Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-17


lonely morning
At lunch time. when they both came
downstairs. they barely spoke TO hcr.
and they were both dressed ready TO
60 out.
what am l to do all the after.
noon?" Elizabeth asked. when she saw
that It was hopeless to expect TO be con.
sidcrcd by either of them.
Mrs. Mason looked at her sharply.
MY dear girl. are you bnby that
you expect to be amused during every
moment Of the day? Go for walk
or find book; there are plenty in the
house."
''1f you're any good at nccdlework
you might mend the frock I wore last
night" Dolly said. as she pushed back
her chair and rose. "Its on my bed
I tore It on n nail in the car" She
walked out Of the room without wait.
ing for a reply.
Elizabeth looked at her aunt.
81 wanted to buy some clothes" she
said, with n feeling Of desperation.
my clothes are awful! know you
think they are. so II you could just
spare time to come TO shop with me-"
"Nonsense!' said Mrs. Mason
sharply. Your clothes are quite good
-
a situation--as. of course. you will have
to---you'll only want the plaincst frocks
and things"
Elizabeth did not answer, but when
her aunt had gone she clenched her
hands.
"I will not stay here: I will not"
she told herself passionatcly. But
she did not know how to escape.
In spite of the bold determination
with which she had come to London,
she was more than half afraid TO ven.
ture out by herself. but, as the after
noon wore on. the silence Of the house
grew more unbcarable. and Mt last.
In desperation, she put on her hat
and coat.
The sun was shining and her spirits
rose as she walked along. She tried
to comfort herself with the reassur.
ance that there was no need to stay
In her aunts house. She was not en-
tircly dependent on her as long as
that hundred pounds was still intact.
But. somehow here in London, It
| seemed considerably smaller sum
than II had done down in the country.
She looked in the shop windows and
was appalled, at the price Of clothes.
How was II that Dolly could manage
to dress So beautifully II. MS she had
| said last night. she was on the rocks?
| Whatever you do never get into
debt" Both MIR. Junkers and Walter
Sheath had impressed that upon her
when she badc them good-by, and
Walter had added, with little hoarse-
ness In his voice, "If ever you want
me III come. Elizabeth-you know
that"
Poor Walter! 1t made her sad to
think Of him and yet she did not in the
least regret what she had done. AL
ready he and his love seemed to belong
to the past. Presently the sunshine
abeth had no umbrella and her coat was
thin: she looked around for shelter. A
house close by had big porch which
extended little way over the pavement
and she ran toward 1t to get out of the
rain which was teeming down now in u
regular April shower.
| Elizabeth A.Dancing Goes
1t was a big house, with a number
Of brass plates on the door; various of
fees. Elizabeth supposed, as she looked
was caught by a smaller plate a little
below tho rest {: THE Primus School Of
Dancing. First Floor"
The color rushed to her face. and her
heart began to beat fast. This was
what she wanted, If only she dared 60
in and make inquiries. Surely it was
Fate that had brought her so soon to the
right spot.
She looked round: the rain was still
falling heavily. and there was nobody in
sight. The big door of the house stood
invitingly open. and wide flight of
stone steps led to the floors above.
Elizabeth felt very much as she might
have done had the Primus Schoo! OF
Dancing been a dentists where opera.
tions were carried on without ancs-
| thctics. For some minutes she stood
irresolutc. afraid and trembling: then.
with sudden desperate spurt of cour.
age she turned and ran up the wide
stone staircase.
Her courage had deserted her before
she reached the first floor, and 1t is
improbable that she would have gone
on had not one Of the doors above
opened and a girl come out onto the
landing. She was dark haired smart
looking girl, with rather short skirt
and dainty shoes. and she stood still
when she saw Elizabeth, the faintest
smile crossing her face.
But for once Elizabeth was oblivious
of the meaning of that smile: she
had forgotten her old fashioned clothes
and oo-long skirts; she only knew that
she was at last on the threshold of her
ambition.
But she felt tongue. tied and stupid,
and it was only when the girl asked:
Cant do anything for you?" that
she blurted out:
II want to learn to dance"
The girls eyes wandered over hey
with the faintest amusement; then:
"Will you come in?' she said, and
Elizabeth followed her into a little
room. which led again into larger
one, the door of which was half closed.
But through - elizabeth caught a
glimpse of polished parquct floor and
n piano, before the door was shut and
she found herself alone.
Her first thought was OF flight. but
she fought the inclination with all her
might. and sat down tremblingly on
the edge Of couch against the wall.
Fortunately there were no mirrors in
the room, or the last of her courage
would certainly have fed. and it was
only few seconds before the dark
haired girl returned.
PLEASE sit down." she said, as Eliz-
abeth rose nervously. ~ won't keep
you waiting long; Mr.. Royston will be
disengaged In few minutes"
"Mr. Royston!" said Elizabeth
family. The blood rushed to her face in
crimson patches, and a look OF distress
began. then stopped with the dreadful
feeling that she had been caught in a
trap.
The dark haired girl seemed not to
notice. She was intent on book she
| held and after n moment she went