ng himself to that fact. Even the garish, cheap environments,
the glitter and tinsel, the noise and brutality, had utterly failed to
tarnish Beth Norvell. She stood forth different, distinct, a perfectly
developed flower, rarely beautiful, although blooming in muck that was
overgrown with noxious weeds. Winston remained clearly conscious that
some peculiar essence of her native character had mysteriously perfumed
the whole place--it glorified her slight bit of stage work, and had
already indelibly impressed itself upon those rough, boisterous Western
spirits out in front. Before her parting lips uttered a line she had
thoroughly mastered them, the innate purity of her perfected womanhood,
the evident innocence of her purpose, shielding her against all
indecency and insult. The ribald scoffing, the insolent shuffling of
feet, the half-drunken uneasiness, ceased as if by magic; and as her
simple act proceeded, the stillness out in front became positively
solemn, the startled faces picturing an awakening to higher things. It
was a triumph far exceeding the noisy outburst that greeted the
Mexican--a moral victory over unrestrained lawlessness won simply by
true womanliness, unaided and alone. That earlier scene had brought to
Winston a deeper realization of this girl's genius, a fresher
appreciation of the true worth of her esteem. No struggle of heart or
head could ever again lower her in his secret thought to the common
level.

The swinging strains of the dancer's accompaniment concluded with a
blare of noisy triumph, the mad enthusiasts out in front wildly
shouting her name above the frantic din of applause, while, flushed and
panting, the agile Mexican dancer swept into the darkened wings like a
scarlet bird.

"Ah, de Americana!" she exclaimed, her eyes yet blazing from
excitement, poising herself directly in front of her silent watcher.
"Senorita, it ees not de same as yours--dey like you, si; but dey lofe
Mercedes."

Miss Norvell smiled gently, her gaze on the other's flushed, childish
face, and extended her hand.

"There seems ample room for both of us," she replied, pleasantly, "yet
your dancing is truly wonderful. It is an art, and you must let me
thank you."

It is difficult to understand why, but the untamed, passionate girl,
stung in some mysterious manner by these quietly spoken words of
appreciation, instantly drew her slight form erect.

"You nevar forget you not one of us, do you?" she quest