Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-20
|TfLE. DANCING MASTER
BY RUBY AYRES
A,he, Of "Ths Phantom Lever" "a Bashssr Husband"
EM T 1.-THE One UnSanssd," etc. rt3aE
she saw the wave Of color that rushed
By RUBY AYRES

|
Good lord Do you think clothes
are the only things that matter In
llfeW he asked Ansrily.
''It seems asif they are IN London"
Elizabeth said; but she followed when
he led the way and was thankful to
And that the restaurant was quite
small and unpretentious and that there
were very few people present.
Royston chose Q table In the corner
and handed her the menu.
please order what you like" But
she shook her head. s
II can't; you do ~ please Her
color came and went nervously. Tive
never been In place like this In my
ife." ~
She was grateful to him because he
did not smile; grateful to him be-
cause he ordered without further ar
gument. rt
II was only when the meal was fn.
ished and the waiter had brought cohee
that Royston said:
"And now will you let me talk to
"ralk to met" He had becn talking
all the time, she thought, platitudes
about the weather and the food and a
new dance that had just arrived from
America y but now his whole manner
| seemed to change to great earnestness
and he went on without giving her
time to speak.
II had little sister very much like
you. She's dead, but whenever you
look at mo there Is something In your
| eyes that reminds me Of her, and 30 ]
hope 80 will you try and look
upon me as ia sort of big brother
for a few minutes while talk to
your"
ElIzabeth's eyes fell.
PLEASE 70 on" she said.
She sat playing with her coffee
spoon. while he talked, and against her
will her resentment and anger died
away as she listened to his quiet, kind
voice as he tried to point out to her the
folly of what she had done.
"You must never speak to
stranger like that again" he added
earnestly, and Elizabeth lifted her eyes
to say, "But IL she is your wife, surely
1t would have been all right?"
An inexplicable sort Of emotion
crossed his face and he laughed.
II don't want to discuss my wife,"
he said. II only want you to promise
me that in future you will not be so
foolish. If you really want to learn to
dance, shall be only, too pleased to give
you lessons, as ] said before, or to ar
range for you to have lessons with
some one else. If you like, will call
and see your aunt about It," His
eyes flashed rnomentary amusement.
After all, 1t would merely be ques-
tion Of business arrangement" he
added. "And she can but show me the
door. at the worst"
Elizabeth flushed painfully.
'Oh, should hate her to be rude to
you." she said.
He laughed at that. II have n pretty
tough hide. Nothing she can say will
have much effect, I ! promise you. Have
He reflled her cup. l..
what made you teach dancing?"
Elizabeth asked suddenly.
He shrugged his shoulders. Hob.
sons choice, fancy. came out Of
the army and could not get job.
was not qualified, you see. Before the
war broke out there was no need for me
to work. unfortunately. I had plenty
Then my father died, and found that
there was nothing left when his debts
were paid, so I had to look round.
What can you do?' was the question l
was always asked whenever went after
job, and had to be truthful and ad-
init that there was nothing could do
in the useful line. Then the dancing
craze came, and that was line did
know something about, SO / bought
piano and a gramophone and hired
room. and-well, there I am. It's a
rotten job, suppose. from some peo.
pies point of view, but it's living,
anyway"
Not Really an Ugly Duckling
"You dance beautifully - said Eliza.
one never to- be forgotten night.
"Do II" He looked amused. II
used to be fond Of it.. If you only knew
how loathe it now! !"
Really" She was incredulous. She
had quite lost her shyness; she
felt as if firm basis Of friendship
had been established between them dur.
ing that last hour.
Who was the girl In the gray
shoes?" she asked suddenly. 1.-THE
girl you were with at Paddington?"
He hestitated q moment, as IL he had
forgotten then he laughed.
"Oh, she was only pupil! We met
quite by chance"
II see" Elizabeth's eyes grew ret.
"She was beautifully
she added wistfully.
Royston laid down his cigarette and
looked at her steadily.
''Why do you think so much about
clothes" he asked.
She sighed and shook her head.
"Perhaps because I've never had any
nice ones. Perhaps because all my life
| shall remember that dance where I
met you and how awful felt next to
on the table, and resting her chin
In her hands, looked at him with eager
eyes.
"If ever I have any money" she
said In quick excitement, II am going
to buy clothes--and clothes-till you
can't rhink! am going to have my
hair done as all the girls you know do
theirs. l am going to show every one
that I'm not really such an ugly duck
ing" She laughed and sat back in
her chair. "But never shall have any
money" she said dispiritedly again.
"Once thought / might have some |.
when my uncle died-that was why I
went home after that dance, you know,
There was a wire for me when we got
s, back, and i ! had "a ,ts, to sH, 2 He had died
900 pounds. That's a lot
'f !9%s.y' Money; isn't itES
~ thought 1t was: had hundred
pounds, that was all. and now that's
He smiled. mot on clothes?, he
asked.
She shook her head.
"No." But she did not tell him