Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-20
THE DANCING MASTER
Bv RUBY AYRES
Author Of "Ths Phantom Lover" "A Baehslev Hasband"
1.-THE One UnsDantsd," etc.

updtalrs, 1eeIn8 a. TX She walked on
air; every nerve in her body was
her. he had kissed her. After all these
the JOY Of being held in his arms.
Her failure was forgotten; Nine.
Senestis and Farmer no longer existed
life seemed to have opened suddenly at
her feet In a blaze Of sunshine.
She undre8ed and crept into bed,
lying awake for long time, too happy
to close her eyes.
Tomorrow she would see him again
and perhaps they need never part any
more; that was her last happy thought
before she fell into a dreamless sleep.
In the morning Nine. Senestis kept
to her room and Elizabeth was left
severely alone.
happy with her own dreams, and tho
sweet memory of last night.
When Neil Farmer came, soon after
breakfast, he stared nt her in amaze
ment; he had expected to find her
crushed and tear stained. but her eyes
were bright and her checks rosy.
Where is madame?' Farmer asked,
and Elizabeth colored and shook her
head.
She isn't Up yet; she's done with
me, you know
Eyes; we'll, you need not stay here
much longer. I'm going to get a special
license. this morning and take you
She gave a little cry Of protest:
You can't mean--1 cant get
my dear. what else can you do?
You've no home, and you're not ft
to knock about as some girls do, trying
to earn your own living. Marry me,
Elisabeth, and swear you shall never
regret It,"
'Say Yes, MY Queen'
He caught her round the waist. but
she held him from her with trembling
hands. "No, no. Please let me 60 !"
Elisabeth. yours not very kind.
Don't. you think that you owe me
something? Just a little considera-
The color faded from her cheeks; she
in DESPAIR oh hns%i knows sos 's''
II was not thinking Of that" he
answered. "I.et the money go; we'll
never speak of It again If you'll be my
wife. I'm a rich man. Elizabeth. You
can have everything you want, and 60
anywhere you please" He tried to
draw her into his arms. "say yes.
She kept her face desperately
averted.
"Wait a little while-please. Just
day or two; just till tomorrow" He
laughed as he might have laughed at a
childs request.
"What difference can there be be.
ALL a,,I t,,Au
now, Elizabeth: say yes !" He bent
toward her, but she broke away from
| him.
Tomorrow" she painted. trying to
laugh. Tomorrow ! promise will
will give you an answer"
He laughed. Struggling his shoulders:
Every we'll, but / warn you that I
shall be very impatient and shall
come early"
He had hardly gone when a boy
brought a note from Pat Royston; 1t
was very short-just couple of lines.
"Will you be at the little restaurant
this evening at Z? You know where
mean"
Elizabeth knew we'll enough. and her
soul seemed to be singing for joy as
she kissed the little scrappy note, and
hid it away in her frock.
| She went up to her room, ant
packed the few belongings with which
she had first come to Madame Senestis
she left everything behind that had
lily fiiet which Farmer had given to
her last night. She had no further
use for any Of them; she wanted to
start afresh, and shake off every link
of the old life.
As she finished packing, and tidied
the room, her mind leaped ahead in q
wonderful dream Of the future; perhaps
they would so abroad somewhere. she
and Royston. Perhaps even they would
dance together again; perhaps even
some day they would be famous.
Only as she was actually leaving the
house did she give thought to Neil
Farmer and the magnitude OF the debt
she owed him, and for a moment her
face blenched, and her heart was shaken
with fear.
What would he do? What could he
do? she asked herself: but she soon
rallied. She could pay him back q
little at q time; it would take perhaps
years, Of course, but once she was with
Royston, and happy. she felt that the
word failure would never need to find a
place in her life.
She was at the little restaurant where
she had had suppcry with Royston all
those months ago. a quarter of an hour
before the time he had stated, but he
was waiting for her. and he took her
hand in a close grip before they went
to the table in the alcove at which they
had sat together before.
Elizabeth's eyes were stars OF inno-
cent JOY as she looked at Royston across
the little table.
"This is the third time we've been
here" she said shyly. do you re-
member?"
Yes" He seemed to avoid meet :
ing her eyes. His face looked drawn.
When he had given the waiter his
order Elizabeth slipped hand intG
his.
"I'm so happy" she said. "It's been
awful all these weeks-and when you
were ILL" He looked down at her
sharply. ~,
She flushed and shook her head. mo,
Nine. Senestis heard" Her lips trem
bled. ~ wrote to you ever so many
times" she confessed with sigh. "but
| was always afraid to send them"
"Were youf" he answered her with
an effort; and presently he made an
excuse to take his hand from hers.
He understood Elizabeth so we'll
knew exactly what castles In the air she
had built for herself since last night
and he blamed himself passionately.
II only he had not yielded to the
uncomfortable impulse to take her In his
arms; IL only he had not kissed her
the task which he had set himself would
have been so much easier.