The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1916-06-01
Ecarlate
A Mans Dream Ma
terialized.
By CLARISSA MACKiE

/ When Dacre married his friends said
Of him that any womaa who allied her
self to him would not be able to hold
J him. He was a man about town. a
clubmaa. a man who WAS always vel
come behind the scenes at the thea
/ tiers and was very often found there.
I especially when the chorus and ballet
girls were pretty. Some declared that
I the girl he married was one Of thou
sand; just the woman. in fact TO hold
such a man as Dacre. One who was
familiar with his makeup replied that
if she did hold him she would have to
do it in eauze and tights.
Dacre before the wedding made all
sorts Of promises to his fancee. He
would escheW theaters-that is, he
would never go behind the scenes. He
would cut all his old friends who were
fast" In short, ne would make a
model husband. devoted to his wife
alone. That he loved her she did not
doubt. What she feared was that some
one would steal him away from her
through his senses.
To every ones surprise. Dacre kept
his promises. For a year he never
went to the theater except with his
wife. Then when the baby came and
she had a new being TO look after he
was left occasionally alone OF an even
ing. One night to pass the time he
sought amusement in what for him
was dangerous place. The queen Of
the ballet captured him. and from that
time forward he was devoted TO a sue
cessiOn of dancers. At last the pre-
dictiOns Of those who knew him best
had come true. His wife's life was
changed from happiness to misery.
Then came the peerless Ecarlate.
Shortly before her coming Mrs. Dacre
had exacted a promise from her hus-
band that he would abstain from an
acquaintance with any more women
of the stage. He kept his promise. but
every night that Ecarlate danced he
was in his accustomed seat in the
theater. He had been captivated by
the poetry Of motion and could not
look upon the dancer except with a
mad temptation TO break his word 10
the woman he really loved.
One night when Dacre was at the
theater just before the dancer came on
the stage the lights were lowered and
the orchestra softly played a dream
waltz. Then came a change.
The violins suddenly swept into
legato movement. and as if treading
lightly on the delicate measure small
scarlet clad form 'swayed on TO the
darkened stage and futtered there IN
til the cold circle OF the spot light
searched and found her.
1t held her there. a QuiveTing crea-
ture of tantalizing mystery. d battling
airy thing of midnight hair. glorious
eyes and unknown features. for Ecar-
late was always masked
Above the black velvet mask show
ed a white forehead with the soft
black hair banded with jewels. Below
it there were rose red lips, curved in
tender smiles. and a dimpled white
chin Through the Sits in the mask
her eyes worked disaster.
The mystery Of her unknown fea-
lures only added to her charm in the
eyes of men. especially Jack Dacre.
Dacre leaned with his elbows on the
railing of the box. and quite Oblivious
to significant glances he watched the
dancer. He stared at her until his
heart ached with longing that the mask
might be lifted so that he could feast
his eyes on the lOveliness which he had
never vet seen.
His eyes never left her while she
danced. Occasionally she flashed a
glance toward the box where
he always sat when she danced. and /
hen her head was turned aside so that /
he might see that she wore his nightly /
a scarlet cactus flower tucked /
n the duskinesS OF her wonderful hair. 1
My scarlet beauty" he muttered /
as she swayed in the dizzy 4
nazeS of her famous butterfly dance.
Scarlet she was from the flower in
ler hair to the tips of her tiny satin
slippers.
With snowy arms she lifted the scar
ct chiffon wings of her tilmy skirts
Ter head fell back. and she melted
nto the rhythm of one of her charac-
e- dances.
When il was over she withdrew. her
lrmS loaded with flowers. her eyes
milling at Dacre's frowning face.
With her departure Jack Dacre went
way. For him the performance had
nded with the vanishing of Ecarlate.
For an hour he sat on the lounge OF
lis club. drinking little. thinking all
he time of the strange woman whom
lie madly loved. although her face was
Unknown. TO him Even her home was
n impeneuable mystery. She came
nd went like bright meteor flashing
cross the midnight sky. Her man
gers were dumb on the subject. IL
-as whispered that she was of royal
firth
1t was nearly midnight when Dacre
It himself into his own house and
ave his hat and overeoat TO a sleepy
ervant.
rs Mrs. Dacre out this eveningT' he
sked. with foot on the stair.
Mrs. Dacre returned an hour ago.
believe she is in her boudoir. sir"
Dacre went on up the stairs and
armed into his own room. For mo-
lent he hesitated: then he crossed 10
he door Of his wife's dressing room
nd laid his hand on the glass knob.
tH-o,,Ya z. -aSrppd 70 Id. ,,-ossuraS