The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-07-22
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

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CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
THE word went from mouth to
l. mouth. THE prince! The
prince is herel"
No one had been sure he was COM
ing. The great Hunt ball had been
an auual affair in Willow Springs
since the first fur kings and rail-
road barons had built their Victo-
rlan palaces there back in the COS.
It always was a gala event, even
in the rarrif1ed atmosphere Of that
gilded township. That its date CO.
incided with the visit of his royal
highnesS was pure chance. No one
had been certain he would actually
be present. But here he was.
Lame, in a frothy frock of petal
chiffon cut demurely low to show
her young shoulders, was staying
close to the kindly Mrs. Cleespaugh.
There was about this atmosphere
something definitely intimidating.
The clipped voices, the assured
manners which we're not manners at
all, but sublimated rudenesses, the
massaged, scented and exquisitely
dressed women frightened and
chilled her. She thought: rs it
possible am ever to enter this cir
Gle really as an intimate?" The
ide vaguely terrified her.
Give, at her elbow, said: Dance
this?"
She looked up at him, grateful for
his nearneSS for the sense of right
ness and security his presence af-
fordeed her.
AS she gave herself, quite imper-
sonally, to his embrace she thought
that life would not be such a bad
thing with this young man by her
side. They threaded their way
through the mazes Of the music.
Gives arm frightened around her
How well he danced! He said,
Sorry" and steered her deftly
around a cruising pair, a plump
matron in sea green velvet and her
languid escort.
Lame thought for an instant that
the tightening Of his arm had been
an impulsive movement. Her pulse
had, quickened a little at the
thought.
With disappointment she realized
he was only being instinctively
gallant, trying to avoid a collision
which had seemed imminent.
Strange, strange young man, she
reflected. A little piqued she was
that he had never tried to make
love" to her. Did he think her so
unattractive?
We'll, she mustn't quarrel with
her fate. He had asked her to
marry him and she, for reasons of
her own, had agreed.
The murmur ran along the line.
"The princel" A discreet, polite
murmur. And after an instant, in
the suddenly cleared doorway, he
appeared.
A tall, very thin, I1ther super
cilious looking young man with pale
brown hair and a monocle glazing
one of his sharp brown eyes. He was
in a dress uniform of silver and
blue.
THE orchestra in response to a
Il hidden signal struck up the
young notable's national air. He
smiled. He clicked his heels and
bowed from the waist.
Lame heard the plump, green
velvet matron murmur "Adorable!"
in sWoOning accents.
The prince put out his arm to
one of the ladies in his party and
the dance began again as suddenly
as it had stopped.
Getting tired?" Give wanted to
know. Lame shook her head. She
danced dreamily, casually. The
throb of the music was in her blood.
1t was like an enchantment.
Abruptly she felt her partners
arm about her loosen. She looked up
into the grinning face of Chuck
Desmond, who had said "Cut?" to
Give
You'll" she gasped, startled.
THE kid himself" Desmond &C
knoWledged. Il crashed this party
with His Nibs. Used to be a cor
respondent in Slavaria when his
father was in power.
He makes me drag along where
ever he goes and the boss doesn't
mind. 1t gives me the inside track"
It's nice to see you" Lame told
him. And indeed this young man
whom Muriel had once described as
devastating" seemed more than
ever like friend and brother to-
night
You're pretty easy on the eye
yourself, Lovely" he told her adj