Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 19, 1924 — page 52: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

B22 “ But, sir, you said the other day that there was no hurry,” I protested. ‘Things have changed. Rumors have got about. An announcement is expected. You are making me ridiculous. It must be yes or no.” I looked at him. He was frowning. There was a funny light in his eyes, half angry, half disgusted. Then he suddenly smiled, and the boy of the ballroom spoke to me again in that frank gaze. __“ After all, it’s no good pretending—it’s only a matter of business.” My heart was thumping. If I said no now, as Elizabeth Cleveland, I should never see him again. He would go away, vexed with me. He would probably leave England at once. And I must see him again. I simply couldn’t imagine my life without seeing him again. The “Sable Night” waltz drummed in my ears. I could hardly hear my own voice, as I asked: “Tf I say, yes—when would—it come off?” He laughed. ‘‘Qh, you’d have time to breathe! We couldn’t be married before June. We are still in mourning for my grandmother. Well, what do you say?” He leaned toward me. He looked eager. I knew it was not because he wanted me. I was no more to him than one of the gold fish in the pool. But he wanted me to say yes, because I was an easy way out of his difficulties. Once settled, he could for- get about it for a few months and enjoy himself—with the princess. Then he smiled, and said lightly: “T do seem to be a bitter pill to swallow, milady!”’ It was the boyish, warm, impulsive smile of the Flower Garden Club. It conquered me. I hear his voice saying: “ What heavenly luck for me! Aw revoir, Miss Fane. To-night I shall never forget!”’ <A madness entered into me. ; . Come what may, We will dance to-morrow; we have danced to-day I could not let him go. I couldn’t help myself. I looked at him, trying to make my face wooden and my voice businesslike and steady. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. “Ti we needn’t be married until June, I will say yes.” CHAPTER V. TWO IN A FOG, darling! J don’t like it a bit.” Thus spoke Bunch on the Tuesday morning. She referred to my determina- tion to go and take up my duties at the Flower Garden Club that evening at half past eight o’clock. “Oh, but, Bunch,” I said, “ you’re in it with me! You promised to help.” “Tt know.” Bunch knitted her sandy brows in the fierce frown that made her look so deliciously comic. ‘“ But that was before you had accepted King Peter, Liz. Now you're going to marry him, every single thing you do will be more public than ever before. The press will dog your foot- steps.” ‘““T can’t help it, Bunch. If it wasn’t for the Flower Garden Club, I wouldn’t have accepted the king.” “ But, Liz, if you were found out!” “I shan’t be found out.” “But if you were!” she persisted. “ The king would never forgive you.” “Tt’s only for another fortnight,” I urged. ‘‘ Then the king is going back to Florania and we are going south, Bunch. Oh, you must help me out!” I said a lot more. I told her my happi- ness depended on it. I declared that it would make all the difference in my life, that only she could help me to be a happy girl instead of a miserable one. In the end she gave way, and we settled down to dis- cuss ways and means. The greatest difficulty was my getting in and out of the house in my disguise. There were always servants about. We had man- aged to avoid them on the first two occasions. But it wasn’t safe to risk it every time. And then, of course, there was the fact of my not being available for any social engagement, three nights each week. We were rather helpless about that. I felt and believed that I could reckon on King Peter—from then onward, of course, he was “ | T’S such an awfully risky game, Liz, EOmicboo CS (S@)