The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-01-16

her face uplifted and smiling, but Wal
ter detained her at the door to which
she FASTENED.
you want me to dance the first dance
with you"
IF you please, Walter" she said
meelly.
How long you goin' to hang
around f1xin' up in that dressin'-
room?"
I'll be out before you're ready your
self" she promised him; and kept her
word, she was so eager for her good
time to begin. When he came for her,
they went down the hall to a corridor
opening upon three great rooms that
had been thrown open together, with
the furniture removed and the broad
floors waxed. At one end of the cor
ridOr musicians sat in a green grove.
and Walter, with some interest, turned
toward these; but his sister, pressing
his arm. impel1ed him in the opposite
direction.
Whats the matter now7" he asked.
That's Jazz Louie and his haIf-breed
bunch-three white and four mulatto.
Let'S-7"
No, no." she whispered. I'VE must
speak to Mildred and Mr.. and Mrs.
Palmer"
Speak to EN-? I haven't got a
thing to say to those berrtesr'
Walter, won't you please behave?'
He seemed to consent, for the mo-
Of
take him down the corridor toward
floral bower where the hostess stood
with her father and mother. Other
couples and groups were moving in
the same direction, carrying with
them a hubbub of laughter and
fragmentary gatherings; and Alice.
smiling all the time, greeted people on
every side Of her eagerly-a little
more eagerly than most Of them re-
sponded-while Walter nodded in q
non-committal manner to one or two
said nothing, and yawned audibIy.
the last resource of a person who
finds himself nervous in a false situa.
ton. He repeated his yawn and was
beginning another when a convulsive
pressure upon his arm made him I'm.
derstand that he must abandon this
method of reassuring himself. They
We're close upon the floral bower.
Mildred was giving her hand to one
and another Of her guests as rapidlv
as she could, passing them on to her
father and mother and at the same
time resisting the efforts of three or
TOUR detached bachelors who besought
her to give over her duty in favor
or the dance-music just beginning to
blare.
She was large. fair girl. with
kindness Of eye somewhat withheld
by an expression of fastidiousness: at
first sight of her it was clear that
she would never in her life do anv.
thing incorrect" or wear anything
incorrect" But her correctness was
OF the finer sort, and had no air of
being studied or achieved; conduct
would never offer her a problem to be
settled from a book Of rules, for the
rules were so deep within her that
she was unconscious of them. And
behind this perfection there was an
even ampler perfection of what Mrs.
AuaIns called background" This
big, rich. simple house was part of
it, and Mildred's father and mother
were part Of it. They stood beside
her, large, serene people. rnuI-nur.
ing graciously and gently inclining
their handsome heads as thew gave
their hands to the guests; and even
the youngest and most ebullient of
these took on a hushed mannerliness
with closer approach to the bower.
When the opportunity came for
Alice and Walter to pass within this
precinct, Alice, going first, leaned
forward and whispered in Mildred's
ear: You didn't wear the maize
georgette. That's what I thought
you were going to. But you look
simply darling! And those pearls
Others were crowding decorously
forward. anxious to be done with cere-
mony and get to the dancing: and
Mildred did not prolong the intimacy
OF Aice's enthusiastic whispering.
with faint accession of color and
smile tending somewhat in the direc-
ton Of rigidity, she carried Alice's
hand Immediately onward to Mrs.
Palmer's. Alice's' own color showed
a little frightening as she accepted
the suggestion thus implied; nor was
that emotional tint in any wise de-
creased, a moment later, by an i'm
preston that Walter, in concluding
the brief exchange Of courtesies be-
tween himself and the stately Mr..
Palmer, had again treasured himself
with a yawn.
But she did not speak Of it to Wal.
ter; she preferred not to confirm the
impression and to leave in her mind
possible doubt that he had done it.
He followed her out upon the waxed
floor, said resignedly: well, come
on" put his. arm about her, and they
began to dance.
Alice danced gracefully and well.
but not so we'll as Waiter. OF all the
steps and runs, of all the whimsical
turns and writings, OF all the rhyth-
mic swayings and dips commanded
that season by such blartngs as were
tho barbaric product loud and wild,
of the Jazz Louies and their half-breed
punches, the thin and sallow youth
was master. Upon his face could
be seen contempt OF the easy marvels
he performed as he moved in swift
precision from one smooth agility to
another; and II some too-dainty or
jealous cavalier complained that to be
so much a stylist in dancing was mot
quite like gentleman" at least Wal
ter's style was what the music called
for. No other dancer in the room
could be thought comparable to him.
Alice told him so.
Its wonderful she said. "And