Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-04-06


How are those sweet smelling heif-
ers--still grazing on the mountains?'
Bessie, who had watched the young
men coming downstairs, and felt them
at her back, turned with look Of sur
prise, then laughed merrily and intro.
duced Susie. For a few nervous mo-
ments there were the light nothings
which at such times are the only wis
dom. Then the violins began to -four
ish for another dance, and the tYo
couples paired off-Victor with Bessie
and Susie with Cell.
Victor took Bessie's hand with a
certain delicacy to which she was quite
unaccustomed and which fattered her
greatly. The dance was waltz. and
she had never waltzed before, so they
had to go carefully at first, but when
the dance was coming to an end she
was swinging to the rhythm Of the or
chestra as II she had waltzed hum
dred times.
In the interval the two couples came
together again, and there was much
general chatter and laughter. Cell
joined freely in both, and ii at first he
had had any backward thoughts Of the
promise he had given to his father they
were gone by this time.
Another dance began and, without
changing partners. they set of afresh,
Stowell taking Bessie's hand with a
firmer grasp and Bessie holding to his
shoulder with a stronger sense of pos
session. His nerves were tingling.
ems smi'i ing faces. and with Bessie S
smiling face by his side. he had the
sense of sweeping his partner along with
an energy of physical power he had
never felt before.
When the orchestra stopped the Sec
Ond time and they went in search of
their companions, they discovered Susie
on a seat. painting and perspiring, and
Cell tanning her with the brim Of his
straw hat.
Victoy's excitement was becoming
feverish. He wanted Bessie to himself.
and during the third dance he felt him
self dragging her to the opposite side
Of the hall. She knew what he was
doing, and found it enchanting to be
carried off by sheer force.
When the dance came to an end Vic
tor put Bessie's moist hand through
his arm and walked up and down with
her. Her throat was throbbing and her
breast rising and falling under her low =
cut blouse.
They spoke little. but sometimes he
turned his head to look at her. and then
she turned her eyes to his. He thought
her black eyes were looking blacker
than ever.
T. The evening was now at its zenith,
and the orchestra was tuning up for
the "shadow dance" The white lights
on the walls went out. and over the arc
lamps in the glass roof a number of
colored disks were passed, to throw
shadows over the dancers, as Of the sun =
rise, the sunset, the moon and the night
with its stars. The dance itself was of
nOndcscript kind in which at inter-
vals, the man, with whoop, lifted his
partner off her feet and swing her round
him in his arms-a sort Of symbol OF
marriage by capture.
When the shadow dance ended there
was much hand -clapping' among the
dancers. 1t had to be repeated' this
| time with more rapid movement and
to the accompaniment of song, which,
being sung by the men in chorus, made
the hall throb like the inside of drum.
Many of the dancers fell out exhausted,
but Victor and Bessie kept up to the
! last.
Then the big side doors were thrown
open, and amid II babel of noise, cries
and laughter, nearly all the dancers
trooped out of the hall into the garden
to cool. Victor gave his arm to Bessie
and they went out also.
Lights cleaned here and there In the
darkness of the trees, throwing shadows
full of mystery and charm. After q
while the orchestra within was heard
beginning again, and most of the dane
ers hastened back to the hall, but Victor
said:
Let us stay out little longer"
Bessie agreed and for some minutes
more they wandered through the gar
den, in and out of the electric light
with the low murmur of the sea coming
to them from the shore and the muf-
fed music from the hall.
She was breathing deeply. and he was
feeling little dizzy. They found them
selves talking in whispers, both in the
Anglo ManX, and then laughing nerv
ously.
did you raelly, raelly see the young
colts racing on the tops, thought"
Deed no, not !. woman. But
behave in my heart know who did"
"Who?'
"Why you !"
At that word, and the touch of hi.
, hand about her waist. she made merry
ous laugh. and turned to him. her eyes
closed. her lips parted and her whit,
teeth showing, and they drew together
In u long kiss.
At the next moment q clock struck
cOl1ly through the otill air from thf