The Dancing Girl

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 108, 12 June 1914, Page 11

The Dancing Girl

A SUMMER ROMANCE

By ASTHTJRAPPLIN, author of Three,"" The Seaside Lovers," etc.

£ CHAPTER 111. (continued.) ' THE JEALOUS LOVERS. Annie undutifully told he mother-not to tfe 'foolish. She commenced to make ler way back to their rooms. Her mother protested. The good lady had tex best silk dress on a,nd she wanted to chow it off; to sit on a comfortable chair on the promenade a,nd read one of the' picture paper, and watch . the crowd. ' 1 ■■■ • But Annie was in no mood to watch tile happiness of others. The place fieemed suddenly" full Of lovers; she lifted them; they got on her nerves. '' Why not waJk along the pier? We might meet him,", Mrs Berrill suggested. ■

glance. "Qh, I rather imagined—l jumped to the conclusion,, that is to say —Then hj« laughed. "As a matter of fact, wlfen I first saw you I thought you were husband and wife; and when I discovered my error I imagined you "were a newly-engaged couple.' Annie was utterly unable to, resist the temptation. Her cheeks grew rosy red. "Well, as a matter of, fact, we are engaged- —in a way 1 . It's not public yet, though." Captain Carvick stroked his mdustache thoughtfully. "Oh, I see!" "It's funny you should have thought tliat, though,' '• Annie continued quickly, feeling a little desperate now she had made the plunge. She knew she had no right to make the assertion. "It's funny you should have thought that, because I was thinking the same of you and Miss Claudine." "That we were married?"

•/'People don't ride bicycles' on the pjer,' 3 Annie sniffed. "Besides, I am niit £oing to run after any man.''• iAnd then the. colour suddenly . mounted to her cheeks. At that very moment a.man halted in front of her and taised his panama hat with a courtly bow. Annie forced a smile to her lips fcnd held out' her hand. It was Captain Carvick. She introduced him to her mother, fend he asked permission to accompany them. . After, a, moment's hesitation it fras given. A. few minutes later they found themselves on the promenade. Annie assumed a. light-heartedness she did not feel, but she was secretly pleased at the meeting and flattered at Captain Carvick's attention. He was quite the smartest man in the town. The gallant captain hired a comfortißble basket-chair, in which he deposited Mrs Berrill and her voluminous silk dress; then, taking Annie's arm, he . strolled along the promeniade in the direction of the harbour and commenced ' to flirt desperately. Annie entered i*rto the spirit of it; she was just in the mood to do something desperate. . She hoped Dick would jfeturn. fjjom his ride and meet them. If she could make him jealous all would be well, ~ How ; is Miss Claudine this morning? ", she asked suddenly. "None the Jrorse for her; accident, I hope!" , 'Carvick shrugged his shoulders;. "I ealled to enquire, but she had already gone outi She has a wretched motor bicycle, on which she tries to commit kticide. I strongly disapprove ; of women riding those things. Don't you, Miss Berrill?" X( I hate them," she said, from her iieart* ' • i • • . ,A.nd she grew suddenly silent. Shes>egan to fear the worst. r Could it be possible, she 'aaked herself 3 that Dick Jiadmade, an assignation with this. Jyoman the previous evening? Captain Carvick embarrassed h.er "by inquiring for Mr Hardey. haven't seen him yet," she faltered, " Why should you think——" u t <Daj»taiJr Carvick gayeher * meaning

engaged." Captain Carvick did not reply at once. They had reached the end of the pro; menade. A long, broad road ran up over the cliffs inland. A few fishing boats lay idly bobbing up and down in the gentle sway.

"I can't say that I am engaged to Miss Claudine," Captain Carvick said at last, "but, as your sharp eyes discovered, I am very fond of her; in fact, I hope to make her my wife. But actresses are curious creatures, Miss Berrill. Claudine thinks marriage will interfere with her work. Of course, she receives a lot of attention,'' he continued. "Every young fellow who sees her dance fancies he is in love with her. You wouldn't believe the number of proposals she gets. It is iueky I am not a jealous man," and he gave a harsh laugh. Annie glanced at him, and the expression she saw on his face rather surprised her. It made her feel a little afraid. It was the expression of a man who meant to get his own way by fair means or fouL A man who would stop at nothing to win the woman he wanted!

"I suppose it must be fascinating-ttT have'lots of lovers," she said, cunningly, * 4 for of course it would be easy enough for a woman to stop men running after her if she wanted to." Carvick's black eyes flashed dangerouslyi-. At that moment of a motor engine attracted Simultaneously they glanced towards the long, straight road running from the cliff, and far away a little cloud of dust hovered on high in the shape of g, spiral. . And presently they discerned two., motor bicycles throbbing along the broad, white road towards them. - They waited without speaking. "They are.going pretty fast, Captain Carvick said, between his teeth. [ <' A woman is riding bne J > ?' Annie re-, ptted Jier ljreatft, . *

"The man looks ' rather like your friend of last night.'' Carvick made no attempt to hide the sarcasm in his voice.

Annie said nothing, but she drew a little closer to him and' unconsciously laid her kand on his arm.

The throb of the engines grew louder; a minute later two motor cycles flashed past. Annie Berrill swayed unsteadily. The riders were her lover, Dick, and La Belle. Claudine!

Dick happened to turn his head, and he saw Annie; he, waved his hand, but she took no notice. The machines slowed, down, and Carvick realised that they were going to turn round and come back. He looked at Annie Berrill.

"Well?" he said, between his teeth. "I am afraid our hero is anxious to become another victim. Eh, what?" Annie's eyes were filled with tears. She could see nothing distinctly now but a cloud of dust dancing in the sunshine, and in the midst of it the figures of the man she loved and the woman she already hated. "What do you mean?" she said, haughtily.

Carvick twirled his moustache and shrugged his shoulders; his handsome face looked ugly now—it was distorted by passion. Annie felt secretly glad. ~ "My dear young lady," < he said, harshly, "it's obvious that Mr Hardey has fallen in love with the beautiful Claudine. I tell you they all do it. It amuses her. But this time—well, it commenced rather romantically, didn't it?"

Annie bit her lip until it bled, to prevent herself from crying. She was filled with rage and covered with humiliation.

"You must keep my secret,' she said, unsteadily. The motor bicycles turned round and were slowly beating their way back. "We are both in the same boat," Captain Carvick said, grimly. "I am very sorry for you, my dear young lady; Claudine is a dangerous woman. Beautiful women, especially beautiful actresses, are always dangerous.'' "Help me, " she cried, speaking impulsively, scarcely knowing what she said. "You love Miss Claudine. Why don't you— —-" He touched her hand warningly.

'' Perhaps we can. help one another,'' he said. ''We must wait and see how things go. If I can help you, lam at your service. Here's my address." He slipped a card into her hand. "I expect we shall meet again to-morrow." Annie threw him a grateful look. Dick pulled his motor bicycle up in front of her and dismounted. "Good morning," he said, holding out his hand. She nodded coldly. "I hope you enjoyed yourself. y /r ihen as Captain " Carvick helped Claudine to dismount, Annie looked her up and down superciliously. Her short divided skirt was covered with dust, the wind had blown her black hair across her cheeks, the faintest touch of colour tinged her white face. Another woman might have looked hot and' Untidy. Even the' divided skirt of a motor bicycle did not make Claudine seem un.womainly. She gave ; Annie a charming smile, but th<? : latter Sniified and tossed her head in, the air. '/.I can't think how women can be seen on those things,-" she said. 1 But Claudine gave g, merry little laugh* "I use my motor bicycle for pleasure, not for exhibition," she replied, A n d Annie realised the snub* "I Sm 'just -going i# JiaYd g.

now," Claudine continued. "What do you say —shall we all; go. in together? Mr Hardey has promised to teach me a new stroke.'' " , ' "I should think"you had had enough swimming to last you a lifetime,'' Captain. Garvick growled. "Look here, Claudine, I absolutely refuse to allow you to swim to-day."' Annite picked up her f cue quickly. ' < Yes, Dick,'' she said, with a sudden air o¥ proprietorship, ''l am-not going to let you risk yout life Saving Miss Claudine a second time'." There was'a moment 's embarrassed silence. ' Dick and the beautiful- dancer looked at one another. Theii to Annie's amazement they laughed. "I am sorry, but since I am free to do as I like, I am, going. ;i to haye a swim," Claudine said,, quietly" What about you, Mr Hardey?". Dick was frowning; .

"Well, I am free,.too," he said, slowly, "so I will join you. . Come along." : / , . They remounted their bicycles and rode away. •

Captain Carviek and Annie were left alone. Each felt supremely foolish. Carviek let fly an ugly oath; a couple of tears stole down. Annie's checks —tears of rage £,nd jealousy. . "You shall pay for this, mad am!" Carviek said, under ,his breath. "And look here, Miss Annie, it's no use crying, '' he said, rudely, . Annie was lost to all sense of shame. Her pride Was humbled in the ; dust. '' What can we do ? You must help me now. I love him?"

"' Yoil had better keep him then. I tell you frankly, I am not going to allow any man to take Claudine from me."

"What can we do?" Annie whimpered.

Captain/ Garviek slipped his arm through hers, and commenced, to lead her along the promenade, back towards the fashionable quarter.

"If it goes much farther, we can't do anything," he said, hardly. "Claudine wants pulling up with a sharp turn. She is—well, she's straight as a die, remember, and proud as Lucifer. But I'll humble her pride, and at the same time open your young eyes. I've got an idea./' ,

Annie felt a little frightened. Then she thought of the.paragraphs in- the newspapers. Probably the girls at lllingworth and Dressbody's were already reading the* account ,of Pick's brave rescue of a beautiful dancer. She could imagine how they would laugh and gossip. ;■ •

il Anyway, Annie Berrill-hasn't got him," they would say. ■<; She swore she would get him. ! (l What is your idea?'/ she asked nervously.' ' ' _ I. will, think it out, and. tell you in a day or,twQ," Oarviqk replied* "Meanwhile, beha,ve as if nothing happened. Dpn't show yo,u , ar,e jealous. Give /eip rope. They'll hajig .themselves, and then 7> "And then?" she said, looking into the dark, cruel jeyes..

"Just wait and see," Carviek grinned, (To be continued to-morrow.)