The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-05-09
CHAPTER HONE HOPE RE.
 nFATNG


 ELISE would have given up her job E at the theatre after her interview
 with Brunei but for one thing: the knowledge that while she was there she could meet Kendriek. Indeed, in Ken drick now lay her only hope. She clung to his memory as drowniny woman might cling to plank carried to her across the waves. She couli not conceive what life had been like be- fore he came; she dared not think what life might De if he went away. He filled her thoughts and her dreams, her life. He was the beginning and the end of everything-because he had kissed her hand and spoken of friendship for her.
 Perhaps, in other circumstances, she would not have given so much of her self to his memory; but now she was harassed and shamed. face to face with evil. sustaining unseen pressure from those who would east her down.
 Always at the theatre she was meet ing Brunei. He never mentioned his interview with her; he never again asked her if she wished to dance. From his ignoring of her the whole episode might have been a chimera evolved in her own overwrought brain. Yet she knew that the invitation was still open. She knew that Brunei but stood aside to watch--and wait
 Lolette's attitude was curious. Some times, when she feared that Elise had definitely made up her mind to resist Brunefs arguments-for Lolette had no definite information concerning the af- fair and could only guess at what had oceurred-she was more vicious and spiteful than ever before: and then, hoping that Elise might suceumb at the last. and realizing that surrender would only come because she was in constant contact with Brunei by reason Iof her remaining at the theatre, she would be honey-svaeet, dangerously so. with still that hint of malev0lenee lurking in her sweetness.
 Of Mordae Elise hardly thought. It was as though she saw all those peo- pie clearly except him; and yet, though he was shadowy, out of her immediate perspective for the time, she still count ed him formidable. perhaps more so than any of them, because her instinct told her so to reckon him. In his man ner he was absolutely unchanged. He still smiled on her, he was still suavely polite, there was sti0 an invitation
  lurking in his dark eyes. He might have been ignorant of it all Yet he, too, stood by, watching and waiting, like Brunei. And of the two he was the more dangerous.
 Elise did not tell Marthe why she had cried that morning, though Marthe pressed her to do so, with the result that Marthe, seeing how wan and list less she was, aseribed it all to nerves and general debility, and informed Dr. Lapierre of it.
 Lapierre heard it in silence and made no attempt to see Elise. or to treat her for it. More than ever was he self-Oc- cupied, shut about by his thoughts, as though wrapped in a cloak. Sometimes Marthe, studying him, thought that the kindly softaess of his eyes was going, leaving in its stead a feveriSh, un- natural hardness which peeped out and ] hid itself at intervals. But he still tended her carefully, and still spoke to her kindly, so she tried to persuade herself that she was wrong. | The days went by. and Paris danced in the sunshine and the night. The weather held fine and warm, and it seemed that summer would tread hard on the heels of spring, and come in Haunting banners of glory and gold. The Longehamp races were q gath ering of all that was smart and costly in Paris. The cafes were filled to over flowing. Paris lived and laughed and loved.
 Kendrick did not come.
 Elise hardly grasped this fact at first. As day succeeded day, and he did not appear, she kept telling herself that the morrow would bring him: yet it did not His visits to the dressing room had. just prior to the bal masQue, been so frequent that he was there at least four nights in every week. But now fortnight passed without his pres ence.
 It was ineredible-as incredible as the sudden sweeping away of a familiar hillside.
 Kendrick was sure to come. He was sure to. For had he not declared 1t was to be au reyoir! He had sed her fingers and said, Until we heet again" Until we meet again -sAnd there was to be no again"
 He was not that kind. She repeated that to herself over and over again, as the pattering of a prayer. He was not that kind. He would come back, so that she could find support in his near presence. in the knowledge that he was her friend. He would come back
 But he did not come.
 It vas from the lips of MOrdae that sk. had 10 all a,4swf9ruaa1 and vwAnfkmu