The Washington times., 1922-07-16
(continued from Page I2)


Henry's open vehicle, built like q
rickshaw, to Deerut.
All the way her heart thrilled,
and she could listen to nothing
that he was saying.
The dance was in the officers
mess, the big room having been
cleared, and waxed to perfection.
Everybody was there whom she
had met in the last six weeks; all
the women with whom she was
now growing intimate, and others
from distant stations; and there
were many civilians among the
uniformed men. The band, of
course, was perfect, as a military
band is. Her programme filled and
overfowed to extras in the first
Eve minutes. It was passed down
a queue of men waiting for it.
Different this to art students
dances at Westminster and Ken
sington, when one was pale and
tired, and wore rag of
frock..
Conspicuous among the guests
was his Highness the Rajah, a ma
jestic potentate, in. whose turban
a great jewel blazed like a flame.
1t was of, such extraordinary size
and scintillation that people were
all talking about it. He was intro
duced-by his own request-to
Meg Morton, and she found her.
self obliged to refuse prince any
thing but lancers, which was far
distant down a string of "extras."
The dusky prince looked at her in
the gold frock, at her vivid face,
great eyes, sparkling teeth, and
crown of hair, and turned one of
the prettiest compliments she had
ever received before he bowed and
moved away to make place for her
first partner.
That was Warder, of course.
"Begin while there's room," he
urged softly, and his arm was
round her, and they swung out
into a clear room.
All soldiers can waltz, but War
der was pure perfection. After
ward they sat out in little alcove,
and afterwards . she looked for
ward to Warder's next waltz.
Time flew.
1t was toward the close of the
evening when Warder did not
hurry up as usual to claim his
dance, but kept her waiting. She
had been dancing with one of her
hosts, and sat afterward with him
in the little alcove in which she
had rested after the first dance.
When the music began:
who's your partner?" he
asked.
"Mr. Warder."
"He'll be here soon, then," said
her partner, laughing a little.
"Would you like to wait here,
Or" He rose. 'T'm afraid I'm
engaged for this one, and I see
my lady in the distance"
"Pn wait here, thanks" she
said, quite contented.
"And I'll tell Warder where you
are. Thanks so much"
He bowed and left her. She
waited till the ballroom floor was
full of dancers, and still Warder
did not come. She began to chafe
a little, and wonder, her feet tin
Cling to waltz. Presently, just as
the waiting was beginning to chill
her with a horrible sinking disap-
pointment, he came, hurriedly
threading his way through the re-
volving figures.
Morris told me to come and
look for you here" he began. His
voice was so altered that she
stared up in the dimness of the
alcove, trying to see his face. sT
-I-you'll forgive me-fact is, l
was just slipping off quietly when
he stopped me, and said that you
were-were waiting, and"
Slipping off quietly! After a
moment:
"Sit down." she said, flushing
and quivering, "and go on"
"No, no, won't! Well, just a
moment" He dropped into the
seat beside her. "And then, if
you'll forgive me, I'll bolt. Fact
is, I-I-I'm feeling very off
color suddenly, and absolutely
can't stop-absolutely not"