Omaha daily bee., 1922-05-15
The -
Dancing Master
By RUBY AyREe.
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hut Royston recovered more
quickly than even Meta had eS-
peeisd.
She kept her promise 10 Elizabeth
and wrote every day and OCCASION
all the girls me, Tor a few mo-
ments.
He looks awiully bad" Meta
said. but he insists that he Is nearly
well and today he managed 10 per-
suade the doctor 10 let him SIT up
Tor few moments, though ] know
he ought not 10 have done II. lie
keeps on saying that he must get
back 10 work"
''Has-has his wife been 10 see
sim~ Elizabeth asked. Meta tossed
her head.
"She came once. but they
wouldn't let her in and she made All
awful row abou, IL; tina, was when
lie was at his worst. suppose she
hoped he would die: he would have
il she'd been allowed in"
The girls were having tea together
in Neitas room aud both oi them
looked strained and unhappy. II was
for,nigh, since Roysion's operation
aud il seemed months TO Elizabeth.
at least; she fel, herself 10 be years
Older.
She looked up a, Meta suddenly
with imploring eyes.
DO yon-don't you think ! might
90 and see him-once?"
Her cheeks famed as she s,am-
mcrcd the request, her eyes felt as ii
they were on fire.
Meta gave a sharp exclamation.
Go and see him! Elizabeth. YOU
mustn't You promised. He would
know in . minute that I'd seen YOU:
only yesterday he asked il ! had seen
you and ! had to say no. | believe
he's been turning that affair OF Bru-
toms money over in his mind and
has 4 faint suspicion already about
il; you can't-oh, Elizabeth, you
pronised!"
very we'll" The color died from
the girls face. her head dropped.
''It'e only for his sake I'm asking"
Meta said harshly. "He needs the
money, you know he does. 1t will be
weeks before he can work again and
we've had to close the studio and re-
fuse heaps Of offers for engagements. |
/ tried to keep going by myself. but
il was no use-it's not ME they want,
but himl"
"Yes, yes. I know
That was the last time Elizabeth |
asked to see Royston; the last time
she went to tea with Meta, and grad
ually the two girls drifted apart again
and the interchange of notes stopped.
Pat is going to the sea for a
week." was the last message Eliza
beth had from Meta. "He didn't
want to, but the doctor says he must.
30 he is going on Monday" She did
not say that she was going with him.
and Elizabeth dared not ask; she was
afraid OF herself in those days, afraid
OF her own bitter jealousy.
When she knew finally that Roy
ston was no longer in London she
threw herself heart and soul into her
work again.
It wanted but 10 days to the char
ity bali at the duchess, and Nine.
Senestis was almost beside herself
with excitement. She would not al
low Elizabeth to speak the word
failure.
"Faili Never. never. neyer!" she
shrilled at her. "You cannotl l will
not haf it / haf never a failure, no.
no, mol" But Elizabeth's nerves
were sadly wrecked az the day drew
near.
She could not sleep for thinking Of
what lay ahaead of her; over and
over again she went through the
steps Of the dances madame had
chosen for her for that night; even
in her fitful hours OF sleep she was
practicing them hard-always.
Farmer was kindness itself. cheer
ing and encouraging her in every
way, but on the last night Elizabeth
spoke to him of her fear.
"Oh, If should fail tomorrow"
she said shakily, when Farmer was
bidding her good night.
"There is no such word in your
vocabulary or mine," he told her. He
kissed her hand gently. Good
night, my queen; tomorrow shall
be the proudest man in London"
He made Elizabeth smile before he
left her, and made her promise not
to worry.
Madame has never had failure"
he said. "She is far too clever a
woman to have one now."
Il hope soy said Elizabeth. "Oh,
! hope sol"
She was sorry to see him go.
While he was with her she felt more
confident. How could she fail when
he was 50 sure that she would be
success?
Nine. Senestis smiled archly when
Elizabeth went to her in the gay little
boudoir. She caught the girls left