The Ordway new era., 1913-09-19
FROM OUT THE PAST
BY WILLIAM E. GRANT.

heavy air of the ballroom, and the
swish of the dancers feet over the
smooth parquet was keeping dreamy
time to the whispering tinkle OF the
inandolins. With a curious smile on
her cameo face Mrs. Santelle stood
watching the throng of those eager
pursuers of fleet-footed happiness.
There was a crowd Of admirers about
her, and she was sparkling all over,
IN Jewels and vita cold satirical
wit.
| Presently there came into the room
a girl and her chaperone. The former
was Mrs. Santelle's daughter, and the
mother, nodding to the crowd around
ner, passed over to where she stood.
you are looking exquisite tonight,
dear" said the elder woman. And.
yet. there is something unusual about
you. What has happened? Is 1t pos
sible? You say that the heir to the
Vangreft millions has asked for your
| hand! or course you accepted? No?
Child, you have made an awful mis-
take. 1t must be that there is some
one else. All, young Howard. the ar
| list who paints those pretty pastelle
heads? But, my dear. he has next to
no money. Forget him, you must for
get him"
As the woman moved away she
| looA ! back once and she saw that the
girls face was overshadowed with
gloom. The night no longer held any
happiness for her.
Mr.. Santelle shuddered slightly, but
Oh,
speedily forgot all but her own proud
position as leader of society, the
| wife of prominent statesman and
reigning beauty. But suddenly. while
the mandolins dripped their sweet mu.
| sic most tenderly, she started, paled
quickly, and trembled on her partners
arm. Therein the misty corner Of
the room-she seemed to see a face
she had known In the long ago-a face
CHASTITY and wan-touched with GRIM
son and stamped with the mark Of
death. She closed her eyes-opened
them again, but 1t was still there
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.!
There was a sudden commotion; for
Mrs. Santelle had tainted. Quickly
she was carried to another room, and
ger husband came to her. She awoke
to find him leaning over the divan
where she lay.
1T is you." she said. with forced
smile. There Is nothing serious the
matter-I fainted-that was all. 1t
was the heat OF the room.
please leave mel require moth
Ing"
Alone with her own thoughts she
dreamed the old dream over again. So
long she had tried to forget. to put
| ,he worldly mask OF pride over all
| hose tender, sad days, and yet, here
| little indisposition had brought the
haunting terror back to her again.
| Well II it must be, she would review
| he dream, the dream Of those days
ahen she was young, poor and am.
bilious. Her beauty had then seemed
o her a power beyond price. and she
had determined to aim for nothing
tower than the highest. And then that
handsome young West Pointer had
,ome into her life. She-yes. she
loved him, though she told herself
she must st!fe her love. And yet she
had smiled upon him. One day he
said:
81 can bear It no longer. You know
that l love you. Do you love me? l
must know that. Can you give up
your ambition for me-for love? can.
aot eat of the fruit OF hope and de-
.rair in this maddening alienation.
Tell me-yes or mol" And she had shut
ner teeth and said mo" firmly, al.
though she knew she loved him we'll.
When she learned that he had shot
himself, she remained calm for a few
seconds and then fell to the floor in q
very delirium OF pent-up terror.
In the morning, wearing a heavy
veil, she went to look upon his dead
face. All. the sight OF that white face
with the majesty OF death upon It!
She would never forget that awful
picture. Why did that phantom come
Ter? Had she not made new life for
nerself. buried those old-time mem
,ries. gratifed all her ambitions. ev
arything save love? Why had she
ireamed tonight? Was It the look on
Ter daughters face that had brough,
about the coming OF the dream? Would
Stella, TOO, live to repent?
She went out into the ballroom
again, radiant and beautiful as be
fore. She waved her questioler.
aside with her fan.
Thank you, 1t was nothing. Only
fatigue, faintness, due to the heat"
But when Stella said softly: "Hov
glad am that you are better. moth
err" she bent over her and whispered
Il have been thinking things over
dear, and have changed my mind. Yo,
can tell Mr.. Howard, my child. thai
he can have you. II he has set hi.
heart upon you and you on him. There
are other snd greater forms OF happi
> ness In this old world than can be wor
by the possession Of mere money. Ant
| ss;ealtis Ia hut moor Gu hstiti IL