Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-04
The Final Test
oh, THAT dance! I shall never
Oforget it

NH, THAT dance! shall never
Oforget it
1t wasn't that looked better than
7 ever had before in my life. l don
even believe that my dress was as
beautiful as the one | had selected for
that memorable occasion shortly after
our marriage. when Norman had been
able to see no one but Alice. But there
must have been something else about
me, something that up to now hai
lacked. A..
Nothing seemed to take away the
cffervcscence that kept bubbling up Iii
me. Not even when Edith contided TO
me that Herbert was to be at the dane"
lid feel any chagrin. ! somehow felt
TINT no matter what happened. ! should
bo equal to it and / wasn't disappoint- :
ed. :,
Alice had never been more radiant.
IL. wickedly beautiful. Laura Benc-
dict had never sparkled more delicious
". and Edith with new sweetness
about her, subdued happiness that
made her seem moro than ever like Il
flower, was perhaps the lovcliest of all,
but il didn't seem to matter.
When Norman danced with Alice. |
danced with the man who had trailcl
her from the West. And this time my
ewes did not follow Norman around the
room to see how he was responding to
Alicos charms. Instead ] looked up
into my partners eyes, | apparently
had ears for nothing but what he had
to say, and once when Norman ahC
Alice passed near us and l happened
to glance in their direction, my heart
lcaped at the expression on Norman :
face. He was looking ut me. and there
was an expression of doubt in his eyes
ms though he were not quite sure of me-.
I rcdcubed my efforts in my partners
behalf and deliberately avoided looking
at Norman again.
The result was that in few minutes
Norman cut in on us. He caught me
even while | thrilled to the poSsessive-
ness of his clasp, ! feigncd Indifference
and refused to meet his eyes.
1t was the same when Herbert and
] sat out dance on the veranda. We
had been talking about Edith, and
could see that although Herbert had
not made up his mind in any way his
opinion Of her had changed. Herbert !,
brief flare of recklessness had died
| away, and he was once more the slow
thinking, conventional man that he had
been when ] had first known him. lie
carefully avoided any reference to the
past, and our conversation cOuldn t
have been more commonplace, but wht
Norman cane out to claim me for d
dance, his whole attitude bespoke jeal-
| OuSy. and again ! thrilled.
But for me the crOwning Joy OF tho
| linn ,hnN h.
after the dance and sat watching me
with narrowed eyes as | brushed my
hair.
Come here" he said finally, and
his voice was not quite steady.
| ! pushed back my hair and peered
at him around it. Every sense In InS
was clamOring with the urge TO do as
he said, but instead ! smiled and s,Id
pr0vokingly, "I'm busy"
Instantly he had leaped to his fee,
and was across the room in two strides
lie lifted me up in his arms as il
had been baby, and with my hair
Plumbing over his shoulder carried me
over to the chair and sat down with
me crushed against his breast.
JOAN he said huskily, "Joon,
you witch woman. Do you know Won
have driven me quite mad tonight p,
| His tone sent delicious tbrlll
through me, but / forced n mockinc
ho!e INTO my voice as I replied.
| Why Norman, you're behaying
scandously unlike husband"
Instantly. his arms frightened. "Rut
am your husband" there was ring