of his family standing, wealth and artistic taste and temperament.

Percy Hitchcock was a familiar figure among courtesans, actresses, models, and the "Bohemian" populace of the city. His studio was notoriously the scene of gatherings, where morals and decency were ignored, all in the name of art. He lived in part on temperamental excesses and licentious indulgence. He was refined in periods of good behavior. His sensual nature otherwise made him an unsafe companion for any woman of respectability. His suggestion that he would accompany Aunt Norma and Annabelle, in their car, from the theatre to the club, was scarcely considered for a second by either of the women before the plan was put into execution. Interlocking an arm of each firmly, he rather propelled than accompanied them to the car. His vivid description of the way certain acts of the play they had just seen impressed him was emphasized by appeals, for their support of his opinion couched in endearing terms. He depicted his fancies of the stars who had acted, by first taking both hands of Aunt Norma in his own, then those of Annabelle, and holding them firmly. Closing his eyes he shook his temperamental body with a resultant stimulation of the particular one he was at the time clinging to. Such unillusioned emotionalism was startling to Annabelle. No such liberties had ever before been attempted with her. Virile, masculine enthusiasm she was familiar with; but not the ways of the unrestrained.

Aunt Norma outwardly was disturbed. She had no fear of a scene so far as her own personal safety or entanglement was concerned. Previous experience had given Percy unmistakable proof. He knew the limitations of his overtures and doings in that direction. Aunt Norma knew that his purpose was centered on

her niece, while the evil range of the ocular member at times appeared to be in her own direction.

On the other hand, Annabelle marveled at the apparent unconcern of her Aunt. She quieted her physical nature, not her conscience, with the thought that she was at last seeing life. Life and animation, merriment, luxury, fashion and the "thrillers" which lift one out of the smut of country drudgery into the sparkle of gay Broadway, as misguided young people so often weigh the situation-all this was about her.

Percy, in assisting them from the car when it drew up in front of Daybreak Club, was more liberal in his effort than the necessities required. In fact, he literally took Annabelle in his arms, and their faces met through an unexpected movement of his, for which he apologized. He had pressed against her body in the car several times en route, through assumption of poses she thought unnecessary, and not the result of accident. Partially excusing all this on the score of spirit and intensity, Annabelle was relieved when the party entered the massive doors of the club, and she proceeded with her Aunt to the dressing room above, where the elder remarked prudently: "Don't mind Percy, he is slightly in his cups tonight."

Silver fox furs and dry martinis blended in perfect unison among the girls in the ensemble on the ball room floor at the Daybreak Club. There were no Valerie Wests of the heroine order in the party; no girls who of necessity must study consistency of situations. The finery of all Annabelle saw was supposed to be a tribute to the liberality of fathers or husbands, and not the subject of suspicion, as in "Common Law." As a matter of fact the metaphors of most of the butterflies of fashion, and smiles they flaunted made each gay marchioness of the ball room a thriller to Annabelle, quite as common as "Common Law" and only within the law of decency.

Annabelle had read in the sport columns of the Sunday papers about "peach crops" that transformed Broadway into a veritable Garden of Eden; femininity that dazzled the luster of the moon in the roseate hours of the morning; Nazimovas, Patrovas, Helds and other custodians of wondrous, flashing eyes with langurous demeanor and emotional traits. All these celebrities of stardom were of necessity carelessly tossed into the discard of past inspirations when the real, live goddesses of the Daybreak Club, headed by one who out Venused Venus, whirled about her like a maze of mystic planets.

A deep flush came to her cheek, and a touch of nervousness was apparent as she thought of the sense of shame her family would experience could they see her then. Particularly the one young man whom, her heart held dear.

Terpsichorean fantasy certainly "hit the ceiling" that night before the whim and caprice of those who set the pace found the high places at Daybreak Club.

Poetic posing was the suggestion that veiled the nakedness of one young woman featured as a "Flame from the Orient." She had the appearance of one who had narrowly escaped from a burning building her clothing seemingly destroyed by the flames. Percy was very much interested in the success of the Flame. As she expressed in motion-if one's imagination was sufficiently vivid sorrow, fear, hope, regret, passion and love, he accompanied such sentiments with facial expression. Men and women applauded her endeavor. Some one stated that the feature performer who trilled with rythm was a protege of Percy. Everyone appeared to understand just what that implied. In any event, he manifested a proprietary interest in Mme. Bella.

When the Imperial Ballet formed, men and women. in the galleries broke out in disconcerting waves of conversation, which dispelled all pretense of formality. Some of the more animated members intermingled and vied with the paid artists in such festivities as the dreamy dance music and perfect ball room floor afforded. The solo dancers looked scornfully upon this disrespect for their profession. All this availed nothing. The crowd had "paid the price" they were there to be entertained in their own way. These queens of the ballerina, all of them conscientious, intelligent, energetic, were quite the most modest and well mannered of the entire company. From the day they became pupils, and subject to discipline they had been trained in self control and self respect. The Empresses of Society, who cast moderation and purity of thought aside with apparent ease, grew more hilarious as the male accelerators and alcoholic accessories with mutual effort abetted the debauch.

Supper in a private dining room for Percy, Aunt Norma, Annabelle and their party, was served about 1:00 o'clock. When an inspection was made of the con

dition of indecorousness and impropriety presented, a coiffure disarranged, or disconcerting contretemps was less noticeable than any number of other irregularities. The awakening of Annabelle had been so complete she shrank from contact and conversation with those about her. Even her Aunt, whose propriety she had never questioned until the full force of that night's goings-on stood plainly before her, somehow afforded no feeling of security. Shuddering at the thought of scenes unexplained to her, witnessed in the presence of all Club attendants, a feeling of awful doubt and deep sin overcame her as the party trooped into the the smaller room and a well groomed waiter closed the door. Quickly Percy directed Annabelle to a seat next the one he had assigned to himself. His dancing idol having departed, he was now all attention to the attractive young woman who was experiencing her introduction to the Smart Set of New York.

Cocktails and cigarettes for all the party were on the table. All but two of the guests took to them as naturally as a flake of steel is attracted by a magnet, and about as rapidly. That gay company was in no condition to be trifled with by a prude. When one of the mischievous young women, perfectly familiar with Aunt Norma's normal self, discovered the untouched concoction in front of her plate and absence of cork tipped cigarette from her delicate lips, she delivered herself of a guffaw almost masculine in volume. “What have we with us tonight, a 'white ribboner' or Sister Emeritus of the Y. W. C. T. U.?" This sally was directed to Aunt Norma by Marie Morgan, a young girl whose pride was to cut a greater depth of swath in fast living than any other near-woman in their exclusive set.

Aunt Norma glanced at Annabelle, cheeks flushed and eyes drooping. She accepted the challenge, and