Plentywood herald., 1928-12-27

sooths you. The rest was an accident"
A terrible, burning flush of color suf
fused her face and throat She turned
blindly and. without waiting for his help.
mounted Shaitan and started off Their
ride home was made In silence, though
the horses. as If ashamed of their mad
chase, edged sympathetically close to
each other so that now and then her
shoulder bumped his arm.
AT the door the groom was waiting
and Giles would have gone Immediately
to his apartment, but she whispered
swiftly. please wait-I've something TO
say to you"
SO he followed her through the great
dim hall into the library. where fire
haa peen lighted and the candles were
glowing.
Dorm has gone down to the village
and won't be back until dinner. so If
you'll have tea with me / shall be very
grateful / hate to take it alone "
He sat silently down before the blaz-
ing logs She fixed his tea with dash
OF rum and handed it to him.
Then with her eyes on his face. she
asked quietly, Giles. why are you afraid
of me?"
He did not seek to evade the question
Because you are so young" he re-
turned slowly. Your daring, audacious
exquisitely unaware - and exquisitely
cruel-youth frightens-and> bewilders-
me-"
But why?" she insisted.
He turned his eyes from her to the
fire, then back to her again.
Because" he smiled wryly because
1t can only hurt me-" The smile deep
ened. And 1 dislike pain-unnecessar
futile pain"
| She considered this gravely. like care
fully attentive child.
But when she spoke, 1t was entirely
| irrelevant.
She said softly, swiftly, "Gnes. don't
go away-don't be afraid of me and run
away"
He stood up at that and looked down
| at her unsmilingly.
Il am not running away" he said
quietly. ut is only-that 1 have-othel
matters-to altend to-"
Anemone met his gaze fully Her owr
face was very pale, but she was smiling
"a faint. Mona Lisa sort of smile
I'm so sorry" and her husky voice
drawled ever so slightly. You see, DORM
has an absurd idea / should blossom
forth on the social tree and I'd rather
hoped you might dissuade him. How.
ever"
She stood up and put out her hand
He took it and held 1t more closely thar
he knew. She smiled again, that secret
little smile
However" she went on. 'Ill no doubt
see you again during the season in New
York-that's where my Aunt Stella lives
III not-well, perhaps some day. some
place !" she withdrew her hand
gently. And this MUST be our good by
/ find / am little shaky after this after
moons tumble and as Dorm will be back
to keep you company at dinner l hope
you will overlook my delinquency
A little smile, little nod, and she was
gone, as cody poised and aloof as some
young snow princess.
Giles smiled after her. But there wa;
nothing but pain in the expression.
| The ballroom of a famous restaurant
| Soft lights Loud music. Cut flower.
bleeding fragrantly to death. A dais a
one end whereon ten gymnastic mer
| perspired. At the other end, woman ane
a girl. The woman was in impressive
red the girl in seductive white. There
were many people already arrived. Man.
| more were waiting. Many more woulC
arrive in time for supper and the favors
| In the center of the dance floor the
stag line had formed in the shape of al
overwhelming circle of blank faced dis
| interested youths. Every now and ther
convulsive movement would mass owe,
this massed circle and black figure
would dart out, Ike black beetle, ant
rasp vivid creature, gaudy Yinoed
from her momentary captor. Then an
other movement and the butterfly wou1C
float to the bored arms of another
figure.
| All about the room on narrow, velve
padded benches sat elderly ladies' ans
anxious ladies, and hopelesslv hopefu
ladies-divided from each other at If
regular intervals by bored old man o
| q tout young one. Tomorrow the SO
| ciety columns Of the big dailies woult
refer to the dance as one of the mos
brilliant affairs of brilliant season. J o
night 1t was Just another party"
The drummer rolled his drum. TIL
lights dimmed. The stag formation re
luctantly broke ranks. A swart youn
man with the face of d stranger dance,
a whirlwind foxtrot with vicious eye,
madonna of girl.
Ricardo and Gabrielle.
He threw her over his shoulders. III
bent her backwards till her sleek, COLDER
head touched the floor He swung he
madly round and round, holding her b
one slim wrist and ankle. Then he threy
her into the air and caught her on hi
shoulder. He did 1t exquisitely He nigh
just as well have done 1t badly No on
watched, or, II watching, cared.
"Old stuff" said a bored youth with
out emotion.
She's getting heavy" said his shingle
haired partner.
These dagoes," observed one sleep
old man irritably. why don't we pa
tronize Americans?"
BE STILL" ordered his wife; there
Count Sforzi just beyond us. He
Italian"
What tn devil do I care2" demands