Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1917-09-21
THE HILLMAN
When shall I $50 yoa again." he
asked;

"Thank you" he answered "thnl u
just what should like, AT what timer
"Hnlf past one. viii not ask ei'he
of you to come In now. You can CONT
down tomorrow morning and get ih'
books, Sophy, | think ! am tired
tired" she added, with u curious lllu'
note of sefpIty In her tone, u iil
very glad TO have seen you again. MT
Strungcwey," she said lifting her eyes
to his, Good night !"
lilo helped her aun. rang the bell ana
watched her vanish through the SWIFT
" openea ,leGe, reea hc stepped back
intp the saxieah Saphy rrtreatcd into
the e,veer o. n,Ake g,srin tpr him,
~yee are selas ~ gake me homo' are
yea se$f' >ss ssAe1
s<g peasse, ~ gsR1led his eyes still
aAe1 Sga 4 shaae u erkrvt upon the
eiys,sl hog " lealses little house
M. ~ Southampton street" no told
M lr,Ner,
they aFo.l yvand aud spun once
more NV sae seywerk " moving We
hictes ald streaming pedestrians. John
was Slect. ssd hts companion, for II
tittle While. humored him. Soon, how
ever she tpucscd him ON the arm, A
queer gravity had come into her dainty
little face,
Are you really In love with Lou
lscf" she inquired, with something OF
his own dlrectness,
He answered her with perfect serl-
BUSINESS,
81 believe So" he admitted, hut l
should not like TO say that | am ahso-
lutely certain. | have come here to
find out"
Sophy suddenly rocked with laugh
ter.
"You are the dearest, Queerest mad.
man | have ever met !" she exclaimed,
holding tightly to his arm. you sit
there with face MS long Us fiddle
wondering whether you are In love
with girl or not Well, | am not go
Ing to ask you anything more. Tell me,
are you tired?'
mot a bit" he declared. 81 never
had such ripping evening In my life
She held his arm little tighter. She
was the old Sophy again, full Of life
and gayety.
Lets go to the Aldwych," she sug-
gested, "and see the dancing. We can
Just have something TO drink. We
needn't have any more supper
The cab stopped few minutes later
outside what seemed to be private
house. The door was opened al once.
Sophy wrote Johns name in book.
and they were ushcred by the manager,
who had come forward TO greet them,
into long room, brilliantly lii, and
filled. except In the center, with sup
per tables. John looked around him
wonderlngly. The popping Of cham
payne Corks was almost inceSSant. A
slightly voluptuous atmosphere of
cigarette smoke mingled with the per
fumes shaken from the clothes and
hair OF the women, several more Of
whom were now dancing. hung about
the place A girl In fancy dress was
passing great basket Of flowers from
table to table
Sophy sat with her head resting upon
her hands and her face very close TO
her companions, keeping time with her
feet TO the nAslc.
isn't this rather nlce? she whis-
pered. do you like being here with
me, Mr. John Strangewey?
"Of course do" he answered heart
ily "ls this restaurant
She shook her head.
'No, it's club. We can sit here all
night. IL you like"
Can | join?" he asked.
She laughed as she sent for form
and made him I'LL II In.
Tell me-" he begged. as he looked
around him, ''who are these girls? They
look so pretty and well.dressed and
yet so amazingly young TO be out at
this time of night"
"Mostly actresses" she replied, "and
musi 'al-comedy girls. | was in musl-
cal comedy myself before Louise res
cued me-"
ibid you like III"
~ liked 1t all right" she admitted,
shut | left II because | wasn't doing
any good. can dance pretty well, but
| have no voice. so there didn't seem
to be any chance of my getting out Of
the chorus; and one can't even pretend
to live on the salary they pay you, I'M
less one has part"
''But these girls who are here to-
nightT
"1hey are with their friends of
course" she told him. II suppose, If
II hadn't been for Louise, should have
been here, toO-with friend"
81 should like TO see YOU dance" he
tNiuuIhtu, III u uulls W NhahSt thV
conversation.
"I'll dance to you some day in your
rooms, If you like" she promised "0r
would you like me TO dance here?
There is man opposite who wants me
TO. Would you rather didn't? want
to do just which would please you
most"
"Dance, by all MEANS" he insisted.
II should like to watch you"
She nodded. and minute or two
later she had Joined the small crowd in
the center of the room, clasped In the
arms Of very immaculate young man
who had risen and bowed TO her from a
table opposite. John leaned back In
his place and watched her admiringly.
Her feet scarcely touched the ground
She never once glanced at or spoke to
her partner, but every time she passed
the corner where John was sitting,
she looked at him and smiled.
4 l.