Evening star., 1924-05-17
CHAPTER 4.
TarniNhed Wings.

TarniNhed Wings.
OLETTE was-Lolette. When one
said that, one said all, for those
IL who knew her. She was famous
perhaps notorious is the more
httlng word-a wonderful tainted but
terhy. with 'singed wings. She had made
for herself name. wealth. jewels. fine
clothes-and she had paid for them
with herself and her soul.
Ii was written there in her eyes AZ
Elise looked into them, written clearly.
and with it was that something else
Elise had not before realized. that her
own innocence. her own purity, were to
Lolette perpetual anrront and re-
proach. Lo!ette might have her cars and
her gems, her furS and her Paouiu
goWns-but she was poor beside the girl
who brushed her hair and fastened her
hooks and heard unmoved her revilines.
ia inns growing ,i hatred went deeper than
Jealousy. Elise understood it then; il
reached right down-far-to the depths
of Lo!ette s black soul. Involunta rily
Elise shuddered.
Lolette was smiling. 1t was as if a
mask, slaShed with crimson, smiled
with holes cut in its hardness behind
which yellow lamps burned low.
You tell me-you, And these fools
or men smile at you. Why: For the
sake Of your beautiful eyes? Slut, l
wasn't born yesterday" She paused,
and her voice rose: Are you going to
brush my hair-or are you going 10
stand like fool all night with the brush
in your hand? Hurry"
Elise fell to brushing again. and as
she did so. Lolette cried: "Heloise
Heloise. Dieu de Dicu. Where is that
woman" Heloise."
HeIoisc came hurrvino carr,.ir, !,
her hands the fiimsy, priceless fragment
of lace and jewels which was Lolette's
only adorament for her dance of love.
II was fastened on the vibrant white
figure, setting off daringly its sweeping
lines. its life and its promise. The
clipped god band which when unfast-
ened during the dance. looSed the mass
or vivid hair, was snapped into place.
Lolette was preening herself before the
mirrors when the door OF the room
opened
Elise, turning, had first only a quick
glimpse Of two white shirt fronts backed
by the nebulouS black of male evening
wear. Then she recognized the men.
One was Maurice Brunei, the all
powerful entrepreneur. owner of the
break anybody in French theatrical
circies-anybody, that is, except Lolette.
He was d big man, stout. with face
slightly flushed on the cheeks, and a
hard. straight mouth underhung by a
solid jaw. His eyes were gray and small
and quick set deep under heavy brows.
The other was that Count Mordac who
was, at the moment, Lolette's most ia
vored suitor. and whose attentions to
Elise had assisted in arousing the
dancers wrath. He was a wealthy,
cosmopolitan financier of dubious an
cestry, dark man. slim, with narrow
white hands and eyes like black pools
in shadow: suaVe man, who always
spoke softly and with a smile.
Ola Heloise, seeing who the visitors
were, withdrew, and Elise stepped for
ward with the intention Of replacing
the heavy silver brush on the dressing
table and followed her. In doing this
she stubbed her foot against the leg Of
Lolettes stool and stumbled, so that the
brush fell from her hand and slid to the
feet of Mordac, while she herself would
have fallen also but that Brunei put out
his hand and caught her arm.
Careful. - said Brunei. You'll hurt
yourself"
Loiette had opened her lips TO loose
A torrent of vitupera tfon. but suddenly
she changed her mind and stood watch
ing. her eyes almost invisible. narrowed
down to thin Sits Of swimming light
her crimson lips twisted into sneer
She might have been the ironic spectator
of some little episode with which she
had nothing in common, but which she
very well appreciated.
Mordac was picking up the brush.
Elise, now steady on her feet. looked
up at Brunei, who still gripped her arm
and smiled down into her face.
'sThank-you," she said. Thank you.
There was that in Brunel's expression
which made her speech halting. Il near
ly fell
The pressure Of his fingers on her arm
was firmer than was necessary. In
fact, there was no need for him to hold
her any longer.
You did" he said quietly. But 7
saved you" His arm moved, as though
to draw her toward him, and then he
released her-smilng.
Mordac held out the brush with a lit
tie inclination Of his head.
Elise took the brush and laid it on
the table. She was shaky and fiustered
and little frightened. for she was
realizing about these two men some
thing which had hitherto escaped her
conscious knowledge: that each in his
an unsuerving strength, which seemed
typified in their attitude toward her
during this little incident. Brunei had
gripped her. held her, made to draw
her toward him. Mordac had stood
aIoof offering suavery, with well
tuned phrase. Yet the threat of them
had been ecua,-if there was threat
outside her own imagination.
And Lolette. She ventured glance
at Lo,ette. The dancer was Yet very
still. yet with the same sneer, the same
narrowed eyes She sighed exaggerated
" as Elise replaced the brush and her
white shoulders lifted higi;
Mon Dieu. she breathed.
Elise walked to the door. AS she went
she saw that Brunei was watching her.
but that Mordac was watching Lolette.
He seemed amused.
1t was later. over supper at night
restaurant, that Mordac. alone with Lo-
lette, ventured to mention Elise.
You were not pleased cherie, that
your dresser should stumble. Heinz"
Lolette, her cheeks flushed beneath
their makeup, slipped the half-consumed
champagne before her.
"Tcha, 1t was contemptuouS, l! She
is such a simpering baby-so modest
Dieu. Modesty! She exudes it. She is
too wholly virtuous to admit that lips
were made for kissing, and not talking.
Mordac nodded with becoming gravity.
He understood Lolette very well, this
stink, smooth man; and he knew per-
fectly well the rock-bottom foundation
Of her hate for Else. For he could read
the difference in them with ease-the
one leapt from the gutter, lacking re-
finement and elegance, and possessing
only certain siashing confidence to
carry her through: the other gentle, with
mire by giant circumstances and yet
preserving herself and her beauty with
patient fortitude.
so So" he said. But what would
YOU? 1t is not all of US who realize ouI
gifts" Lolette did not appreciate the
irony of this.
Gifts, you say! You would call a