Evening star., 1928-12-25

make 0eT CIlOlC6. Die IidQ
refused to discuss her plans with any
one: She did not know herself whether
Richard would return to an empty
home, famous wife, or to Yvonne, the
French peasant girl, her life bounded
by the four walls of this house.
She rose and dressed hastily. Out
into the early morning air with its hint
of coming Spring she went, walking
swiftly to the church where she heard
mass and made her confession. AT
prayer she would make her decision.
She knelt with the few worshipers
who had gathered putting all her be-
ing into plea for guidance. Rapidly
she thought of her whole life, its past
simplicity, its present troubled nights
and days. She thought Of her old
grandmother, content all her life to be
a good woman. She was happy.
Like a great light. the thought came
to Yvonne, "As long as was content
to be a good woman good wife to
Richard. to do my husbands work in
the world, was happy. 1t was only
when I began to yearn for something
else that problems arose"
When she left the church her choice
was finally and irrevocably made.
She returned to the house and spent
the morning in a whirlwind of prep
aration. All her new clothes we're
neatly packed, every reminder of her
| success as dancer destroyed, her
old peasant dresses restored to the
places of honor in her closet. Then
| she went to the den. To the sur
prised Lottie she gave the small phono-
graph and the records. She carried
| the chairs and rugs from the other
parts of the house back into the den
At the piano she paused in the act OF
sweeping all her music into the discard
mo. This I will keep. Richard is
willing for me to, have this. He has
even liked to hear me play"
BY noon the only signs of Made
moiselle the dancer were two large new
suitcases filled with finery, which stood
| by the living-room door.
st won't need you after today, Lot
| tie" she told the colored woman, pay
| ing her literally.
"Sho am sorry, Mizz Ross" 4-otvie
said. Been mighty easy working fol
you. Ever you wants help again just
let me know
Yvonne promised. Just after lunch
! she left the house, taking with hel
the two large bags. At the station
in New York she checked them both
and then tore up the stubs. There
were no marks of Identification or
any of the clothing they contained
AS Yvonne tore up the two stubs anC
dropped the pieces into a nearby
waste basket she felt she had de-
stroyed the last link that bound hel
new life to the house. There re-
NAMED the breaking of the links tha'
united her to the theater.
In her dressing room she sorted
ner costumes. Presently there was
knock at the door.
Come" she called.
Drake entered. "You wanted to see
me, Madame Ross" he asked.
"Yes. I am leaving tonight, to-
night is my last performance.
| Drake looked at her aghaSt. TO
night-tonight- that Is impossible. y
MY husband returns tomorrow-my
contract provides that I may leave
when he returns"
"But, Mrs. Ross" In his astonish-
ment he forgot to say, madame,
"but, Mrs. Ross, you are a tremend-
/ Gus success. 'I'l give you twice the
salary If you will stay-that and any
length contract you want"
Yvonne shook her head. "I am
leaving she said firmly. II called you
to ask with other things whether the
girls here, any OF them, could use ny
costumes
why of course, of course, we'll have
to try to substitute one Of them for
your act. But you mustn't consider
leaving us. It's unthinkable. No
notice"
He was growing angry.
Yvonne came close to him and
took his hand in hers. my friend"
she said simply, 1T must leave. I do
not wish to leave. I love my work.
You have been most kind to me. But
I beg you not to make 1t hard or diff
1cult for me. am only doing what
I must do"
His face softened. "You know best,
he sighed But if you ever really want
to come back to the stage, will you
come to me?"
"I promise" said Yvonne Solemnly.
AS Yvonne stepped onto the stage
that evening she felt great wave of
sorrow sweep over her. Poised for her
first steps, tears filled her eyes. This
was her farewell. Spurred by her re-
nunciation, she danced as she had
never danced before. There was a tu-
multi of applause as she finished. It