The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-09

cold little smile curved her lips and
drifted away.
"Ah. you are home." she said. did
you enjoy the playT"
Il went to the Venus" be said frig-
idly.
Now Mrs. Dacre laughed softly.
THE Venus. Of counsel l. too. was
there
"Youf" he stammered-
yes. 1t was all rather stupid, was
it not? Always excepting Ecarlater
He was silent His mouth was
white, and his gray eyes looked cold
and impenetrable.
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 forT' he
demanded fiercely.
"Jack," she said in a voice suddenly
weary, '1et us be frank with each 9TH
er. You want your freedom. Am l
rightT'
you are dead wrongT he retorted
doggedly.
"But EcarlateT Her voice dropped
to whisper.
I'VE will not talk of her"
"And those that came before Ecar-
late" she went on. while the haunting
music made background for her pas
sionate words. II have overlooked.
have forgiven, and now 1t Is Ecarlate.
You love her. You dare not deny it!''
Again he was silent He looked at
her, noting, with 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 a little and turned away.
"Ecarlate is herel / am sending her
to your
"Ecarlate here? You are madr' he
exclaimed. But the gentle closing Of
the door sent him quivering to a 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 a
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 little, as IL afraid.
/
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 fioated; 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 at her smiling lips, at 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 bis
wife's 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, a merry, trickling
hooking laugh that ended suddenly in
q sob of pain
His hand had closed on her tender
| flesh
xviii you let me passT' he asked
through clinched teeth.
"You love mer' she whispered tensely
He was silent.
Say you love meT she repeated.
He lifted his hand and deliberately
tore aside the mask.
For several minutes he stared al
Ecarlate's face. How many times had
he yearned to tear away the mask and
feast his eyes on her unknown lowell
nessl
1t was a face such as he had never
imagined in his widest dreams OF her
Suddenly she covered it with little
| jeweled hands.
Then he spoke
81 love your he cried vehemently
II have always loved you! 1t was be
cause you were behind the mask that
l loved you, and you aloneT
She melted into his arms. and he held