THE HEART OF A DANCER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20074, 11 October 1928, Page 20

THE HEART OF A DANCER.

BY JOSEPH HOCKING,

SYNOPSIS. Daphno 8011, this only child of Sir Ronnld Bell, the eminent surgeon, invades her father's sanctum on her return from a dance nnd fells him that Clinton Wallace, her father's assistant, has asked her to marry hint, and she has consented. Sir Kouald is not exactly charmed, as ho had thought his daughter might probably be drawn to Alan Burke, a younger, and much wealthier man. Some years ago Clinton had nnd fallen Jove with Irina Zivintof, a Russian girl. Within a week of their wedding "tho revolution broke out, and ao was arrested and thrown into prison, and his j-nung wife murdered. Clinton assures tho older surgeon that ho is wholeheartedly in love with Daphne. Sir Ronald gives way, nnd the couple aro encaged. Congratulations pour in upon them. Alan Burke is disappointed, and Betty Pryde, a girl-friend of Daphne's, is also hurt. Sho is deeply in love with Clinton Wallace herself. A dinner party is given by Sir Ronald to celebrate his daughter's engagement, and Btalls nro booked for the Russian Ballet. As Pavlovina, tho Russian dancer makes her first appearance, Clinton becomes ghastly palo. Pavlovina is Irma Zivintof Daphne questions Clinton Wallace, who nays it was'a neuralgic spasm. Daphne exclaims at the dancer's loveliness, anil afterwards manages to effect an introduction. Sho dances with DouglofT. while Clinton converses with Pavlovina, trying to solve tho mystery of tho resemblance to Irma. He tells both Pavlovina and her husband that he was the foreigner who married Irma Zivintof. Sergo Romanoff testifies to tho fart that she was massacred. Daphne and Clinton talk over tho mystery of tho likeness between the two * beautiful women, Irma and Pavlovina. They agreo to put tho matter out of their minds. CHAPTER IY.—(Continued).

" Hero is another report," said his friend. "It states that nothing can be ndded to the information already given concerning Irma Zivintof, nor can any of her relatives be traced. It is believed that her father's house and warehouse were looted, and that ho was probably killed. His brother, Boris Zivintof, is believed to bo in Berlin, and is suspected of being a Soviet agent. Is not. apparently in any way connected with Olga Baileff, otherwise Olga Romanoff, wife of Sergo Romanoff. Is that satisfactory, Wallace'!"

" More than satisfactory, old man, an 3 I am deeply grateful," said Clinton. "Now I can marry the dearest girl in the, world ■without the slightest dread of the past intruding itself on my happiness." " You deserve all tlio happiness that is coming to yon, my dear Wallace," asaid his friend, wringing his hand. "Glad to have been of any assistance." Some ihreo months later Clinton and Daphne were in Paris, en route for England, after spending a long, rapturous honeymoon in the South of France. Both were ideally happy. The years and cares f>eemed to have slipped from Clinton's shoulders, the warm, southern suns had bronzed his lean, handsome face, and he looked younger than lie had done prior to his marriage. As for Daphne, wedded happiness had enhanced her beauty, and it was plain to anyone that she idolised lier husband. Together tho happy couple were enjoying their after-luncheon coffee and cigarettes at one of tho Boulevard open-air cafes, watching with interest and amusement tho cosmopolitan crowd thronging past, when Clinton recognised a big man approaching. " Why, there's Dougloff, of tho Russian Ballet, coining along, Daphne," ho oxclaimed. "You remember? Tho big man you danced with at the Metropole." "Of course, I remember, dear," answered Daphne, and tho stout, jovial •Russian, now only a few yards away, met her smiling eyes at that moment, recognised hor, .nn<i swept off his broadbrimmed black hat. "Ah! it is Madernoisello Bell, is it not ?" he exclaimed in French, hastening forward. " Ah, and Monsieur—er — er—Wallace, also. lam charmed—enchanted, my friends. May I do myself the honour of taking coffeo with you ?" " Delighted, Monsieur Dougloff," responded Clinton, as ho shook hands. "Incidentally, Mademoiselle Bell has been Madame Wallace for nearly two months." " A thousand congratulations," said Dougloff, beaming from one to tho other, then beckoning to a waiter. "We will liavo liqueurs to celebrate. You will come to my reception to-night, please, as you are staying in Paris. To-night I give the big reception at the theatre after the performance, arid all artistic and fashionable Paris will be present. You v. ill do mo tho honour to bo my guests, please. I shall send you invites for tho reception; but, alas, I cannot have tho pleasure of sending you tickets for the performance, for every seat is booked." He was insistent and so pressing in his invitation that Clinton and Daphno agreed to attend tho reception, recognising that he was paying them a compliment by inviting them to a function for which even the elite of society wero keen on getting tickets. " I promise you, madame, that you will sen some wonderful toilettes and i<orne marvellous jewels," ho said to Daphne. " Suro it won't disturb yon, darling, or bring back distressing memories to meet the Russians again ?" asked Daphno of her husband when Dougloff had taken his leave.

" Not now, dear, now that I have found real love and happiness and my •heart has found safe-anchorage," Clinton answered. "In fact, I am almost looking forward to meeting Pavlovina again, just to prove to rnvself that the past means nothing to me now. And I want to tell her wo have found the jiiappiness she wished mc. You are happy, Daphne?" " So happy, husband mine, that I feci like dancing and singing for sheer joy, feel like telling the world that I arn the luckiest girl in the world arid have the most wonderful lover-husband in the ■world," said Daphne, her eyes shining. " How do I know you may not lose your heart to some of the beautiful women you will see to-night?" sho added, lea singly. " Because you have my heart in your own keeping and been use, madam, you »re well aware lliat in niv eyes 'here will bo no woman present half so lovely, charming, and wholly delightful as 'Mrs. Clinton Wallace," Clinton responded. " Blarney!" laughed Daphne, but loved him the more for the compliment. As Dougloff had promised, there were f.omo marvellous gowns and soirm wonderful jewels at. his reception, but such a. crush that it was difficult lo single "ut, anyone for a time. Society leaders rubbed shoulders with stage celebrities, poet,s, artists and musicians. Dougloff, with some foreign decorations •.uui® 0n k' 3 expansivo breast, and with his company grouped behind him, received his guests at the top of the incideS/" 8 ,\ ntQ l ho fo - ver > anfl proved, memo™ ! y ' » Iho had a marvellous 3lWw \ and natnes ' nml tho ar PR( iL g eS '- Afc one moment he was 'Dehghted y°n were able to come " he V v a wolcomo to Daphne •*nd her husbaiul, then shot a glance over his ahoulder. ' Mes enfants. Olea Su-tre you rcmembor Monsieur Wallace' rfivloviim, beautifully gowned" *nth jewels, and looking like « JS 8 " ißht out of ' v -N'K'ita, l ' Smiled and called and wared a be-ringed hand fJjwton rcflecjcd -with whnt very different

FINE STORY OF SWIFT ACTION AND ROMANCE.

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feelings ho had looked at her at their last meeting, lor now tho sight of her gave hirn no heart-pang. He steered Daphno through the crush, and they watched tho brilliant scone Ironi a balcony. They saw Pavlovina, after a time, talking to a stately, grey-haired man *»vith many decorations, who looked like an ambassador, and as sho moved away sho glanced up and caught sight of tho happy couple. A few minutes later sho appeared beside them on tho balcony. " Charmed to meet you again," she said, giving Daphno her hand. " Congratulations! And you, Monsieur Wallace, you havo found tho happiness you lost." "Indeed I havo madaino!" said Wallaeo; but as ho bowed over her beringed hand he felt as if an icy hand had suddenly gripped his heart. Irt the days that he had put behind him, he had exchanged rings, Russian fashion, with Irma Zivintof when they bccamo engaged, and on tho middlo finger of her right hand Pavlovina was wearing his signet ring—tho ring lie, had given to Irma! Clinton's iron nerve stood him in sood stead. He was shaken to the depths and his senses were reeling from tho shock of discovering that Pavlovina was wearing his signet ring, yet ho found himself a minuto later talking and laughing, askijig and answering questions. " Oh, such a wonderful triumph wo have had hero in Paris! Such demonstrations after every performance! Such tributes, gifts of flowers, jewels, chocolates; such crowds waiting at the stage door just to see us leave. It is like being a queen!" Pavlovina laughed. "And the love letters! La! la! Sometimes I show Sorgo the moro ardent ones, and he is jealous; but he gets lovo letters, too, and 1 pretend to be jealous myself." " It must bo very thrilling to bo a public idol," remarked Daphne. "Do you not wish at times you could escape from it all?" "Mais oui!" Pavlovina answered. " Sometimes Sergo and I do run away to lead the simple life in tho country. We promise ourselves that very soon, in a year or two, perhaps, we buy a farm or a country house, and say farewell to the stage, and spend the rest of our lives making love. I want a real homo of my own —and children. Do I shock you, Monsieur Wallace, by saying that?" " Not iit all, madame," Clinton answered. "It is good to find a great artist who loves so well that sho is prepared to forsako tho stage and all tho worship. Your husband is indeed a fortunate man."

" T thank you, monsieur," laughed Pavlovina, sweeping him a courtesy. "Come let us find Sergo and talk to some of the notabilities." Still talking gaily, she led the way down to tho parquet, arm-in-arm with Daphne. Clinton's mind was still in a turmoil as ho followed. Ho felt that his forced smile must seem like a grimace, and that his voice must surely sound forced and unnatural to Daphne as he talked at random to conceal his inward agitation. "What can I do?" he asked himself repeatedly, as ho moved about among the brilliant throng on the parquet, pausing occasionally to be presented by Pavlovina to some notability, to bow or shake hands and exchange compliments. "If she it not Irma Zivintof, how did she, of all people in the world, become possessed of my ring ? I dare not ask her that question, particularly in the presence of Daphne, for fear of betraying himself." Yet ask tho question he did, when, a little later, tho opportunity presented itself. Daphne recognised an old school friend among the company and went to speak to her, and Clinton seized his chance. " Pardon me, madarne, but I notice yon arc wearing a signet ring on tho middle finger of your right hand," ho said. "It bears tho crest of a family with which I am connected, and I am curious to know how it cainc into your possession." "This?" inquired Pavlovina, raising her right hand and touching tho signet ring. " Alas!—l do not know who gave it to me, monsieur, or where I got it. When I found myself in Warsaw year 3 ago at the of the Revolution, this ring was among the jewellery I had managed to bring away with mo from whereover it was that I escaped from. The other jewellery I had to sell to provide myself with food; but this ring, for some reason I cannot explain, I would not sell. This I regard as my mascot. It was the one thing I had left of valuo when Dougloff gave mo an engagement and I treasnro it. Aiwa vs I wear it on big occasions, although it is of little value comparatively, and I have many beautiful rings." "So you have no idea to whom it originally belonged ? " queried Clinton. " None," answered Pavlovina, shaking her golden head. "To some admirer, perhaps. It was not unusual in tho old clays for tho rich to throw their jewels on tho si,ago to a. dancer who pleased them. I have several rings given me in that way by admirers. Tlere is a ring which a grand duke took from his finger and gave to me. Have you any idea, monsieur, who my mascot ring belonged to originally." She looked up into Clinton's eyes as she asked the question, and ho shook his head after a moment of hesitation. Instinctively he knew that she was telling tho truth.

" Tho crest engraved on it is that of an old Scottish family, madame," he answered. "It is tho crest of one branch of tho Wallace family to which I am related. Do you ever remember meeting anyone named Wallace?" Again Pavlovina shook her fair head and wrinkled her brows. " No, I think not," she replied. "'But if it is a Scottish crest, it is possible that the ring was given to mo by one of the old Russian nobility. You know there wero nobles of Scottish descent, and wo had Counts whoso names began with ' Mac.' " She trilled out a laugh. " But if what T have been told is correct, Monsier Wallace, the Scots do not give anything away, so how I became possessed of my mascot .ring is more than ever a mystery! " Daphne reappeared at that moment, accompanied by her friend, the wife of one of the British Embassy in Paris, to whom she presented Clinton and Pavlovina, and while they were talking Serge Romanoff appeared, to bo laughingly rebuked by Pavlovina for neglecting her and accused of having spent his time in the buffet. "A thousand congratulations and a million good wishes," cried Romanoff, who was in high spirits, when Pavlovina informed him that Clinton and Daphne were now married. " May you ho as happy as Olga and I are, and may you live for ever!" He bowed low and kissed Daphne's hand, whereat pavlovina pretended to be jealous and gave Clinton her hand to kiss —the. hand on which sho woro his signet ring. Just then Dougloff bore down upon them, and in his tempestuous way rushed I hem, all into the buffet to consume champagne and an early-inorning "supper." fie toasted Daphno and her husband, smashing his glass dramatically after doftig so and laughed wholeheartedly at the consternation of tho waiters. " Soon, I hope, we shall meet again," ho said to Daphne in the course of conversation afterwards. "We start a short season in London again next month, and I, myself, come to London next week." " Then I hope you and Monsieur and Madame Romanoff will do me tho honour of attending my house-warming party," said Daphne. " Clinton, dear, beg them to come." " We shall be charmed, madame," exclaimed Dougloff, after demanding the meaning of " house-warming." " A thousand thanks." O-'o bo continnrd dnily.)