Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1917-11-08


key fioated across the room. soft at
first, swelling later into volume of
sound. then dying away and ceasing
altogether. Every light in the place
was suddenly extinguished. There re-
NAMED only the shaded lamps over
hanging the pictures.
Not whisper was heard in the
room. John, looking around him in
establishment. was conscious only of
the half-suppressed breathing of the
were still standing in little groups at
the end of the long hall. Again there
came the music, this time merged in
low but insistent clamor of other in
struments. Then. suddenly, through
the door at the farther end of the
room came a dimly seen figure in white.
The place seemed wrapped in a mys-
teal twilight, with long black rays of
deeper shadow lying across the floor.
There was little murmur of tense
voices, and then again silence.
For a few moments the figure in
white was motionless. Then. without
any visible commencement. she seemed
suddenly to blend into the waves of
low, passionate music. The dance it.
self was without form or definite move
ment. She seemed at first like some
white, limbless spirit, floating here and
there across the dark bars OF shadow
at the calling of the melody. There
was no apparent effort of the body.
She was merely Il beautiful, unearthly
shape. 1t was like the fitting of a
white moth through the blackness of a
moonless summer night.
But her motions grew more ami
mated. more human. With feet which
seemed never to meet the earth. she
glided toward the corner where John
was standing. He caught the -smolder-
ing fire in her eyes as she danced with
In q few feet of him. He felt catch in
his breath. Some subtle and only half
expressed emotion shook his whole be-
ing. seemed to tear at the locked cham
Der of his soul
She had flung her arms forward, so
He could have sworn that her lips had
called his name. He felt himself be-
witched. filled with an insane longing
to throw out his arms in response to
her passionate, unspoken invitation, in
obedience to the clamorlng of his seeth-
Ing senses. He had forgotten, even
that anyone else was In the room.
Then. suddenly, the music stopped
The lights flared out from the ceiling
and from every corner of the apart
ment. Slender and erect, her arms
hanging Imply at ner sides, without u
touch of color in her cheeks or coil
of her black hair disarranged, without
a sign of heat or disturbance or pas.
sion in her face, John found Aida
Calavera standing within a few feet
of him. her eyes seeking for his. She
laid her fingers upon his arm. The
room was ringing with shouts of ap
plause, in which John unconsciously
joined. Everyone was trying to press
forward toward her. With her left
hand she waved them back.
''If have pleased YOU" she said, 81
am so glad l go now to rest for q
little time"
She frightened her clasp upon hel
companions arm. and they passed oui
of the picture gallery and down a long
corridor. John felt as if he were
walking in dream. Volition seemed
to have left him. He only knew thai
the still, white hand upon his arm
seemed like wise burning into hi.
flesh.
She led him to the end of the CORR
dor, through another door, into small
room furnished ia plain but comforta
BILE fashion.
1--WE will invade the princes owl
sanctum," she murmured. Before
dance, l drink nothing but water. Nov
l want some champagne. VIII you
fetch me some, and bring 1t to MI
yourselfT
She sank back upon divan as sh'
spoke. John turned to leave the room
but she called him back.
"Come here" she invited, "close to
my side! I can wait for the cham
payne. Tell me, why you are so silenti
And my dancing-that pleased your"
He felt the words stick in his throat.
Your dancing was indeed wonderful, -
he stammered.
ut was for you" she whispered, her
voice growing softer and lower. ut
was for you danced. Did you not feel
lt?"
Her arms stole toward him. The I'm.
natural calm with which she had fin.
lshed her dance seemed suddenly to
pass. Her bosom was rising and fall.
Ing more quickly. There was faint
spot OF color in her cheek.
ut was wonderful" he told her. ~
will get you the champagne"
Her lips were parted. She smiled
up at him.
$50 quickly" she whispered, land
come back quickly! l wait for you"
He left the room and passed out
again into the picture gallery before
he had the least idea where he was
The band was playing waltz, and
one or two couples were dancing. The
people seemed suddenly to have be-