ntered the room her perfectly fitting gown of yellow satin and old
lace produced an envious murmur among the women. Marion looked well at
any time, but she was especially attractive in evening dress, for the
lights and excitement seemed to produce an extra glow of beauty which
few failed to notice. When she came, it was at the close of a dance, and
a knot of men quickly formed around her, but Duncan was not of the
number. She had expected to find him looking for her, and when she saw
him near her, talking to her enemy, Mrs. McSeeney, she felt an
unpleasant tinge of jealousy. After the excitement her entrance created
had subsided, he came slowly toward her.

"I believe I have to thank you, Mr. Grahame," she said, giving him her
hand, "for these beautiful yellow roses."

"On the contrary, it is I who must thank you for carrying them," he
replied. "Besides, they are typical of jealousy."

"Jealousy," repeated Marion in a wondering tone. "Were you ever
jealous?"

"A lover is always jealous," Duncan replied. Then he added gently: "I am
a lover."

"Then all the world must love you," she said laughingly.

"I wish it did, for you are in the world," he answered.

A glance of reproof was her only reply, for Walter Sedger came to claim
a dance, and she had just time to promise the next but one to Duncan
before she was whirled away into the gliding throng. Duncan's eyes
followed her for a moment; she saw his glance and a slight tinge of
color came into her cheek. In a moment she was lost amid the dancers.
Mechanically she danced a waltz and a polka, scarcely noticing her
partner's remarks, for in her heart she felt a strange apprehension that
she could not understand. There was a fascination in Duncan's
personality she dared not attempt to explain.

When the first strains of Duncan's dance began, he came to her
immediately, and, without speaking, quietly took her hand and placed his
arm gently about her waist; then, catching the time of the music, they
glided away into a dreamy waltz. It was their first dance together, and
as he guided her gracefully and easily through the whirling maze of
waltzers, Marion felt that she had never really danced before. Silently
they waltzed awhile, enjoying the delicious excitement of the movement,
then he said softly: "I have never understood the power of the dance
before, but to-night our steps, gliding together to this glorious music,
seem to me like the love of two natures, who feel and