At last she came, with a
company of other girls, none of whom he saw, and he asked
her for the first dance. Jim was not a conceited young
man, but he felt that she would not refuse him. Nor did
she.
Camilla danced well and so did Jim, and many an eye
followed them as they wound in and out through the other
dancers. When the dance was over he led her to a seat
and sat beside her. They had much to talk of. Camilla
was anxious to hear of Pearl, and it seemed all at once
that they had become very good friends indeed.
The second dance was a waltz. Tom did not know that it
was the music that stirred his soul with a sudden
tenderness, a longing indefinite, that was full of pain
and yet was all sweetness. Martha who sat near him looked
at him half expectantly. But her little gray face and
twitching hands repelled him. On the other side of the
room, Nellie Slater, flushed and smiling was tapping her
foot to the music.
He found himself on his feet. "Who cares for mats?" he
muttered. He was beside Nellie in an instant.
"Nellie, will you dance with me?" he faltered, wondering
at his own temerity.
"I will, Tom, with pleasure," she said, smiling.
His arm was around her now and they were off, one, two,
three; one, two, three; yes, he had the step. "Over the
foam we glide," in and out through the other dancers,
the violins weaving that story of love never ending.
"What though the world be wide"--Nellie's head was just
below his face--"Love's golden star will guide.
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