The Glenwood post., 1924-11-13
Chapter XI

leo MYRTLE back to their seat in the
palm court Of the hotel. They had
lunched. wandered about the town, and
afterward made their way back to the
hotel lounge, where q tea dansant
was In progress.
why. where on earth did you learn
to dance like that, MyrtileT' he de-
mandsd.
She laughed softly.
Learn she exclaimed. why,
there has never been any one to teach
me- have never had lesson In my
life I Just listened to the music and
watched the people, and then saw
that It was quite easy. Oh. how ]
love itr
i. What Q pity I can't have you 10 my
suppsf party tonight" Gerald sighed.
HE leaned toward him. She was
stin little out Of breath. Her cheeks
wsrs pink. her eyes aslow. t
1aynt I come, please, 0eraldr' she
beGssA Il should be 70 happy"
Gerald looked doubtful
There would be the dsvfl to pay
with Christopher.' he pointed out.
'And. besides.' II really Isn't the place
for you:- ii0 --5f -
what do you meanr she persisted.
We'll, It's a bohemian sort Of AZ
fsir." Gerald explained. q little awk-
wardly. The girls aren't all Of them
Just what they should be-" ID -.
MYRTLE laughed again.
But what does that matterr' she
protested. They will not hurt me or I
them. When I am not dancing with
you, can sit alone and talk to no
one"
Gerald shook his head.
Cant be done. little GIRL" he decid-
I'd, regretfully. christopher II quite
fight when he says I ought not to en-
courage the taste for that sort of life
in you at all These girls all drink a
lot of champagne. and smoke furiously
lead rotten lives. most Of them-and
their conversation sometimes-well, II
wouldn't be fit for you to listen to.
Some evening or other I'll have quite
a small party-just one or two who 1
know are all right"
THAT isn't what want" MYRTLE de-
clared. II want to go to the party to-
night. You will dance with other girls
II am not there. don't want you to
not today, at any rate. You have
danced with me, and 1t was wonder
full"
II begin to think that don't want
to dance with any one else myself"
Gerald confessed, looking at her admir-
ingly. "I'l think 1t over on the way
back"
They made their way out to the open
space in front of the hotel. where Ger
aid had left the car, and very soon
they were on their way homeward.
Driving, for the first half-hour, alb
sorbed Gerald's whole attention, and
MYRTLE leaned back in the low seat by
his side, filled with the joy of their
rapid ascent, the smooth, birdlike mo-
ton which seemed to be taking them,
with scarcely an effort, up into the
clouds.
81 think" MYRTLE whispered, that
this Is the real road which leads to
happiness The road down there is
tangled and twisted. Here one seems
to breathe more wonderfully, to come
nearer to things one feels but does not
understand. 1t is more like the air
around the farm, when used to get up
sometimes before the sunrise and walk
through the violet patch and the
Expresses to the gate. The sun rose at
the end of the road"
"You are quaint child, MYRTLE"
Gerald reflected. II wonder what would
have happened to you II we had not
passed along that night"
She shivered.
'I know" she answered. II am quite
sure that know. felt 1t in my heart
when I leaned over the gate and looked
to the end of the road There was the
mystery there towards which I seemed
always to have groped. That night 1t
was the mystery of life or the mystery
Of death. You came, and It was life"
They were travelling more slowly
now. crawling along the level stretch
Of ledge-like road at its extreme sum-
NIT. Gerald had never before felt the
fascination Of the girl by his side a.
he felt 1t In those moments. He
stretched out his left hand and she
gripped It In hers, tearing OF her
gloves 20 that her fingers could clasp
his.
And since It Is life" he asked. "is
the mystery passing7"
Her eyes were swimming with the
desire of happiness.
There 10 no mystery any longer.
she told him. II know what lies at
the end Of the road. where the sun
used to rise. know now"
Gerald, impressionable a. ever. felt
the spurious glow Of exaltation. spuri-
Gus Abecauss Its influence was wholly
external. His face became graver. his
tone was almost stern.
~... I'm RuA <hApA n