Charlevoix county herald., 1917-05-11

fOrding Payne an opportunity for a
mutually desired tete-tete, for both the
colonel and Major Brent were, to his
disappointment, present
II was while the party were assem-
bling in the hall that occurred an In.
cident which noticeably affected Brent
and caused Payne at least few sec
onds of wonder. A messenger arrived
with Il letter addressed to Brent on the
Hotel Wilton stationery. Excusing him.
self and retiring somewhat apart from
the others, Brent broke the seal and
with rising anger, read:
Dear Thornton: l am at your hotel.
| need large sum OF money. j am
sure your rival for Pearl Dare, Cap
tain Payne, would pay me handsome
ly for what / could tell him. | may
be at the ball. BERTHA BONN.
He stood an instant undecided. Then,
dismissing the boy without reply, he
crushed the note in his fist and, mum
bling apologies, joined his companions
in the waiting automobile.
The ball at the Granadian embassy
was in full motion when they arrived.
Pearl was easily the apex OF all
vision in the assemblage. Wherever
she moved men petitioned the favor Of
a dance and when she waltzed with De
Mira, the gray-haired Granadian am
bassaaor, even the women begrudg-
ingly admitted her superior graces and
charms.
During IA one-step, in which Brents
good fortune paired him with Pearl,
Payne for moment encountered alone
in the conservatory the Granadian am
bassador They chatted briefly.
"Who is the beautiful brunette,
your excellencyY inquired Payne, mo-
tioning toward q girl standing some
what apart and alone. She was tall
and beautiful, with an indefnabls
something hard, while pathetic, in her
mobile countenance.
The ambassador shook his head and,
calling his secretary, put Payne's
question. Payne's eyes were at that
instant looking at the girls neck,
where lay, attached to a thin gold
chain, locket Identical with the one
containing the hidden waters.
Curious" he mumbled, half aloud,
while the secretary admitted reluctant
ly that he did not know her name and
went off To ascertain it. Just then
Brent with II laughing girl on each
arm, swept by, and Payne, as be
turned TO seek Pearl, for his dance
with her was now due, imagined that
he was mistaken when he thought he
saw the mysterious woman accost
Brent and be snubbed by him.
When Pearl and her now happy es-
cort stepped upon the floor the dancing
was at its height Everybody was In
gay and indulgent humor. He led,
she followed in perfect step and
rythm TO the music, which was selec-
ton from Strauss. No more splendidly
matched couple graced the floor OF a
ballroom. Half head taller than she
and straight as an arrow, every inch
soldier in fact, he looked the part. Many
an old and admiring couple in the room
that night commented upon PEARLS
suitability to be a soldiers wife and
hoped among themselves that Payne
would be the lucky fellow. She was
youth, health and vitality incarnats,
indeed. Her developing ngure was
strong and supple; there was some.
thing boyish about 1t, too. In her
sparkling blue eyes merriment We'd
with girlish tenderness. A coat of
summer tan only partly hid the clarity
of her complexion. A faint natural
odor from her golden hair during that
ecstatic dance permeated the senses
of Payne, fairly Intoxicating him.
Pearl" he whispered, tenderly, II
am leaving you tonight for long and
indefinite absence. What does that
mean to your
The girl made no reply. He could
feel the wild beating of her heart.
us there not some token Of you 1
may take along with me and treasure
in the loneliness and uncertainty of
the life to which / am boundf Some
love tOkenT
She pressed his hand very, very ten
derly Still she did not speak, but
something told him that her heart was
full.
"Pearl? She looked up timidly,
adOringly.
"Will you be my wifef"
Pearl no longer hesltated. Long
since, her heart had told her what her
response to that question would be.
She knew that she loved Ralph Payne.
Let us go into the conservatory" she
murinured softly.
Then, as they made their exit, ap-
peared Major Brent, reckoning to
Payne.
"A messenger Is looking for you.
Captainr he called over bis shoulder