The Red Cloud chief., 1913-04-03
MEMORY HELD HIM
And His Revere Took Him Back
to a Parkway Country
Home.
BY RICHARD POST.

IL was IuiI ndII HOuT dItcT the Cur
tain rose when Travis saw her. Evel
then he was doubtful In the MAJ,
of pretty girls who weaved through
the Intricate and bewildering combina
tons OF dances and marches on tn,
stage he could not be certain that tn,
slight, girlsh figure was Cecile Ray
mond. Now the chorus formed in {
ibillowy line Of white and surged for
ward like u fOam-crested wave to tho
footlights. The girl he watched wal
third from the end In the second line
and the young man could not distin
gulsh her features
"A very commonplace chorus" Miss
Davis commented to her escort. as the
curtain fell.
Il thought that little brunette neal
the end in the second row was. we'll
quite pretty" he ventured.
Miss Lorene Davis glanced at him
sharply. IT'S all matter Of opinion
pf course" she replied. acridly. "As
for myself, haven't seen ever q pass
ably good.looking woman on the stage
tonight"
But Ralph Davis was paying scant
attention to her remarks. For a mo
ment memory held him Was It Cecile
Raymond? Could 1t be she?
why not?" he asked himself bit
terly. who knows where she went or
how far may have fallen since she
slipped away from Lancaster two
years ago? Then Cecile wished to be
"a grand opera star" lie smiled with
synlcism beyond his years. "They
so often end up in the chorus-it may
be after ALL" he concluded.
III she" and then his honesty OF
thought drove back the reproaches he
started to heap upon Cecile. mo. 1t
was my fault. just mine." he admitted.
ri was too ambitious. I didn't dare to
ask her when had little to offer. Ce-
cile on her part was impatient and
went away to make name for her.
self II was all my fault" he repeated,
unconscious that he spoke aloud.
whats your fault?" Miss Davis ask.
ed. turning a wondering glance upon
him.
Ralph came out Of his reverie sud
denly. THAT didn't bring box Of
candy for you." he replied with quick
self-possession. He hailed q boy and
bought an expensive two-pound pack.
age.
For an instant Travis eyes rested
on the woman at his side. Superbly
Eowned, Miss Davis possessed regu.
Jar II somewhat colorless beauty. Her
good breeding showed itself In every
line OF her face and II there was a
certain hardness In her features. too
much Of steely glitter In the pale
blue eyes. the amount Of her fathers
fortune atoned for any deficiencies.
Certainly. Travis. two years before a
nobody and now only a rising young
man. perhaps undeservedly credited
with two engineering triumphs. should
thank his stars Of fortune that II was
he who was favored to sit at Miss
Divis' side.
Travis knew we'll that in the next
box was Edgerton Green. contender
lor the hand of the girl who that eve
ming favored Ralph with her smiles
TO be in his place the young man
doubted not that Green would have
given all he possessed. Certainly"
Travis reflected. II should consider
myself lucky"
But strangely enough he was dis
satisied. Tho girl was probably not
Cecile. Even II she were. what was
she to him?
Two years on the stage. in the bal.
let! With his somewhat austere train.
Ing he shuddered to think what her
life must have been. No; II the dancer
should prove to be Cecile. she held
no interest for him.
Yet. when the curtain rose. he for
got the woman beside him and with
an unconscious eagerness leaned fon
ward In his seat. his eyes strained to
catch the first sight of the diminu.
tive figure, third from the end-second
row.
The pretty conceit of the second act
was the appearance Of the "Tiger.Lil.
les" The ballet, few minutes before
gowned In dainty white. now appeared
in flaming crimson. their heads crown.
ed with scarlet and yellow caps, fash.
Hoped In the shape Of lily. Then II
was that Travis knew the one whom
his eyes sought was indeed Cecile Ray
mond. The gorgeousness of her cos.
hume only accentuated the pallor of
her cheeks. the feverish luster of her
large. brown eyes, the dead blackness
of her massed hair.
Cecile knew him. He read that in
the first glance. Despite stage de-
corum her eyes continually wandered
toward his box. She executed the live
ly. rollicking dance mechanically, keep
Ing time and step with the skill OF
long habit. But the man; leaning for.
ward in his seat, unconscious of the
stately girl at his side. of the multi.