The Innocent Adventuress

nce to the dance, a hint of possessive admonition, a shad

upon her, to justify his choice. The dance was an exhibition .

pretty and piquant in the afternoon at the piano, how melodious in the e

this. Anxiously sh

at the Lodge, they had danced to the phonograph and she had been initiated into new steps

d giving a dance to which the neighborhood-meaning the

t bay by pride alone . . . again she knew the tormenting question which she had confronted in that

the Martins given over to the ladies-a mirror that was a dissolving kaleidoscope of color and m

ne approaches an oracle, and out from the glittering surface was flung back to her a radiant image of reassurance-a vision of a slim figure in filmiest white, slender arms and shoulders

nst the satin softness of her throat, revealed its opalescent flush. She was immaculate, exquisit

her side, very stunning herself in jade green, wit

ng her small cousin over with the thoroughness of an inventory. "It m

Ri interposed gayly, lightly fing

d done her darndest! Su

ut that lower-you're si

ness of her bodice suspended only by bands of sheerest gauze. She wondered wh

kiest shoulder bl

ismay. She twisted for a view and the moveme

atin slippers with their crossed ribbons, to the narrow, silken ankles, to the slender legs above t

about to make sure that n

lina relinquished the center of the mirror, and slipped ou

furniture had been pushed back beneath the gallery where it was arranged in intimate little groups for future tête-à-têtes, except a few lounging chairs left on the black bear-skins by the chimn

contrast. . . . No one seemed to care what anything cost. . . . They gave dances in a log chalet and sent to New York for the favors and to Calif

on that marvelous old service that Pietro polished but three times a y

em by Mamma's own hands! Suddenly Maria Angelina found a moment to wonder afresh at t

ehind her. "But they like this better. . . . This is the life," and with a just f

d the girl to whom she had been talking. "Wasn't

nd swore, softly and intensely, at a shoulder strap. "Oh, damn th

voice, and the second girl flung wearily back, "Oh, so they can

sor acknowledged wittily, an

as it from such speeches that her mother had turned, in helplessness or dista

girls truly different from thei

ent the doubt of her capacity to cope with these times assailed her, but only for a moment, for next instant she caught Johnny Byrd

n other men's eyes and in the eager

perspective of what would happen if she were not cut in upon-if she were left

tted definitely down, and at each dance's end a girl was returned respectfully to her chaperon where

e of th

tween the couples and claimed her. And then up and down again until some other man. . . . And sometimes they went back to re

t was intoxicatingly free. It wa

rrival, with a shy, backward deprecatory glance at her lost partner, that she stirred so

gland, the lawyer from Washington, the stout widower, the professional bachelor, all were only movin

their work that Johnny was m

m, Ri-Ri. Try a long, hard level look on the next one you see making your way. . . . Don't you want t

t am I t

," groaned Johnny, dexterously whirling her about, "there'

he throng. Masterfully he caught

ght. . . . Perhaps she was only oddly self-conscious . . . incapable of the serene detach

t. The long lines of the mountains melted together like a violet cloud and above t

yrd guided her past them. They walked in silence. He kept his hand on her arm and from t

path the girl dr

no

cited phrase but absently. His eyes had a warm, hurrying look

ghted face to him. "To walk alone with a y

ddered and cast im

ou mean to tell me you've never wa

flashed away from that memory. "Until I came to America. I am not yet

ve dances of your own? Don't you meet fellows? Don't you know anybody?"

ve got a bagful of fellows crazy about you. Don't you ever slip out

ia Angelina with becoming young haughtiness. "For myself, I do

rhaps it was really so. Perhaps she was just as sequestered and guileless and in

n her bare arm he

now-is this

nt of him. Her heart beat fast; her hands were very cold.

rich and free! What more would Mamma a

of other things the firs

But she still held lightly away from him, resisting t

look the way you do, Ri-Ri." He laughed again. "

is the moonl

d eat you up, Ri-Ri." His eyes on her red little mouth, on

le frost, Ri-Ri. Don'

t the false figure she had set in the prince's place, bu

a victoria, openly as man and wife-or no, Johnny would have a wonderful car, all metal and bright color.

s blunt disparagement. He would be astonished that they were living upon the third floor-with the lower apartment let. He would be amused at the servants toil

es. . . . The chandeliers would be sparkling for that dinner. There would be delicious fo

everest hats. . . . She would give dear Mamma gold-something that neither dear Papa nor Francisco knew about-a

hat was not a roast from his kitchen nor clothes

erest in a long wooing or betrothal. . . . And while she must appear to be in favor of a return home, first, a

ghting in his youth, his blonde Americanism, hi

red words, withdrawing, in childish panic, from Johnny's close pressing ardor. She knew that if he persisted . . . but before her soft detachm

all you like me," s

revocable things. Her heart danced . . .

en able t

irresolution. . . . But she was not going to make

he told him and exul

when she confronted the great mirror again it was to glimpse a girl with darkly shining eyes and cheek

ht, composing the l