."
Inc silent footman opened the front
door and Dorothy vanished through if
with a softly spoken good night before
Gerald fully realized the unexpected
good fortune that had come to him
copyright, 1915, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)
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