Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-30
|FfiE DANCING MASTER
By RUBY AYRES
x,,bor Of 1.-THE Phantom Lover" "A Bachelor Huband"
"The One Unwantsd," etc.
By RUBY AYRES

opened Il; his face was ugly in It's
"Picase Co." he said; and without
another word Mrs. Mason swept from
the room. -.
Royston shut the door and looked
across at Elizabeth.
She was sobbing broker. .heartedly,
her face hidden on her arms. :.
elizabeth" he said hoarsely, don't
cry. (. : = 1T breaks my heart
ss shs seemed .ss t1%s. mot tG ss, sss % :pa Ss .Ss
and then she raised her head and for
moment looked at him with tear.
drenched eyes. .
"Oh. go away-please 90 away" !"'
che whispered. and Royston obeyed
without another word.
As soon AZ the door closed Eliza.
beth rose to her feet and began walking
up and down, striving hard for COM
posure.
she kept Saying to herself. "Stop cry.
ing! Stop crying this minute"
She was ashamed Of her tears,
ashamed that she should have broken
down In front OF Royston. -.
Men hate scenes" 70 Meta had
onco said with her cheap cynicism; IN
you want to lose them, pump. IN the
tears often enough. and they will fright.
en- them away
words, and when presently one OF the
coffee she plucked up sufficient cour.
age to ask If she could lend her some
powder. She had not used such thing
half a dozen times in her life, but she
remembered how freely Meta always
used It after tears.
"I'll get some from the cloak room,
misp," the girl said. She looked SYM
pathetically at Elizabeth's wet face.
When she came back she sold kindly.
Your dance was beautiful, miss; better
than Miss stacey's. I watched you
from the balcony"
Elizabeth flushed with pleasure.
"D,d you? am glad you liked IT,"
she said. She powdered the tcarstains
vigorously away. do I look as II
I've been crying?" she asked anxiously.
mot that you would notice. miss "
the maid answered not quite truthfully.
Elizabeth drank her coffee and felt
better; she even managed to greet Roy.
ston with smile when he returned.
He looked tired, and he seemed to
avoid meeting Elizabeth's eyes as he
spoke.
"They want us to dance again. I
have told them you are tired. 80 II you
would rather not it will not matter at
all. Please do exactly as you like"
II will Lance. Of course" Elizabeth
rose hurriedly; she would have gone
on dancing until she dropped in the hope
of counteracting any bad impression she
might have made.
She crossed the room and peered ot
herself anxiously in the glass. DO ]
look as IL l have been crying?' she
asked Royston tilnidly.
"No, not in the least" he said, but
he did not even glance at her.
Elizabeth remembered. that dance to
the end of her life. The dreamy In.
toxication Of the music. the warmth and
light, and, most Of all. the wonderful
magic Of ~pyston's guiding arm apil
heir peril ,artnership.
When !, .Jns ended she almost ran
from the rsom to escape the attentions
that would have been bestowed upon
her. She left Royston to receive the
congratulations. Shc wrapped her
cloak around her and sat waiting for
hia, in the empty little room on the
other side Of the hall.
1t was all over-this wonderful
evening. Soon her new life would be-
gin.
II don't think I'll ever be happy
She tried not to think of it. but 1t
beat all about her like wings in dark.
ness.
1t seemed n long time before Roy. l..
ston returned. He was carrying bis
overcoat and hat.
"1've got a taxi" he said. "Will
you Gomez"
She followed him silently. and as they
crossed the hall Neil Farmer came
eagerly toward her.
"Are you too tired to say good might
to me?" he asked. II cannot tell you
how much I have enjoyed your dane.
ing. ! am hoping to see you tomorrow
with Nine. Senestis at lunch"
Elizabeth answered at random. She
did not care II she never saw him
again. In the middle OF a hatterine
speech she turned and almost ran from
him.
She gave a deep sigh Of relief % she
and Royston drove away.
"Glad It's over?" he asked casually.
mo"
He leaned forward and let down the
window, then apologized and pulled It
up again jerkily.
There's cold wind, too cold for
you."
Elizabeth made no answer.
Presently: "Am to 60 to lunch with
Mr.. Farmer tomorrow?' she asked.
II believe he has arranged something
of the sort with Nine. Sencstis," Roy
ston answered.
And you--are you coming, too?"
He shook his head. II am afraid
not; have busy day before mo. By
the way'-he looked at her with n
strained little smilc--'I have had lots
Of fattering invitations for you to the
houses of the great" His voice was
sarcastic.
ITO dance with your" Elizabeth
asked brcathlessly.
81 suppose SO; had to refuse them,
Of course"
Silence fell again.
To Eliza beth's overstrung imagina.
tion the cab seemed to be racing them
homeward; there was so much she
wanted to say and yet no words would
come. At last. when she knew they
must be quite close to Netta's rooms,
she sat up stih1y and looked at the man
beside her.
II want to tell you how-how sorry
am for-for my aunt's rudeness to
you this evening, Mr.. Royston."
THAT; oh, 1t was nothing! I took
It for what 1t was worth. 1t only wor.
ricd me for your sake"
II want to tell you," Elizabeth wen
on as II she had not heard him, "that
whatever she or any one ever says about