The Indianapolis times., 1930-07-04
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN


60 she arose and gave herself to
- his arms. She loved to dance,
and was almost professional in her
1.-THE grace. Weeks of rehearsal for
Zogbaum's show had improved her.
For a moment she thought Of feign-
ing awkwardneSs, but dismissed the
idea as too ridiculous.
And then she forgot every single
fear and caution. For Dean was
not only an excellent partner,
matching her height with the added
inches that make dancing easier,
but he was the man she loved
Since that night when she had,
overcome by his caress. returned the
kiss which he hsd given her, she
had not felt his arms about her.
She had not known how she had
longed for the feel of those arms
until now.
She became oblivious to the sur
roundings, and followed the music
only as she followed Deans leader
ship. It seemed to her that when
they stopped. it was like coming out
of some delightful dream.
Deans flushed face was close to
her as murmTed, Thank you"
His arm. on which her fingers
lightly rested. trembled. She felt
happy pride which she tried to put
from her This man thought him
self in love with his wife. but if
Eleanor should assume her right
ful place at his side now. he would
know that some strange spiritual
alchemy had occurred within himself
or within the woman beside him.
He loved CynthiaI So Cynthia as
sured herself. and shaken by the
knowledge that she fired nim as he
fired her. she felt an almost irresist-
ible temptation to tell him there
and then of the trick that she and
Eleanor had played upon him.
Still conscious in every nerve Of
his contact. although they were
now walking toward the table to
which Mrs. Ordeley and Tom San
yer were making their way. it was
in her mind 20 yield to the tempta-
.on.
She felt ike a gambler who. hav-
ing lost greatly, willin to wager
all his earthly possessions on one
turn of a card.
She could picture Deans emo
tions. as though erlotions we're tan
gible things. First he would be be-
wildered: then he would be incred-
ulouS; then rage would possess
him; then all of these would be
submerged beneath his love for her.
Forgive her? OF course he would
Not easily. not instantly. Pride
would forbid that. But the very fact
that his forgiveness would need to
be won would make it the more
precious when finally it was gained.
THEN common sense returned to
Il her. She laughed at herself
because she was so easily exalted by
the dance. After all. when she had
consented to aid Eleanor in her
recklessneSs. she had assumed
very definite obligation.
She had surrendered her own
identity and had no right to take
up that identity until Eleanor grant
ed her permission to do so.
Running away would. after all. be
doing no more than Eleanor herself
had done. True. Eleanor had left
substitute, but she had assured that
substitute that her absence would
be a matter of hours at most. that
it would not run into days and weeks
Cr even longer.
Could Eleanor be dead? The
thought Of tragic accident had oc-
Cured to Cynthia before. but she
had read the newspapers every day
and had seen no mention of any
accident that could have meant
that Eleanor was dead. OF course
al accidents were not reported in
the newspapers.
She felt herself growing faint.
Could il be possible that she. Gym
thia Brown. was wishing for the
death Of the girl whose place she
had taken? She put the horrible
thought from her. OF course she
wasn't.
She loved Eleanor. had been
drawn irresistibly 10 her in the very
moment of their meeting. Strain
Was telling upon her. that was all.
. Gnch as she loved Dean she would