although, outwardly, young mrs. gardiner and her handsome husband lived ideal lives, yet could one have taken a peep behind the scenes, they would have seen that all was not gold that glittered.
in their own apartments, out of sight of the world's sharp eyes, jay gardiner and his wife used each other with the scantest possible courtesy. he never descended to the vulgarity of having words with her, though she did her utmost to provoke him to quarrel, saying to herself that anything was better than that dead calm, that haughty way he had of completely ignoring her in his elegant apartments.
during what every one believed to be the most blissful of honey-moons, sally learned to hate her proud husband with a deadly hatred.
on the evening mr. victor lamont made his appearance at the ocean house, there was to be a grand ball given in honor of the guests, and, as every one had hoped, mr. lamont strolled in during the course of the evening, accompanied by mine host, who was over head and ears with delight in having such an honored guest stopping at his hotel.
scores of girlish eyes brightened as they entered the arched door-way, and scores of hearts beat expectantly under pretty lace bodices. but their disappointment was great when this handsome apollo glanced them all over critically, but did not ask any of them out to dance, and all the best waltzes were being then played.
victor lamont seemed quite indifferent to their shy glances.
during this time he was keeping up quite an animated conversation with his host, who was telling him, with pride, that this pretty girl was miss this, and that pretty girl miss so-and-so. but victor lamont would sooner have known who their fathers were.
at length, as his eyes traveled about the great ball-room with business-like carefulness, his gaze fell upon a slender figure in rose pink and fairly covered with diamonds. they blazed like ropes of fire about the white throat and on the slender arms; they twinkled like immense stars from the shell-like ears and coyly draped bosom, and rose in a great tiara over the highly piled blonde hair.
she was standing under a great palm-tree, its green branches forming just the background that was needed to perfect the dainty picture in pink.
she was surrounded as usual by a group of admirers. victor lamont's indifference vanished. he was interested at last.
"who is the young lady under the palm directly opposite?" he asked, quickly.
"the belle of newport," was the reply. "shall i present you?"
"i should be delighted," was the quick response. instantly rebellion rose in the heart of every girl in the room, and resentment showed in scores of flushed cheeks and angry eyes as the hero of the evening was led over to pretty sally gardiner.
no wonder they watched him with dismay. from the moment graceful mr. lamont was presented to her, he made no attempt to disguise how completely he was smitten by her.
"that is a delightful waltz," he said, bending over the little hand as the dance music struck up.
sally bowed, and placed a dainty little hand lightly on his shoulder, his arm encircled the slender waist, and away they went whirling through the bewildering stretch of ball-room, a cloud of pink and flashing diamonds, the curly blonde head and the blonde, mustached face dangerously near each other.
