Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-01
|g'HE DANCING MASTER
A queer little smile quivercd round
E1i1o hoth'u 1ipe
BY RUBY AYRES
Author Of "Ths Phantom Lover. "A Bachelor Husband"
'"Ths One Unwantsd" etc

Eliz8beth's lips.
II used to think that, too she
said; but now--well. wonder.''
On Sunday morning Royston brought
the car as he had promised.
He was in the room before Eliza :
beth could escape or she would have
done 40, and she was bitterly ashamed
because the hot color would fly. to her
face a. she met his eyes. but he only
said, GOOD morning." and turned at
once to Meta.
"Weli. i've brought the car. How
soon can you be rcady?" he asked.
Meta beamed.
''In a few seconds. Elizabeth will
fetch my hat and coat, but how can I
get downstairs?
~ can carry you"
She laughed and flushed. 'I'm not
very light"
IL think I can manage" he an
swercd.
Elizabeth brought her coat and
helped her into It. She avoided look
Ing at Royston. She followed silently
when he carried Meta downstairs.
"Why. you're no weight at ALL" she
heard him say.
She was glad when they reached the
back for rug.
~ shall be cold. and I hate being
cold"
Elizabeth found the rug and stood
for moment on the landing with
clenchcl hands.
"You little fool! You little fool ="
she said to herself angrily, because It
seemed such an impossibility to 90 down
and face Royston again. And vet,
presently she heard him coming up the
stairs, she was conscious of an cnor.
nous sense OF relief. 1t would be
something to see him for a few minutes
without the watchfulness Of Meta
eyes.
Have you got the rug? he asked.
He took it from her. and their eyes
met. then: "You do not want to come
NO
Why not?'
Because. oh. we'll. because I have
lot Of things to do. I am going away
tomorrow. you Know" She added
breathlessly.
II know" There was another little
silence, then: "Why didn't Won como
to the studio yesterday morning p" 'bc
demanded.
Her eyes flow to his, the color dcc,.
ening in her face.
Because Meta = . =" she stopn.d
biting her lip. Because tbongbt
you did not want me any more y" sh,
said with an effort.
II see." He gave a short laugh.
is IL any use asking YOU to come
ana nave supper with me tonight? You
dlG once before, If you remember. We
VIII 20 to the same place."
She caught her breath with a sharp
sound. p
II can't--I I"
1T will be very kind If you WILL"
Royston said. '
Elizabeth looked from him.
,,.., III you won't tell Netta," she
II should not have told her in any
case ne answered. "You had better
u. aske taxi. and l will meet you there
Yes"
Thank you."
ne went down the stairs again. and
rom ner bedroom window Elisabeth
watched him drive away, with Meta
warmly tucked up beside him,
f. one spent the morning packing her
,tm t. oeionsinss; 1t seemed impossible !
lnut once more she was being mn.
rooted. and this time from a life wbcr.
she ,he nad 1een so happy; that tomorrow
sue would sleep in a strange house. |
among strange people.
Sne ate her dinner with moor an.
pe''te' which Mrs. Silcum deplored.
A Heavenly Time
I'm that sorry to be losing rou
could" ''' 'nat
II think I could cry, too" Euzob.tb
70 Co." ""u" sot
Sne did cry when Mrs. Silcum bsd
sighed herself out of the room. snJ
eit much better afterward. a"o
But the afternoon dragged. . hv.
lred times she thought she besr,i ,ho
'ound of the car coming nm tbo s.,oa. .ae
'ut 1t was past 8 before Royston .nJ
Ietta returned, and she went dow NV ="
ne door to meet them. ~
Have you had pood t,r,o,u -.
lsked, as she took Netta's wrans "'
Heavenly" Meta said "w.
'een miles and miles, and the countrv
vas lovely all the way out, md tbs
woods full Of bluebells." u '"'
, ~ must be like that down in Dill.
Jury now." Elizabeth said wistfnIiv
ND for the first time for weeEs ~
nought OF Walter Sheath and wonderad
What he was doing. "N'''u
aren't you going to stay to ten ,"
'etta asked Royston as he carried bsr
pstairs. 1T will be ready in a min.
tie; do stay, Pat!" 49,"
I'm AFRAID ! mustn't, thanks: I've
OF letters to write, and an appoint.
ieht TINS evening" He glanced at bis
,oE ,n!ci; H. to Its later than thought. iii
He turned to Elizabeth. "You will not
gong tiil the afternoon tomorrow, I
ri, Elizabeth flushed. MADAME said she
'"u1M VIM cal FOR me about 3 o'clock" :"
nal! see you in the morning
What appointment has he pot
'onder?' Meta asked fretfullv '"i
mink he might have stayed to tea"
Elizabeth felt terribly guilty. She
,ane tne tea, and did all she could to
'ake Meta comfortable; she listened
J. her accounts of the afternoon with
'igned interest, but all the time her
erves were jumping. and her heart
eating fast. Surprising Meta did not
ant to be left, what excuse could she
lake to get away? One moment she
as hoping that something would han.
en- to prevent her from meeting Roys.
IN. and the next 1t seemed the most
'agic possibility on earth.
Unconsctously Meta paved tho way
'r her. Her foot was worse than ever.
he complained; the jolting Of the car