Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-13
THE DANCING MASTER
By RUBY AYRES
Author Of 1.-THE Phantom Lover" "A Bachelor usbood"
" 1.-THE One Unuantsd," etc.
By RUBY AYRES

'W0ntsos etc.
herself over and over again IT'S my
clothes. How could he want to be
seen with any one as dowdy as I amp
The thought was anguish to her SEN
sitive heart.
She hated the girl in the striped
costume and gray shoes as 'keenly as
she had hated Dolly last night. 1t wa.
bitterly unfair was the cry Of her
heart. Why should some have every.
thing and others nothing at all?
Her little glimpse Of enjoyment had
awakened the keen desire for more /:
been more or less content, or at least
resigned to the dullness of her life. but
now she felt that never again would
she be able to tolerate it.
The thought Of her uncle's house
stificd her. and It was In vain that she
told herself she was ungrateful and
unkind
She shrank from the knowledge that
Walter Sheath was waiting for her.
She tried hard to remember how
good he had always been--and that
she owed what little pleasure she had
ever experienced to him.
It was as II she saw him now in her
imagination. as she had seen herself
in those many mirrors last night; saw
just how commonplace he was, just
how cOuntriiicd and unintercsting. and
her heart swelled with bitterness as
she raised her eyes again to the tall
figure in the big overcoat standing at
the bookstall. There was n great deal
of whistling and banging Of doors. and
MS the train began to move slowly from
| the platform Elizabeth covered her face
with her hands and burst into tears.
She cried nearly all the way to Dill.
the bitterness and disappointment had
gone before they drew slowly into the
small country station.
1t was still raining hard. but Walter
Sheath was waiting on the platform in
IN old fashioned looking macintosh Of
yellowish color and cloth cap well
pulled down over his eyes.
Walter Meets Elizabeth
Elizabeth shrank back into her cor
ner with a sudden feeling Of parir
She could not rid herself of the feeling
that she was being dragged back to
prison.
1t cost her an actual effort Of will
70 let down the carriage window and
call to him.
His stolid face beneath the unbc-
coming tweed cap lit up as he saw her.
and he came eagerly forward.
II he saw the tear stains on her
face he put them down to grief at her
uncle's death. and he gripped her hand
hard for u moment before he went off
to look for her luggage.
Elizabeth stood waiting in the rain.
She had never felt so much depressed
in her life. and all the time there was
a throb of rebellion at her heart.
Was she never to know anything
different from this? Her face was set
when presently she followed Walter
Sheath from the station.
He had secured the best closed cab
the small town boasted: it was shabby
and stuffy and smclt of straw. and
Elizabeth let down rne window with an
impatient hand.
She felt as If she were sitting: and
when presently Walter put a diffident
arm about her it was all she could do
to keep from crying out in anger.
"YOur uncle's death has been a bad
shock for you." he said.
Elizabeth nodded.
"'Yes-how dii it happen:
Just heart failure. the doctor said.
He was found dead close to his bedroom
door. l dare say he felt ill. and had
been trying to call for help"
"Tes--" Elizabeth looked away
from the honest face beside her. Poor
uncle - she said. mechanically.
There was a little silence.
1T seemed hard to have to send for
you when you 50 seldom have any
enjoyment Walter said again stol-
idly
Elizabeth laughed.
''Ob, ! wasn't having very good
time. I'm not smart enough for my
aunt or Dolly she said bitterly.
His eyes wandered over her.
"Not smart enough 80 he said.
amazed: he thought it impossible that
any one could be more attractive than
this girl.
Elizabeth nodded again.
"YpS--SO--S you SEQ. ] WASH
altogether sorry TO come back you wcr"
quite right to send for me. OF course.
She waited n moment. then asked with
passionate note in hcr voice: 'And
now--what is to become of me now
He looked at her. the color deeper
ing in his face.
II am hcre.' he said quietly.
1t was impossible to mistake his
meaning. bur Elizabeth shivered. :
II knowIyou're very kind. but
oh. Walter. you know ! don't lov"
you. I've always told you that |
DON'T
Walter Proposes
His lips tigh,encd a little, then he
said gently
II am content to take you whether
you love me or not. ! love you well
enough for us bot h.
She moved rcstlessly, not answering.
but in Imagination she visualized the
future as it would be If she was this
mans wife.
Always TO live in Dilbury. Always
TO 20 on I'm the same rut of monOtony:
never to be any better Of--for Walter
was man of limitations. and Elizabeth
knew 1t we'll.
lie was a clerk in n country solici-
tors Office; hard working and honest
as the day. but the type Of man who
would live and die Il clerk, who would
be quite content to earn living wage
and 60 to church on Sunday and take
a weeks holiday during the summer.