Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-12-27
CHAPTER NNI
The Country Club Dance

Lyra, conscious of Cynthia's
dark eyes fixed upon her from
across the table, and of Peters grow
ing displeasrLe, flirted delicately
with Tex -
Toni<,41t she was seated between
TevLand Peter. She wore white, a
.hfsty thing, making her look at
times like a slim young nun. But
when she lifted her lashes her gray
eyes were alluring, provocative, it
seemed to Tex that each time she
looked at him she was more aching
ly beautiful than ever before.
Lyra was deliberately playing with
fire, but she had no intention of get
ting burned. 1t was all right to en-
courage Tex just so long as there
was no danger of being alone with
him. and she knew that such a thing
was impossible.
They were all going to a reception
and would dance al the country club.
She would go there and return in
Peters roadster. At the clubhouse
she would avoid Tex a much as pos
sible, because she did not want to
/ dance with him, but here at the
( house. with a lot of people present,
she was perfectly safe.
AS they were all thronging out of
the dining room, Mrs. Graham came
up to Lyra, a troubled look in her
eyes.
Do you think it wise to encourage
Mr.. Hunter as you were at dinner,
/ dear? He may misunderstood you
! lnaSmuch as he isn't one of u.s."
Lyra raised wide innocent eyes to
! her mothers face. Don't be foolish.
! mother she returned colby.
There's no reason why 1 shouldn t
exert myself to be nice to one of
| dads friends"
Mrs. Graham was silent. Lyra
! had a way of instantly disarming
! her. But she had watched her daugh-
| ter during dinner, and she had seen
! Tex Hunters blue eyes as they had
( rested on Lyra's face. The express
sion in them had frightened her,
! stirred an emotion in her that she
I had thought long dead. Why did he
! look at Lyra that way, and why did
Lyra encourage him? OF course,
young people thought nothing of
! these things today, but Tex Hunter
was different. He might do almost
anything if he were encouraged
| enough
Il thought Id speak to you, dear
| OF course, l know that your encour
aged him unintentionally," Mrs
! Graham went on lamely. But Lyra
only laughed high care-free laugh
and with a slight pat on her mothers
shoulder, left the room and ran light.
ly upstairs.
Later in the excitement Of leaving
she did not see Tex She and Peter
left ahead of the others and after he
had handed her into the car Peter
! dld not speak. He kept his eyes fixed
glumly on the road ahead, and drove
the hlgh-powered car at a reckless
! speed. Lyra resolved to pay no at
tention to his sullenness, but when
! they reached the clubhouse and he
! helped her out, his fingers closed
around her arm, so that she could
| not escape from him.
1T was the custom at the country
club to park the cars in a semi-circle
at one side. This made it easy for
| couples to use the machines between
dances. but before parking, Peter al
ways deposited Lyra at the entrance.
tonight he had driven directly to his
| parking space and for the time being
the two were practically alone.
| "Lyra," Peter said sharply, what
has come over you lately? You fli.ted
abominably with Tex Hunter during
dlnner, I've never known you to do
! such a thing before"
Lyra lifted her eyes to mis- face.
They were very cold and still and
eXpressionless.
Take care, Peters, " she said
warningly. I've never known YOU
t oknow jealousy before. Because
l am engaged to you doesn't give you
the right to tell me what to do. Per
haps it might be just as we'll to come
TO an understanding now"
She was watching Peter closely.
and as she looked at him his express
sion changed. He was abiect. terri
lied of what she had been going to
say, quick with a mumbled apology.
1t came to Lyra in a flash that he
would give in to her rather than take
the chance Of losing her, and for the
first time in her life she realized
that in spite of his bigness and
Drawn, Peter was weak.
Go BE Continued