Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-07
ME DANCING MASTER
By RUBY AYRES
.r "The Phantom Lovs,," "A Baehslss HusbsnS.s
Ad"" 1.-THE One Unsuantsd," etc.

1--WE cannot get out this way" she
began, then broke of with a stifed
scream as he caught her in his arms
and began showering kisses on her white
"You little Puritan! You know I've
been longing to kiss you all the evening.
e You bel belong to me, Elizabeth. the sweet.
She tore herself from his arms; fear
Of him gave her strength.
Let me so--how dare you-oh, how
| She ran to the door, but he reached Il
before her. He caught both her hands in
his; looking down into her white face
with passionate eyes.
You're clever" he said eathlessly.
| You know how to make sure Of man,
don't your To look at you one would
before" He Laughed, and at the sound
Of It Elizabeth shuddcred. "But the
country rose Is not quite 80 fresh as l
thought" he went on; that fellow
Royston has had a few kisses, I'll
wager. He-you little spitfre I" for,
half mad with rage, Elizabeth had struck
him across the eyes.
He relaxed his grasp Of her,
amazed, and she wrenched open the
door and, turning, fed away across the
hall.
She did not care who saw her. did not
care what people thought. She was
afraid as she had never been afraid in
her life before. There was curtained
the curtain back and almost fell into
the room, painting and sobbing.
A man standing by the table turned
hurriedly,. with amazed, eyes; then he
dropped the letter he was reading and
took quick step forward.
elizabeth - ne said hoarsely, and
then again "Elizabeth!''
It was Pat Royston.
Elizabeth gave a little choking sob,
and fell back against the door which
she had slammed behind her.
For a moment she looked at him In
helpless silence, the tears running down
her cheeks; then she turned and would
have fed away again but that he was
too quick for her.
He reached the door before she could
open It and barred 1t with his arm.
"What IL It? What has happened?
What are you doing here?'
He asked his questions incoherently,
dread.
She did not answer; she stood trem.
bling from. head to foot, more afraid
Of her love for this man than she had
been Of Farmers passionate kisses.
Then suddenly, with feeling that she
could bear no more, she tried with i'm.
potent hands to drag him away from
the door.
LET me go! Let me go!'
He caught her hands in his, holding
them fast.
Elizabeth, tell me what is the mat.
ter. You are not afraid Of me?"
There was note Of indescribable
tenderness in his voice which she had
never heard before-something that
penetrated her deep distress and soothed
her unhappiness like a gentle hand.
She looked up with wild hope in
her eyes, and then, although neither
was conscious Of making any move-
ment, she was clasped in his arms, her
face hidden against him.
"Oh, I Have Wanted You Sol"
"Oh, l have wanted you so; have
wanted you SOL"
The words were wrung from her.
She clutched at his coat with desperate
fingers; she would have fallen but for
his uphcldinE arms, and there followed
silence that seemed to hold all the
SOrrOW OF tine world.
Above Elizabeth's bowed head Roy.
ston looked out into the room with
tragic eyes. He was white to the lips
anu his mouth was set In hard lines Of
pain.
The small hands that clutched at his
coat SO frantically seemed also to be
tearing at his heart; and vet his one
thought was for her, how best he could
helm her and save her main
She was so young, so untitled to bat.
tie with a world that hitherto had
shown her little but kindness.
,,, How best to help and not hurt her
The knowledge of his impotence tor.
turcd him; and then suddenly he felt
her slight figure relax, and, looking
sharply down, saw that she had tainted.
He put her into big chair, and
fetched water and bathed her forehead;
he chafed her hands gently, watching
her with passionate pity until at last
her eyes opened and rested upon him.
at first with blank unrecognition, and
then with such a growing, intolerable
shame that 1t was mere than he could
bear.
He laid his hands on her shoulders.
holding her gently against the back of
the chair so that she could not turn
the bitterness Of his soul found vent In
broken words.
,o.. If only might say, I love you, I
lie saw the color Green SLOWLY back
to the whiteness of her face; saw the
shamed, bewildered look in her ewes
give place to such ineffable Joy that The
gulf between them no longer seemed
a tangible thing, but only foolish
and the silence came throb.
ping back. beating them about with
uhSpoken. hopeless desire.
linen N0ystOn turned sharply awav
ne paced the length of the room twice
before he could command his voice smfi.
GENTLY to speak.
II had no idea you were here n.
night he said hoarsely.
Elizabeth made no attempt 10 an.
swer. '' " a."
-. "Did you know I was herew he
No" She gave a little broken
augh. Il don't think I should have |
;ome IT had kuown."
She was sitting forward now. tear.
ng nerVously, at her gloves, her eyes
ooking anywhere, everywhere but at
rs Mime. Senestis here?"
Elizabeth nodded; she was afraid to
ell him the truth, that she had come
llone with Farmer, and that she did
lot believe madame had even promised
o meet them.
hoyston stopped his agitated pacing
or moment to ask harsh question.
What had happened when you came
n here? Who had frightened you?
some one had frightened you"