Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-26
THE DANCING MASTER
BY RUBY AYRES
.so, Of "Ths Phantom Lover" "A Baehsior Husband"
4 A""'' " "Ths One Unsvantsd." etc. tYt.rs
By RUBY AYRES

Elizabeth flushed. r
II did not want to wear your frock,' v
she said defensively. 1T was Mr.
Royston's suggestion"
It had been Royston's suggestion
He had asked what Elizabeth pro
posed to wear, and when she hesitated
pointedly asked, Meta about the new
Miss Conyers and you are much
about the same build" he said, "and II
will be some time before you can gel
about again, ! am afraid. Meta, SC
why not let Miss Conyers wear IT."
Meta few into a rage at first. No.
body cared that she was in pain and
miserable, 80 she stormed. why should
Elizabeth have her, new frock?
II don't want 1t. I will wear my
own" Elisabeth had declared, and
walked out Of the room.
She took her own not very smart
frock from the wardrobe, shook 1t out
and tried to make the best Of It.
People would not look at her frock,
but at her dancing, was the hope with
which she tried to console herself ;
but she knew 1t was not all the truth ;
she had many times heard Meta say
that frocks were half the battle at q
SHOW" and her heart sank a little.
1t was not until after lunch, when
Royston had gone, that Meta said
"You can wear my frock; prom
ised Pat you should"
Elizabeth's cheeks famed.
Thank you, but would rather
not she said quietly.
There yoa are! Always 80 proud
suppose you think it's not good
enough. Pat will be furious. :" She
began to cry in earnest.
:. so Elizabeth gave way. and, ting
ling with excitement, she had tried the
new frock on and presented herself for
Netta's approval.
"'It might have been made for you,'
was the elder girls grudging comment.
ITS lovely J" Elizabeth said with q
long drawn-in breath.
She mounted on chair to catch q
glimpse OF herself in Mrs. Silcum's
gilt-framed mirror which hung above
the sideboard, and her heart beat fast
at the sight of her dainty reflection.
Although she knew that she was TIC
longer the dowdy. countrified girl she
had been when she came to London from
Dilbury, yet she had never believed Il
possible for her to be quite so trans.
formed.
The frock was made of the pales,
sky blue, with skirt much frillet
on the hips with foamy tulle. and thu
skinny bodice held by shoulder straps
of tiniest rosebuds.
"'Oh, never thought I should hav,
such a frock!" she said with a littl
gasp. mo wonder people can be happ!
If they can wear such things.'
Meta looked contemptuous.
"a, If frocks matter" she sale
wearjiy. II wouldn't care what
wore If L" She broke off. "Yo,
talk like baby" she said sharply.
Elizabeth c!ambered down from tn
chair and carefully discarded the frock
TITS dear of you to let me have it.
she said gratefully.
was the answer. "He's been such
sport to me, I'd walk barefoot from on
end Of the world to the other, II h
asked me to-" Then she. laughed
ashamed Of her vehemencc.
That had all been before tea, 8
Elizabeth was rather hurt and sur
prised when late in the Afternoon
Meta suddenly turned disagreeabl
again. ,..
II told you I didn't want the frock. :
Elizabeth protested, flushing. "I'l
wear my own" -.
"And Pat would be furious!" Nett,
snapped. mo, of course, you mus
wear 1t. I promised. And you'll hav,
to get dressed soon; he'll be here at
Elizabeth glanced at the clock. Il
was quarter to @.
Meta Is Disagreeable
Only another hour, and then =
her excitement faded as she looked al
Netta's drawn face.
II wish you could 60 instead of me, -
she said impulsively.
She went over to where the elder
girl lay on the couch and bent to kiss
her, but. to her surprise, Meta jerked
her head away.
''You are little liar,' she said sav
agely. y.
Elizabeth drew back.
"Why, what do you mean?" she
stammered.
Meta grew remorseful at once. She
caught Elizabeth's hand.
Nothing. I'm a beast Kiss me
and don't look SO hurt. I hope you II
have good time and get through all
right. There. run off and Dress"
Elizabeth kissed her half -heartedly.
A little chill had fallen upon her when
she went to her room. She stood for
some seconds, making no attempt to
dress, troubled look in her eyes.
What had Meta meant?
But she dismissed the thought. The
wonderful night lay before her, and
she meant to give herself up entirely to
its enjoyment.
She knew she would not fail. She
had never been more sure of herself,
Her eyes shone like stars when pres.
emily she looked in the glass.
Her hair seemed as If 1t must have
been dressed by magic fingers. Every
soft wave lay in picturesque simplicity,
and the narrow band Of silver with
which she had bound 1t seemed to in
tensify its fairness.
She wondered what her aunt and
Dolly would say If they could sec her
now. And Walter Sneath--poor Wal
ter, whose last letter she had forgotten
to answer.
She turned away from the glass,
glowing with happiness. This new,
present excitement had wiped all
thoughts of Nine. Sencstis from. her
mind. The fact that she was to dance
with Pat RoystOn seemed of far
greater Importance than the fact that
some day, she might be premiere
danseuse. ..
As she opened her bedroom door she
heard his voice in the sitting room op-
Eosite, and she stood still with food
of uncomfortable shyness.
What would he think of her? Would
he think she looked as sweet and
ial - &l,o mi irrai hal do1laaal2 Il