The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1916-06-16
ed. and he entered his wife's apart

ments.
Eve Dacre sat In her boudoir under
the glow Of pink shaded lamps. Sne
wore q negligee OF rose celere1 silk. and
ller dark, piuuant face seemed to re-
feet the tender glow.
She looked up as be entered. and
cold little smile curved her lips anu
driftek away.
"Ah. you are home." she said. did
you enjoy tie p!ay?"
81 went to me Venus" he said rtg.
idly.
Now Mrs. Dacre laughed softly.
The Venus. of course! |. too. was
here"
Your" he stammered.
"Yes. 1t was all rather stspid. was
it not? Always excepting Ecarlate"
He was silent His mouth was
white. and his gray eyes looked cold
and imEenetrab BILE
Eve arose and crossed to the phono-
graph. She slipped in record. set 1t
in motion and returned to lean over
the back Of her chair. looking at her
husband with grave. dark eyes. while
the tender strains of Ecarlate's dance
rose and fell
what are you doing that for?" he
demanded lercely.
Jack" she said In voice suddenly
weary. "let us be frank with each 9th
err. You want your freedom Am
right"
"You are dead wrong!" he retorted
doggedly.
"But Ecarlate?'' Her voice dropped
to whisper
I'VE will not talk Of her."
"And those that came before Fear
late" she went on. while the haunting
music made u background for her pas
sionate words. II have overlooked,
have forgiven. and now 1t is Ecariate.
You love her You dare not deny it,
Again he was silent. He looked at
her. noting. with a shock of surprise.
that there were silver threads in Ewes
dark hair and lines about her mouth
and eyes-lines that he had craven
there. Eve was only twenty-five, and
he was killing her youth.
Suddenly she drew long breath.
"What is it about these women that
attracts you? What charm do they
possess that is not miner"
Still he did not answer.
She swayed little and turned away.
"Ecarlate is here! am sending her
to your
"Ecarlate here? You are madv he
exclaimed. But the gentle closing of
the door sent him quivering to chair.
The music played steadily on-that
eternal butterfly dance. He began to
hate it What was Ecarlate doing
herein his house? 1t was like
jealous woman to take revenge, but he
had believed Eve above such trickery.
Ecarlate!
The repetition Of her name. the ia
miliar music, and again the old en-
chantment fell upon him. He watched
the door for her appearance. What
would she look like? Beautiful. Of
course! He forgot that Eve would ac-
company the dancer.
He jumped up when the door slowly
opened to admit Ecarlate's scarlet clad
form. She was alone.
The door closed and left her leaning
against the white paneled surface,
painting a little, as II afraid.
Dacre laughed triumphantly. Ecar-
late afraid of him, her adorer!
He made one step toward her, but
in that instant she left the door and
swayed like butterfly in the mazes
Of her dance. Delicately she poised
before him, and then. before his out.
stretched hand could touch her, she
had melted away beyond his reach.
Her tiny scarlet shoes seemed to
barely touch the floor; she floated; her
chiffon wings beat the air; the jeweled
band above her forehead blazed with
myriad lights; the cactus flower famed
like burning heart.
Suddenly the music ceased, and the
dancer was once more leaning against
the white door of Ewes dressing room
Through her black mask her eyes
cleaned strangely.
Dacre clinched his hands. Ecarlate,
standing there with outstretched scar
let winged arms, appeared like scar
let angel barring him from his wife's
ROOM
He stared ut her smiling lips, ut the
alluring sparkle of her eyes peering
oddly at him through the mask at her
black hair with its dazzling band of
brilliants.
Suddenly he remembered that his
wifes hair was black, but it was
threaded with silver. He had placed
the silver threads there.
He laid his hand on Ecarlate's arm.
His voice was hoarse with resolve.
"Allow me to pass" he said.
She laughed, merry, trickling,
hooking laugh that ended suddenly In
a sob Of pain.
His hand had closed on her tender
flesh.
"Will you let me pass?" he asked
through clinched teeth.
"You love mel" she whispered tensely.
lie was silent.
Say you love mer she repeated.