Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-12-29
The Search for the Missing Vial

| strong went into the room, or before?"
"0h, after he fell asleep. | had Just
come from putting out the gas when |
saw Miss Camerden slip in and almost
Immediately come out again"
So Mr.. Armstrong had made a mis-
take! 1t was Dorothy and not Gilber-
tine whom he had seen leaving the
/ room. met Sinclair's eye.
| "Dorothy's dress gray tonight; but
| Mr.. Armstrong; eye may not be very
good for colors."
at is possible that both were in the
room," was Sinclair's reply. "At all
events, we can not prove anything this
way if we nut revert to our original
idea. wonder if Gilbertine will give
me the chance TO speak to her."
"You will have an easier task thar
l." was my half-sullen retort.
! There is to be q rehearsal Of the
ceremony at half past 10. might get
word in then; only, this matter must
be settled first. | could never go
! through the farce of standing up be-
! fore you all at Gilbertine's side, with
such doubt as this in my mind"
You will see her before then. In
! sist on a moments talk. If she re-
. fuses"
"Hushm he here put in. eve part
no VITO meet in this same place again
! at ten"
| 1t was some time before had the
opportunity, even if had the courage,
to look Dorothy in the face. When
| the moment came she was flushed with
dancing and looked beautiful. She
! leaned against the rose-tinted wall
and let her eyes for the first time rise
slowly to where | stood talking me-
chemically to my partner.
Gentle eyes they were, made for ap-
peal. But they were held in check by
an infinite discretion. Never have |
caught them quite off their guard, and
tonight they were wholly unreadable.
She was trembling with something
more than the fervor Of the dance,
and the little hands were not quiet for
moment. Could her eye rest on
mine, even in this cold and perfume
tory manner, if the drop which could
separate us for ever lay concealed over
her heart? She knew that | loved
her. And though she would never
openly acknowledge my homage and
frowned down every attempt on my
part at love-like speech or attention,
was sure that she rated my feelings
at their real value. When, therefore,
encountered her eyes at the end OF
the dance I said to myself:
"She may not love me, but she knows
that | love her, and, being woman
Of sympathetic instincts, would never
meet my eyes with so calm look
if she were meditating an act which
must infallibly plunge me into mis-
cry"
So, taking the bull by the horns, !
excused myself to my partner, and
crossed to Dorothy's side.
evil you dance the next waltz with
me?" | asked.
Her eyes fell from mine directly and
she drew back in way that suggest
cd flight.
81 shall dance no more tonight,
said she. her hand rising in its ner-
vous fashion to her hair.
| made no appeal. ! Just watched
that hand, whereupon she flushed Wv
idly and seemed more than ever ann
ious TO escape. At which spoke
again.
Give me a chance, Dorothy. II you
will not dance come out on the veranda
and look at the ocean. am most
anxious to ask you"
mo, no." she vehemently objected,
very much as if frightened.
felt my heart sink and dreaded
lest l should betray my feelings.
"You do not honor me then with
YOU regard" | retorted.
She was silent. Her hand went