Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-17

she felt as if she might be going to cry
The Valley Club still blazed with
lights, though it was O'Clock. Its
stout Georgian bulk, extending for a
quarter of a block, had hardly dark
window, except on the top floor, where
some hermit or exhausted member was
trying to sleep. Automobiles, deserted
and only glowing with little red tall
lights, were still lined up and down the
street and avenue. Some of the bigger
ones had gone. Daphne saw, sliding her
car into its previous place and noting
that the gray limousine had disap-
peacefully asleep, with their New Year
favors on the bureau for their grand
children tomorrow. But Marcia Watts
had not gone home. Not while Nick
was on deck.
In here?" asked Blanche. "Say Miss
Monahan. this Is the Valley Club, you
know" The automobile had startled
her. but this was too much.
That's where the party Is" said
Daphne.
II don't get It," answered Blanche.
TITS New Year eve. Take it on
faith"
We'll, I'm game for anything once. -
They went In through side entrance,
his coat. There were no door tenders,
except a sleepy house boy. who spoke
respectfully to Daphne. Blanche heard
the music in the distance, saw the con-
| fetti and favors scattered about, and
picked up a chimney sweeps hat.
Lead me to it," she said. a little ex-
aggeratedly.
THEY were dancing steadily, young
l. couples, young married people de-
termined not to show they were old
marrieds by going home early, college
boys, debutantes.
In the ballroom they changed part
ners now on impulse, but with no sense
of program. 1t was getting to be good
party, according to the standards.
Daphne had a queer feeling that she
| had been away a very long time, and
that it was rather fun to get back. She
looked down the hall and saw Nick
coming and wondered if Annie Laurie
was out of his system yet. But Nick did
not get far enough to tell her. He met
| Blanche on the way and when she
smiled at him, he was sure that this
was their dance.
They danced every one else off the
floor. Daphne. standing and watching
saw that If Nick had been at all tipsy
he could not have done so well. He
had always been the best dancer of then
crowd but this wisp Of girl seemed to
| bring out every fragment Of rhythm
every dancing idea in him.
| The crowd made a circle. at length
beating their hands. and Blanche In
| toxicated by music, by the kind OF or
chestra she hardly ever even heard. by
| the perfect form of her partner. danced
as she had never danced before. The
girls passed the word that she was va
riously paid entertainer. Marcia Watts
dressed up, and Charley Bascom's
fiancee. The men all said they knew
Blanche. They felt it entirely to their
credit
Only Bert, standing by Daphne and
watching what was going on. looked
rather white. Blanche had picked UP
| the wrong man this time, and spilled
the beans Couldn't she have laid of
Nick Jelliffe. anyway? He was ashamed
of her conspicuousness, frightened by
| 1t: and yet his self-conScious mind and
vanity spread its wings and even crowed
at length. His wife, dancing with Nick
Jelliffe. Jelliffe would be sore. If he
got ON to the fact that Bert and his
wife had broken in like this. Let him
be sore! He'd never had better dance
than that 1t showed what was in
Blanche II she had a chance. Shed
felt pretty bad tonight when he got SO
sore and told her what he thought
Didn't she realize that he liked the old
crowd all right. but that, for her sake
and the kids. he had to get them some
thing better?
The orchestra stopped. from sheer ex-
haustion. and Blanche with all the self
possession in the world walked with
Nick through the crowd toward Daphne.
toward Bert. Bert stiffened He would
stand up to that fellow, If he was fired
! tomorrow
"Where've you been. darling?" asked
Nick of Daphne, seeing her first.
Ibid you sing Annie Laurie'?" she
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