The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-05-20
CHAPTER S1-THE PRINCELY
 LOVER

TT was at this period that Elise met those two men whose advent meant
 as much to her as that first night when she danced and brought Paris wor- shipping.
 They were introduced by a wealthy Frenchman at one of her informal din ners. One was Felice Donatelli, an Italian from Milan, wealthy, of ancient lineage, dark and swarthy, handsome. The other was from the east-Elise never knew his real nationality, ex- cept that he was, apparently, great man in his own eountry-and his name was Ahmed el Yezeed, whom everybody called Ahmed. He had a virile, sleek movement about him which spoke of burning sands and horsemanship. Like the rest of these men he loved her. It was Ahmed who first declared 1t. He had taken her for drive in the Bois, during the heat of the morn- ing, and they had pulled up in the shade of the spreading trees. They were alone, for Ahmed's chauffeur had not accompanied them.
 Ahmed said: Have you ever wis. ited the east?"
 Elise confessed that she had not.
 It is wonderful" he said. Tt is unchanging, eternal. It is as it was when the Christ you worship trod the earth, and as it was when the prya mids were reared and the gardens ''of Babylon hung over the still waters"
 There was a magic in his voice which painted it all for Elise.
 At home," continued Ahmed, "a hundred slaves do my bidding. When ride out men go before me to clear svR lady," He leaned closer. Would you palace?"
 She tried to smile, for she had never seen a man so dreadfully in earnest.
 Monsieur! You ask ms to leave all this-Paris, the summertime, my workr'
 He nodded gravely. "I would wait, for a smile from you I would wait forever. For a kiss from your lips I would die, and think the kiss cheaply bought"
 She laughed, uneasily. "I do not wish you to die, monsieur"
 His eyes flashed, "You would mock me and the love I have for you?"
 She shook her head, very earnest and sincere. Mot at all, monsieur. It is a compliment can never appreciate fully. Be assured that. And now shall we drive On%
 He sat back, away from her, his eyes having lost their light, and dimmed pitifully.
 "You do not care," he said. "Here --all are your slaves. You can afford to listen with amusement to the love declarations of a son of princes and pass him by."
 It is not that. It isn't really. Only-I should like to drive on a little further. The sun is creeping round this way. The shade will soon be gone"
 He nodded, and suddenly laid a sinewy brown hand over hers.
 "One day." he said quietly, ''one day I shall speak again to you of love, and then I hope you will listen. For l love you. It is love that demands all, that gives all-love-my white flower from the west-loVe."
 He lifted her hand and kissed it. She was strangely stirred, and could find no answer for him.
 Only she told herself that among all these men about her this one was gentleman.
 They drove home.
 Inc OLner-G elIce-WdS ulLKeEeuIs k1e gave Elise presents, many of them costly and rare. Each morning her ta- ble was heaped with flowers and bedded among them was his mOnogrammed card.
 He took her to dinner once, before her show, and made love to her across the table, driving her to the theatre in his car, and trying to kiss her as they went.
 She resisted him and prevented him, and he made a joke of it. Yet there was an ardOr in his eyes which fright ened her.
 But now she had acquired the habit of playing on the feelings of men, and in Felice she saw a fit subject for her endeavors. For Felice was obviously not sincere except in his passionate desire for her.
 So Elise, confident in her powers, found in Felice q new toy, led him on. pulled the strings while he danced, and watched him with q blase amusement. | And Felice spent his money and his time and told himself that in the end | he would win her.
 Yet, had a hint of what the future | held for her and Felice and Ahmed l been told, Elise would have banished