Evening star., 1928-04-15
GODS OF CHANCE
By Clarence Burlington Kelland

1T is not for me-" said Andrea zam-
| bo. the concierge. Ito offer unasked ad-
vice to guests of this hotel"
Nevertheless" said Roland FiSke,
your admonition will be welcome"
Il can not persuade myself" Andrea
said. that 1t is good for the Signore to
visit the Casino"
THAT is to say" said Roland, that
the games make themselves to win for
! the houSe?"
THE stranger does not win" said
| Zambo, "at the tables" And here he
paused. nor at any other game, Sig
| more"
Il thank you"
Mr.. and Mrs, Parmalce came up the
stairway from their room ON the ter
| race below,
"All is in readiness" Andrea bowed
and led them to the street, where three
tiny donkeys awaited with their pro-
prietor.
So they started on their way to lofty
Mola. down TO the CorSo, past that an
cient courtyard. and up the sharp,
winding declivity, walled in on either
hand.
Roland who had visited the place
many times, was the guide, He led
them to the graveled yard before the
tiny Church of st. George, the abode
of poverty and of age crumbling: the
worshiping place of dwindling popu-
lation. And through It's doors they
entered unopposed. Some one was
kneeling at the altar as they passed to
enter the sacristy. Presently they re-
turned to :he church proper. The sup
plicant had arisen from the steps of
the altar and Roland'S heart leaped,
for II was the Signurinedda Neri of the
Casino.
"Youl Here!" he said, advancing to
meet her.
HER eyes met his somberly 1T Is
quiet here" she said. and one may
feel that the saints are close by. do
not think the saints persuade them
selves to attend the Casino"
Doubtless not" he said trifie dryly.
Then, 1T is, as you say quiet. At last
We may talk"
why do you trouble me?" she de-
manded.
Because love you' he said
THAT is not possible"
1T is more than possible. 1t is a
thing assured"
But YOU. so-rich American! And
I--what do you know of mep" Her
eyes became less fathomable. You pre-
tend TO think / am good; why. do not
know You perceive that / am of the
Casino, of which my father is the di-
rector. Also. you must perceive that
such beauty as have is of value to him.
That is clear. Not few come to the
Casino because l am there, who would
not come for the games alone"
1T Is that that maddens me-" he
~ frr fTaK
She nodded. THAT may very we'll
be-" she said practically. II live. ! am
young All. yes. Signore. that you love
me ! do not doubt. But there is this
difference: You do not permit to hope.
while the others may hope Ii they like.
II is my employment to make them to
remain hopeful"
MIR. and Mrs. Parmalee we're becom-
ing restless. there was ScutIling OF feet
and clearing OF throats.
There's a marvellous view from the
parapet outside the door" suggested Ro-
land He turned again TO the signuri-
MEDIA. MY heart has studied you." he
said. 1T understands. 1t Ia as though
there were two of you. my dear. and one
is present and walks among these evil
things. while the other. which is your
self. stands aloof.s watching. as 1t were.
but Is never within arms length"
Then yours Is real love-" she re-
piled, else you would not know that
hidden thing. But must make myself
10 descend. must musti"
Not before you tell me that ! may
hope--that, oh, 50 very ittie--you love
mel"
If 1t were the truth" she said.
then. because of the truth OF 1t,
should not say it. There would be
death in the saying. Signore. and. fall
ing death. ruin to you in your own
land You are of the gentryl Can
such as you wed such as /? Not So"
Roland Fiske was very young. so
young that he could be at once ter
ribly earnest and boyishly gay. Glamour
could cast its spell upon him. impress
sions could move him. and he was
capable OF romantic ideals. In all these
matters he differed sharply from Mr..
and Mrs Parmalee. who saw what they
saw and were practical. and whose eyes
translated all to them in terms of
their own experience. They were Sec
ing the world. but not broadening their
horizon Taormina was not fas-
cinating new experience TO them. But
Roland, IL must be admitted. went
rather to the other extreme. and his
romantic imagination saw what was
but TO be seen In glamorous Taor-
nina.
Roland paralleled his situation. For
himself ne substituted medieval
knight: for Signurinedda Eeri he sub
stituted the daughter of reproach-
able baron: for John-Peter. as he was
In the habit of translating Giovan-