Evening star., 1928-12-20
INSTALLMENT XIII.

% " Yvonne," Mrs ogden said
gravely, but without re-
A proach.
81 have been very busy
with my home" Yvonne faltered.
"Yvonne, dear, we have been talking
of you, and these other two good
friends, and we have come to make one
more attempt to get you to go on with
your dancing. have told these gentle
men your story, and they have come
with me today to add their pleadings
to mine. We are willing, anxious, II
you will let us, to go to your husband
ourselves and to explain to him your
great gift"
Richard is gone," Yvonne said duly
"Gone!" the three callers echoed the
Eord
Yes. last week, for three months, to
visit mines and talk with engineers"
Gone and left you here alonel" Mrs.
Ogden tried not to sound too indignant
''I wished to stay" Yvonne said, de-
Tending Richard. Il am not afraid and
am very happy here by myself. See,
Richard gave me this little dog before
he left" She held Dicky up to be
admired.
Mrs. Ogden cast a significant look at
the two men. suppose I ask these
two good friends of yours to leave
now, and you and have little talk,
Yvonne. They had simply come to
urge on you the acceptance OF the con-
tract offered you two weeks ago. They
wanted your permission to speak to Mr..
Ross, if necessary. But now that he is
gone, they cannot, of course, see him. .
IT hope to see you soon in the studio,
Mile Yvonne," said M. Romanevskl,
bowing over her hand.
And I hope to see you soon on Broad
way" Mr.. Drake said, shaking hands
heartily.
Left alone the two women smiled at
each other, and then Yvonne was IN
her friends arms sobbing as though her
heart were broken. Mrs. Ogden led her
to the davenport and sat beside her,
soothing her, and waiting for the wider
sobbing to cease.
.sThere, there, child" she kept saying.
Everything is going to be all right.
There, there" Dickey jumped up beside
them and nosed against Yvonne, who
presently cuddled him in her lap and
dried her tears.
Nov, then" said Mrs. Ogden brlSKly.
'"Tell me all about it.
."There is SO little to tell. Richard
wasn't feeling well and needed rest.
So he went to Denver and will be gone
three months. He offered to send me
home to France or to have woman TO
stay with me. But I preferred to be
He didn't offer to take you with him
though" Mrs ogden said Shrewdly: :.
No" Yvonne answered sadly. And
he never will. He does not want me
changed If he knew what had done
he would never forgive me. AS long as
am the Yyonne he married he will be
faithful to me, and will notice me now
and then. For the new Yvonne ne
would have no use at all.
.'You may be right, Yvonne-but Wnat
of yourself? Can you stand living mere
this way, buried, starved, year aIter
year?"
Yvonne shrugged.
s'If YOU will do this" Mrs. Ogden said,
Richards absence creates wonderful
opportunity for you. You can sign q
contract to appear in this new Snow OF
Mr. brakes for three months and at the
end of that time leave and return 70
your old life."
Yvonne considered.
a6You need not leave this house unless
YOU WISH" Mrs. Ogden went on. !
have an old negro maid can send over
to you. She viii do the houSework ana
keep your clothes in order and be COM
pany for you, too. Come, Yvonne,
snatch this piece of life. 1t belongs to
you. Richard is enjoying himself, de-
pend upon that"
stabbed Yvonne. She knew the idea
was preposterous, but none the less 1t
influenced her decision.
s'If YOU are sure can dance just for
the time Richard Is away, and then
eeturn to my house, will do 1T"
"Of course you can" Mrs. Ogden
cried. "Oh, Yvonne, you will never re-
gret this. Come, We must go at once 10
the studio"
M. Romanevski knew the battle was
won when he saw Yvonne and Mrs.
Ogden coming in the door.
.sShe will dance-the angelp he
cried, seizing Yvonne's hands and kiss
ing her on both cheeks. Come to
practice. You have but three days In
which to be ready, costumes, oances'
Mr.. Drake was more practical. He
led Yvonne to the small Office and
pulled out contracts. Yvonne was
not without practical shreWlneSS. Mr.:
Drake wanted to have We contracts
read for appearances Ohree months,
daily except Sunday, from that day.
But no." said Yvonne. "Supposing
my husband returns before that time.
No. 1t must read thus, CONTRACTS to
appear daily save Sunday until the re-
turn of her husband, Mr.. Richard Ross!''
That's the craZieSt clause / ever
put in a contract" Mr. -Sprake grum-
bled. But he put it, in, and Yvonne
read it slowly and noddR Rd@ her head
over it.
Then there was the mattT of a
name. M. Romanevski wanted her
billed as "un' angel" Mrs. O9fen sug-
rested that she appear on tSGprogranl
as "Yvonne" Mr.. Drake [.cuggested
Toinette. But Yvonne herse. S5ettled the
question firmly.
sI shall appear simply as Madmoiselle
THAT will preserve my identity and fur
nish thought for those who may be In
terested in my dancing"
1.-The girls right" Mr.. Drake declar.
ed. People love a mystery and II
make the most of this one" He wrote
in a large firm hand. Dances BY
Mademoiselle."
And now for rehearsals!" cried the
ballet master. II hope you are not tot
stiff, Mademoiselle."
"I have been working too hard TX
be stiff" Yvonne said, laughing. :
cleaned my great beast Iof a house al
this week, and STOPPING and twisting
and reaching and bentNng, all thos'
are necessary-in house cleaning as II
dancing"
M. Romanevski put her through SOM
simple exercises, then the more difficul
ones. She followed easily, enjoying hi
amazement that she had not faIlel
back noticeably in her work.
you are marvel" he declared
Snow for real work"
The rest of the afternoon few by
Mrs. Ogden and Mr. Drake were dec
in consultation over costumes. Sev
eral times they came to watch Yvonn
working with M. Romanevski. MI
Drake was we'll satisfied with what h
saw and left late in the afternoon t.
begin his advertising campaign.
The ballet master and Mrs. Ogdel
stood talking while Yvonne dressed.
And will she return to her Stupi'