Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1917-10-19

men anu WOlltU WIN llIltu tile Wuiio, vi
were still standing In little groups at
the end Of the long hail. Again there
came the music, this time merged In
a low but inslstent clamor Of other in
struments. Then, suddenly, through
the door at the farther end Of the
room came dlmly seen figure In white.
4 The place seemed wrapped In a mys-
teal twilight, with long black rays OF
deeper shadow lying across the floor.
I There was u little murmur Of tense
voices, and then again silence.
For q few moments the figure In
white was motonless. 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 beautiful, unearthly
shape. 1t was like the fitting of
white moth through the blackness of a
mo0nless 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 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
near that they almost touched him.
He could have sworn that her lips had
called his name. He felt himself be-
witched. filed 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 fared out from the ceiling
and from every corner Of the apart
ment. Slender and erect, her arms
hanging Imply at her sides, without n
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 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
TONED 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! go now to rest for Q
little time"
h She frightened her clasp upon her
4 companions arm, and they passed ou'
4 of the picture gallery and down lone
Il corridor. John felt as If he were
N walking in a dream. volition seemed
y to have left him. He only knew thai
Il 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 sinai
IN room furnished in plain but comforta
~. BILE fashion.
a. 1--WE will invade the princes owl
~ sanctum," she murmured. Before
y dance, drink nothing but water. Nov
= want some champagne. VIII yo'
fetch me some, and bring 1t to M
: yourself?"
pr She sank back upon divan as sh
smoke. John turned to leave the room
hut she called him back.
~Come here" she invited, "close I
my side! can wait for the chan
payne. Tell me, why you are so silent
And my dancing-that pleased your
He felt the words stick In his throa
"Your dancing was indeed wonderful,
he stammered.
at was for you" she whispered, hi
voice growing softer and lower. ".
was for you danced. Did you not fe'
TT"
II Her arms stole toward him. The III
natural calm with which she had ID
n ished her dance seemed suddenly
% mass. Her bosom was rising and fal
ing more quickly. There was fall
W spot of color In her cheek.
at was wonderful he told her.
will get you the champagne"
Her lips were parted. She smile
y up at him.
q "Go quickly" she whispered, "ar
come back quickly l wait for YOU
He left the room and passed o
again into the picture gallery befo
he had the least idea where he We
The band was playing a waltz, al
one or two couples were dancing. II
people seemed suddenly to have .
come like puppets in some strani
unreal dream. He felt an almost few
ish longing for the open air, for
long draft of the fresh sweetness
the night, far away from this ov
h heated atmosphere charged with
n namable things.
As he passed through the FART
Z doorway he cam, face to face W
the prince.
"Where are you going?" the lat
asked.
'Mademoselle Calavera has asl
me to get her some champagne" he
swered.
The prince smiled.
II will see that II is sent to her