Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1925-06-25

I pet without surprising MIN very
much.
The princess turn was evidently
the chief performance Of the eve
ming. Conversation ceased. Men sat
down their glasses and leaned FOR.
ward In their chairs. The music OF
the band sank TO a soft rhythmlcaI
throbbing. A drum muttered softly.
A girl in a dress shining with Sc
quins stepped daintlly down among
the tables. stood In the middle OF The
carpet and curtsied low to Tommy.
He could have sworn that It was
10 him aid1Hg that she eHrtsied, that
SHE took no notice Of any one else IN
the room. He also had an unpleasant
impression that she disllked, or per.
haps despised him, and only curtsled
TO him because sha was forced to
do II.
The managers of the Mascotte,
having secured the services Of a real |
princess, made the most Of her. and
gave her every chance Of making the |
most Of herself The higher lights
we're extingulshed all over the room.
Only the small shaded lamps on the
diners tables still burned A bright
beam from some hidden lamp fell on
the princess and followed her wher-
ever she moved. The twitching OF
the violin strings grew faster. The
players drew their bows across the
strings and the music came loud and
The girl on the carpet
with the light on her looked younger,
fresher. more beautiful than any of
the others who had danced before
her.
Unfortunately she could not dance.
Her performance would scarcely
nave won applause In a second-rate
heater. Her steps and attitudes
we're graceful enough but were easy
II accomplishment. There was no
lind OF spirit or any delight In her ;
IancIng. Even Tommy, who knew ;
Iothing about the art, realized
hat this girl was greatly the
Inferior of those who had gone
efore her. Her dancing meant moth.
lg. conveyed nothing except q feel
lg that she dlsIlked doing 1t and de-
pissed the people she was doing 1t
Or. II seemed to Tommy that she
vas dancing specially for him and
hat she disliked and despised him
lore than she did the others.
The music rose to a climax Of !
Nund. The dance came suddenly to
n end. The lights blazed out again. =,
he girl sank to the ground In low 1
urtsey with her skirts spread out
lund her. right In front OF Tommy's ,
lble, within a couple Of feet from !
Inn. There was a burst of applause
len stood up and shouted. 1t was
OF the dancing they approved. Not
Jewess among them, not slant Z
ped Russian lady. not profteer. /
: even an American but knew per- Z
lctly we'll that the girl could not
lnce. Their applause was for them
lives, not for her II was the new !
ch proclalming their triumph over
lie old arIstocracy. over royalty IT, 4
IL Risen from the slime Of the war :
sriod, they acclaimed themselves
asters OF the old order which was
Iere. like Samson among the Phil
tines, 10 make sport for them,
The band blared into a noisy march.
he girl remained crouched at Tom
US feet. flushed and painting, the
1gers OF her right hand twItchlng
the bodice OF her dress Sudden
she rose. With a quick nod and
little motion OF her hand she fiicked
note across to Tommy. 1t fell on
e plate In front Of him. The girl,
Ithout glancing at him again. look
g neither to the right nor to the
It, walked through the appIaudlng
,ople and disappeared.
tTo BE coNTINUED.l