Omaha daily bee., 1922-05-24
The -
Dancing Master
iCsn,isasS Ss.a Sss,ssssp
BY RUBY AYRES.
lGagyTlshL Is..l

XIV IVY ANtt s0N gSNI 1AA6 W.
know u" he answered, "but ! can't
take you away. Elizabeth. know
how these things end, LIS always
seEdid You'd despiss me more than
! should desplse myself, It's not As
u ] were sure-thai ! could get my
iFssdom' and even then"
She drew away from him; she was
shaking from head TO foot. and there
was q hectic spot Of color in either
OF her pale cheeks.
Very we'll. then, ] mus, marry
Neil Farmer" she said, with the
auis,nea OF despair. though why
that will be better Tor me than
than staying with you. don, under
stand"
There Is no need for you 10 marry
him." Roysten answered her hafshly.
There are many things YOU can do.
! can help you'll will help you by
every means in my power; you know
that
A sllmmer OF hope III her eyes, only
10 die away again Immediately.
You won't let me be near you,
will youi" she asked poin,edly. "You
won't take me back TO dance with
you"
mo. can't: It's impossible. Ny
Godl Don't you know its impossi-
ble'"
Her lips quiyered.
why is ], impossible" she whis-
pered.
lie made a,despefate gesture.
Because I'm not made OF stone,
that's why. Blu, | can help you. all
tie same-,here is Meta"
Elizabeth flushed crimson.
"Neual" she said bitterly. and the
old burning jealousy sursed back to
her heart. "fou will go on dancing
with herr"
"Yes. must. Elizabeth. are you
trying 10 drive me madi II you love
me at all, try and understand that it's
for your own sake, for your own
good, that am sending you away.
II | only considered myself"
II don't want to be sent away. and
il can't be for my good il ! shall
never be happy again. she inter
rupted passionately.
Royston did not answer; he
looked white and drawn. 1t was
useless to try TO convince her, he
knew. She clung to the fact that
she loved him and that nothing else
mattered; it was only he who was
so worldly wise. who knew how
much everything else mattered, and
always would.
She began dragging on one OF her
gloves.
81 may as we'll 90 now, then" she
said quiveringly.
He dared not look at her.
Some day you II see that ! was
right" was all he could say.
"No." she said obstinately. She
could not realize that this was really
the end. could not believe that the
wonderful future which only last
night seemed to have opened for her
had vanished so soon. She felt cold
from head to foot as she thought oi
tomorrow and the answer she would
have to give to Neil Farmer.
Unless she married him she could
never repay a hundredth part of the
money she owed.
1t seemed as il Royston read her
thoughts, for he said again, NO
body can make you marry a man
Won care nothing for"
Elizabeth wondered what he
would say if she told him of the
money she had borrowed; she gave
shiver, and looked away to the
now empty room beyond the little
alcove.
II suppose I shan't ever see yor
again." she said duly. "And I sup.
pose some day you'll forget al
about me, or else--laugh because
let you see how much ! cared"
"Elizabeth-"
She went on unheeding: II sup.
pose have been stupid. I suppose
il ! had any pride, or whatever it is
but-but-what's the use of loving
anyone if you've always got to pre-,
tend you don't? Oh" she brok.
out with an intolerable wave of an
guish. Il wish I'd never seen you
| wish I'd never seen you" 90 .
The waiter came up with the bill
and Elizabeth bent clunsily te
fssten her gloves, to hide her quiv
ering face.
| Royston paid the man and sen
him away, then turned to Elizabeth
You say you wish we had neve
met. Well. for your sake | wish i,
too. but for my own, it's been tn
only real happiness l have ever ha,
knowing you. You say shall for
get you. I never shall, as long as
live, and shall love you to the en-
Of my life-and after. Look at me
Elizabeth; say you believe me-"