THE HEART OF A DANCER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20071, 8 October 1928, Page 16

THE HEART OF A DANCER.

BY CHARLES PROCTER.

SYNOPSIS. Daphne Bell, the only child of Sir Ronald 8011, the eminent surgeon, invades her father's sanctum on her return from a dance and tells him that Clinton Wallace, her . father's assistant, haa asked her to marry him, and she has consented. Sir Ronald is not exactly charmed, ns lie had thought hist daughter might probably be drawn to Alnn Burke, a younger, and much wealthier man. Daphne makes it, quite clear that slie does not intend to marry a dawdler iiko Alan. She wants a man who will make his mark, and she knows her father has a lngh opinion of his assistant's surgical abilities. Next morning, when Sir Ronald meets Clinton Wallace, the two men thrash trio matter out. Sir Ronald mentions Clintons first marriage. Some years ago Clinton had met and fallen love with Irma Zivintof, a Russian girl. Within a week of their wedding the revolution broke out, and ho was arrested and thrown into prison, and his voung wifo murdered. Clinton assures the elder surgeon that be is wholeheartedly in lovo with Daphne. Sir Ronald gives way, and the couple are' engaged. CHAPTER U—(Continued.) Sir Ronald war. as good as his word, and tho lovers lwd cause for congratulation. First, of all lio suggested giving a dinner party to celebrate tho engagement, and gave Daphno carte blanche as to tho number of guests, and bis arrangements for tho wedding were on an equally liberal scale. Congratulations ppured in on Daphno and Clinton following the announcement of their engagement in tho press, and they receivedi them again in person from the party of personal friends, among whom incidentally, wero numbered Betty Pryde and Alan Burke, invited to dinner at tho Ritz by Sir Ronald. Tho dinner party to celebrate tho engagement was quite a jolly function, at •which Daphne and Clinton cartio in for a deal of chafl as well as congratulation from their friends. 'The celebration did not finish with dinner, for Sir Ronald had booked stalls for the wliolo company to see a perfovmanco of tho Russian ballet, and arranged that tho party should go on later to the Metropolo for supper and the Midnight Follies cabaret. " No, I haven't seen tho Russian Ballet yet," Clinton said, in answer to a question of 0110 of tho guests at dinner. " Last time I saw it was in Moscow, just boforo the revolution. It will bo a vastly different show now, I expect, but it will recall old memories." " Yes, you will be able*' to make some interesting comparisons," remarked tho other. " Pavlovina is marvellous, simply marvellous! A beautiful creature, who floats about tho stage like thistledown. She bids fair to be 11s great as Pavlova, after whom sho is named. A wonderful dancer, and a born actress." " And a remarkably beautiful woman," chimed in another. " I read tho other day that there is some mystery about her identity. Pavlovina, of course, is just a stage name, and she's married to Serge Romanoff, who dances with her, but it is hinted sho is a Russian Princess." " How interesting II" commented Clinton politely, and turned to make some remark to Daphne, who had been listening to the conversation. " Darliiig, I wish wo wero going to something other than tho Russian Ballet,V Daphne whispered. "It was stupid ijio not to think of it beforo and suggest something else to father. I don't want you to recall old memories on a night like this." It had suddenly flashed into Daphne's mind that Clinton had told her it was at a performance o:E tho Russian Ballet in Moscow that ho had mot tho illfated Irma Zivintof, and they had attended a gala performance together on tho night before their wedding. Hence her regret, for sho knew that the ballet would inovitably bring back painful I memories to the man sho loved. "I have put the past behind mo, dear, nnd old memories cannot disturb my present happiness, or shake my faith in the happiness that as in store for us," Clinton responded, reassuringly, in an undertone, then turned to exchange some laughing remark with Alan Burke. Nevertheless when he was in the theatre a little later, his thoughts wandered back to his first romance and its tragic sequel as he watched the Russian dancers; one or two had been members of tho company he had seen performing in Moscow years beforo. Daphne, seated beside him, was dividing iher attention between him and- the stage, and guessed something of what was passing through his mind. Sho slipped her hand into his just as Pavlovina made her first appearance, and Clinton gripped her fingers with such force that sho uttered an involuntary cry, which, however, was drowned by the outburst of applause that greeted the dance. " Clinton, you're hurting me!" gasped Daphno into her lover's ear, and Clinton started violently. " Sorry!" lie muttered. " I—l did not realise what I was doing." The auditorium was in darkness, but by the strong light 'reflected from tho etage Daphne saw that his faco was ghastly and 'that beads of perspiration had broken out on his brow. "Are you ill, Clinton?" she whispered, but Clinton did not hear. He was staring with dilated eyes at the slim, graceful figure of " Pavlovina" as the beautiful Russian girl moved, light as thistledown, about the stage, and he was fighting down a mad impulse to start from his seat and cry out that the dancer was net a creature of flesh and blood, but a ghost como to haunt him from beyond the grave. For " Pavlovina" was Irma Zivintof, his wife! Yesj Irma Zivintof beyond all doubt, the same lovely, graceful girl who had fascinated him, and with whom lie had fallen in lovo at first sight ten years ago. Surely there could not bo two women of such an unusual type fashioned in the same image? And yet " Clinton, what is the matter ?" whispered Daphne again anxiously, laying her liand on her lover's arm; and this time Clinton heard and by sheer effort of will controlled his agitation. " A—a sudden spasm of pain. Daphne," he whispered in answer, hastily wiping his moist brow. ".1 shall bo all right in a few minutes, dear. Don't worry." He patted Daphne's hand as ho tricrl to twist his faco into sortie semb'lanco of a smile, but almost immediately his eyes ■were drawn back to tho stage, drawn to Pavlovina as steel to a magnet. " It is Irma," ho was thinking, his mind in a turmoil; " and yet, it can't bo possible. ■ Cad! what a fool I am to scare myself in this fashion! That girl can't bo more than twenty, and looks tho same as Irma did ten years ago. If Irma had lived she Would be nearly thirty now. Perhaps if I saw thai, girl without her fctago make-up sho would not resemble ( Irma in tho least. I must be daft to , imagine she is Irma coino back from the grave!" . Pavlovina finished her scene amid thunders of applause from the audience, and nppearcd beforo tho curtain again and again to bow her acknowledgements <nid smilingly to accept the floral tributes i handed up to her by tho conductor of the orchestra. I Then tho lights went up for the interval, there was an immediato buzz of conversation, and Clinton turned to find Daphne regarding him in concern. Are you feeling better now, dear?" c fine inquired, her sweet voico tense with ' nnxiet.y. ' You look ghastly " 1 £ y ve ' y° u do!" exclaimed Alan 1 Bulks, who was sitting immediately be- < bind and overheard. . «' Wb-ifV the 1 trouble, old man V lt s tllL Pahi-nover had ! with assumed infhff orQ^; erc » stiringly at Dapl„«. S" really, to . eseapo t 0 tho bar lie added, " Sorry J startled' vnn l ' SS x K^, dear -;

FINE STORY OF SWIFT ACTION AND ROMANCE.

(COPYRIGHT.)

Ho had the uncomfortable feeling that? everyone was loking at him and guessing the causo of his discomposure as ho mado his way, accompanied by Alan Burke, to tho refreshment room. A glass of brandy steadied his nerves to some extent, and ho was looking more like himself when Sir Ronald appeared in the bar a fow minutes lator. "What's tho trouble, Clinton?" asked Sir Ronald, with a searching glance. " Daphne tells mo you had some sort of seizure during Pavlovina's performance." " Nothing liko a seizure. Just a sudden neuralgic pain," lied Clinton, forcing a laugh. " I am all right now, Sir Ronald, and I'd better get back to Daphne to assure her she has no cause for anxiety." * " Wallaco is making light of it. Sir Ronald, but I was sitting just behind him and I assure you ho nearly fell out of bis stall just as Pavlovina appeared on the stage," remarked Burke, as Clinton moved away. " Struck mo as something more serious than neuralgia." "Hump! I'll have a look at him later and see if there is anything wrong," grunted Sir Ronald. Back in his scat beside Daphne, Clinton was assuring his fiancee that he had quito recovered and apologising again for having alarmed hor; " Isn't Pavlovma wonderful ?" chimed in ono of tho guests. " She's wonderful at any time, but I think she is at her best in tho'last sceno whore sho dances with Sorgo Romanoff, her husband." Tho reminder that Pavlovina was married to Romanoff had a reassuring effect on Clinton, and caused him again to decided that; he had been a fool to bo so startled by tho dancer's striking resemblanco to Irma Zivintof, and he took a grip on himself, as it were, as lie settled down to await tho reappoaranco of Pavlovina 011 the stage. Again she had an enthusiastic reception as she leapt on, hand-in-hand with a dark, handsome young man seemingly about her own age. Clinton gazed at her intently through his opera glasses as she performed 2. sort of acrobatic danco with her partner. Her likeness to Irma Zivintof struck [ him as licing uncanny. Sho was of tho fair Circassian type, with hair tho colour of spun gold, hig blue eyes with long dark lashes, and was the very embodiment of youthful, feminino grace. Her very movement was a delight to watch, and her partner was equally attractive. " But it isn't possible that she can bo Irnv. " Clinton was telling himself again. " It is quito obvious that girl must havo been trained as a dancer from infancy, liko tho rest of the ballet, and Irma could never have acquired such skill. Possibly sho is somo relation of poor Irma, which may account for the resemblance. I must mako inquiries—set any doubts at rest." Ho had completely recovered himself ere tho final, curtain fell, and Sir Ronald, after questioning him, decided that both Daphno and Alan Burke must have been exaggerating the severity of the " neuralgic attack." Anyone might have formed the sumo opinion, for Clinton Wallace somed to bo in tho highest of spirits during supper at tho Metropole. Ho talked, and laughed and joked with thoso around him, and seemingly thoroughly enjoyed tho cabaret show. His high spirits, needless to say, were duo to a sort of emotional reaction. He danced with Daphne, who was still a little anxious about him and troubled in mind by the extraordinary change in his demeanour. " Do you know, Clinton, there is something strango about you to-night," she remarked, as they sat down again at their tabic after dancing. " Somehow you seem different, and I liavo a sort of fooling that you don't belong to me." " I may bo a dozen different personalities all rolled into one, Daphne, dear, but every one of mo is in love with you and belongs to you," Clinton answered. What makes you think I have changed ?" " I say, you people, have you noticed the bunch that has just come in ?" broke in Betty Pryde, who had suddenly deserted the man with whom she had been dancing " Look over there, close to the stage. Recognise them ? There's Olga Pavlovina and Serge Romanoff, and—er—what's his name—and—and quite a lot of tho Russian Ballet, people. And tho man I was dancing with just now says tho fat man with tho long hair is Dougloff, who's tho manager, or director, or something, of the whole show. Thrilling, I call it! I supposo they only start their evening about this time in tjio morning. Seen Alan about anywhere ? Ho knows tho director man, I think, and perhaps 110 might wangle an introduction." Betty rushed off in her impulsive way, and presently Clinton and Daphne saw her being introduced by Alan Burke to M. Dougloff, who, in turn, presented her to some of the other members of his company, including Pavlovina, who looked a mere slip of a girl in a dance frock of silver gauzo and palo blue which looked like a moonbeam made into a gown. " Isn't sho lovely, Clinton—Pavlovina, I mean ?" exclaimed Daphno. " I'd love to seo her at closo quarters. Let's dance again and stop where Alan and Betty are standing talking. They aro suro to introduce us." Clinton's heart contracted, and he thought of explaining that ho felt unwell again, then instantly decided that ho would take his fato in his hands and meet Pavlovina face to face. He knew not what fato might havo in store for hiin as ho guided Daphne through the throng of dancers to whore Alan and Betty were standing chatting to M. Douglofi' and tho others, and was trying to nerve himself for tho ordeal. Outwardly ho was perfectly selfpossessea, but his heart was beating unsteadily, and 110 was conscious of intense nervous strain as 110 halted beside Alan Burke, to whom M. Dougloff was talking animatedly in French. " Voila, monsieur!" exclaimed Burke. " Here wo havo tho happy couple. Allow me to present Miss Daphno Bell and Mr. Clinton Wallaco." Dougloff greeted them with characteristic cordiality and courtesy, and introduced them to tho rest of tho company with a sort of all-embracing, comprehensive gesture. " Men enfants—Mess Bell arid Mr. Clinkon Wallace," ho exclaimed. " You will do mo tho honour to danco with irio, Mecs Bell, if your fiance will permityes? I do not danco well, but make the others dance well, I think." " I shall bo delighted to danco with you, Monsieur Dougloff," said Daphne, laughingly. "It will bo an education." " Moes Bell, take care!" called out Pavlovina, as Daphne and Dougloff took the floor. "Ho will give you tho blow of the foot 011 your toes. Ho is elephant. Cardcz!" There was a general laugh at tho expenso of tho good-natured Dougloff, who made some humorous retort in Russian which set his compatriots laughing anew. " He say ho danco so beau that peutetro your fiancee fall in love with heem, M'sieu Wallace," "explained Pavlovina to Clinton smilingly, in her attractive broken English. " Monsieur Dougloff ho has the vaine imagination, n'co pas?" Clinton found himself suddenly strangely calin as he met her smiling blue oyes, and !he marvelled at his own composure, for Pavlovina was the living, breathing image of Irma Zivintof. At closo quarters sho looked older than sho had appeared on tho stage, but sho still looked too young to bo Irma in reality. Sho was in voice, appearance, manner, everything, almost exactly as Irma had been ten years proviously. Marvelling at his own composure, Clinton made somo careless retort, noting ho did so that there was not tho faintest glimmer of recognition in 1 avlovina's eyes. (To be continued daily,);