DOORS OF DESTINY

Taranaki Daily News, 11 August 1932, Page 15

DOORS OF DESTINY

By

Constance Bromley

CHAPTER XXII.

Since the night when he had forced an entrance into Magda’s room, a great change had come over Michael Gelding. He was no longer the drinkcrazed creature whom Frayne had engaged out of pity. „ He had become neat in-his attire, and spruce in his appearance. • Life once more offered •omethingi to hope for, and he was making a great effort to regain his lost manhood. In spite of her former treachery, Magda, that night, had made him believe in her again. He dreamed that If he could prove himself worthy of tier, she would , keep her. promise to him, but he had sense enough to know that as an odd-job carpenter it tvas beyond reason to expect Magda to stoop to his level and so he made i vow to rise to hers.

He gave up the drink that had fogged his brain, and he made no effort to obtain the drug in which he had once sought forgetfulness. Everyone was amazed at the change In him, and Mr Frayne, by way of encouragement, promoted him to a better position at the Theatre.

Magda was not altogether pleased it the transformation a few weeks lad wrought. A drink-sodden wreck was the kind of person to fool; a tlear-headed young man, with the dogged determination to mary her, was another. .

One night, as she was mounting the stairs to her dressing-room, she found Michael in the corridor.

k “Magda, I want to see you; I want to speak with you alone. May I. come io your flat to-night ” he asked, a little appealingly, but with a certain note not to be. denied in. his voice,. She-glanced up and down the corridor ctulckly.. She expected Stoneleigh to visit her that night—-Stone-leighj who z had taken to neglecting her •of late, : and whose 1 indifference was -causing her many pangs. “No£ to-night, Michael, please, she replied, '“l'm very tired and my head ache’s.' ' Gome to my dressing-room to-morrow between the matinee and the night show; the dresser will be out, and we can talk then," and she passed on, mentally reviling the fate that forced her to accede, to the requests of this man.’, • Yet-ihe was sweet enough to him the’ next evening, when hp tapped at hep ; drewlhg-rbom door, and entered, a neat smart figure that resembled the Michael Gelding she had subjugated to : her will ten years before. “Yow had better turn the key in the look.” •no/ said, r “I never allow the staff io disturb me at thia hour, but it to just as well nd one should drop in Mid find me entertaining the Theatre o&rpenter,..isn’t it?” Ho Obeyed l , and. dropped on his knees beside her, as she lay, a vision ofaeductivemess, in luxurious comfort on the couch.

“WeH, Michael?” she said, half sweatly, half mockingly. Ha- took her outstretched hand and Saaslonately crushed his lips ’ against its soft wniteness. t “Magda! My beautiful Magda, he •whispered brokenly. “It’s so good to see you for a moment alone. You don’t know how hard it is to see others round you, talking to you, laughing with you, and to have to stand in the background, just as a servant!” Magda smiled mockingly. “It seems to agree with you! You’re improving out of all recognition. Do you know you are growing quite good-looking. I shall he falling in love with you, again, Michael!’ “It’s you who have changed me, Magda," he said, eagerly. “You’ve given me something to live for! I don’t want you to despise me. I want to be_ worthy of you. I’m working night and day, dear. All day I’m attending engineering classes —that’s my Job, really—and the principal says I’m pretty good at it. I want to get cut Of the mire, to rise, for your sake! I’ve not touched a drop of liquor, or that cursed ’snow’ since you were so good to . me.". He pressed her hand once more to his lips, and then went on, in a low, husky voice. “Do you understand what you’ve dona for me, Magda? ‘ Do you know wh&t it feels like to be down in the blackest depths of Hell, and then to get a glimpse of Paradise? No, of course you don’t, darling; please God you never will. I felt I must see you to-night. . I wanted you to know I was trying—fighting. It isn’t easy to give up drinks and drugs, Magda, but you’ve made it possible because you’ve given me something better to strive for, because I believe in you. If ever you let me down- ” he paused, a glimpe of the old crazy. Mike coming back into his eyes. Magda was a little frightened, in spite of herself. She must persuade him to give up the letter before he discovered how empty her promises really were. Caressingly she slipped an arm about his neck as he knelt beside her.

“Michael,” she whispered, her lips against his cheek, “I’m so glad. I •hall be proud of you yet,, dear. We’ll forget the past.” “The past, Magda! It was that which drove me to drink. It rises up and haunts me sometimes, even In, spite of my love for you.” She drew his head down until It rested against the warm softness of her bosom. “Forget it, dear,” she said. “Let me forget It, too. That letter —that mad letter of mine—which you still keep; you must destroy it! Promise me you will?" • “I promise,” he answered, his sennas filled only with the sweet nearness of her. “Don’t laugh at me,: Michael,” she whispered.. “I want to. see you tear it nip Into tiny pieces, and with my own hands I want to drop them in the flames. Will you let me do this?” “I would let you do anything in the world, when you love me. like this, Magda.”' Quickly her brain worked. Stoneleisrh had told ner ne was leaving town to-day. There would be no fear of his coming to the Flat, and once the letter was destroyed Michael could have very little hold over her. “Gome to my Flat after the show to-night, Michael,” she commanded softly,”-- and bring the letter with you.” “To-night?" he said breathlessly. •To you mean it, Magda? May 1—1" Her eyes held unspeakable promises. '■ • “Yes. After the show, at my Fiat. I’ll send the maid to bed. Now you must go, Michael; my dresser will be here in a few moments." He caught her to him and kissed her passionately. Gently she drew herself from his embrace'. ■ • . “Until to-night, then,” she said.

CHAPTER XXIII.

Magda herself opened the door of her flat to Michael, some hours later; such a different specimen of manhood to the Michael Gelding of a short time ago! His shoulders were erect, his head held high, his clear , eyes shining with the brightness of hope. He followed her into the luxurious apartment she used as a boudoir; a room furnished by Stonelelgh, that spoke eloquently of the indolent, pleasure-loving disposition of the woman who inhabited it. Eagerly he clasped her in his arms, and held her, unresisting, against bls throbbing heart. “My wonderful sweetheart! My love I",he murmured in broken tones, while his lips found hers in the unutterable sweetness of kisses he had ached and hungered for so long. She did not chide him or resist. There was much of the feline about Magda Tempest, and she tolerated his wild embraces much as a pampered cat yields to the caresses Of a master it does not love. - Presently she drew him down beside: her on the sofa, while she let him . ramble on, happy in his. fool’s paradise. ' ■ “You’ve brought the letter with you, Michael?” she asked; at length. He smiled and drew from his pocket an old crumpled piece of -paper covered with her rather distinctive writing. ■ , Eagerly she took it from him, and ran her eyes over it. “What a foolish better to have written I" she said, as she lit a candle on the table beside her, and held the .offending missile over the flame. It blazed for a second, and died out a charred fragment, which she dropped into the hearth. “It’s finished, Magda. It. belongs to a past that’s dead. I’ve paid for my sin, many times over, God knows. You, and only you, matter in my life now l” f , , . .. 1 In sheer thankfulness she let him hold her close against his heart, and even responded to- the passion of his kisses. ' ' , Neither of them-heard the key inserted in the front door, and it was only when the boudoir door suddenly opened that' Magda. raised' her head with a start, to see Lord■ Stonelelgh standing on the threshold eyeing them both with a contemptuous smile. , “I seem to have'chosen an unfortunate moment for my call, Magda," he remarked quietly. With an Impulsive movement she thrust Michael aside, and crossed the room to where. Stonelelgh stood. “Jasper I" she said, “I thought you •were going , away, to-day? I didn’t expect you to-night.” . “So it appears I” he remarked coldly. ,“l am leaving town to-mbrrow. — some business takes me to Leigh Towers." , He moved to the fireplace and dropped languidly Into an easy chair. “So this Is how you amuse yourself la my absence 1 I can’t say I commend your taste." 1 Swiftly Magda made a move of appeal towards him. t ; “Jasper, dear," she begged, dont be angry. I’ll explain everything—l can explain I” All thought of Michael was forgotten. Stonelelgh was there, the man she loved; the only man who had ever been able to rouse one throb of real feeling in her selfish heart. “No doubt,” he answered. “But I’m not sure I want you to, Magda, You’ve only forestalled matters a little, that’s all. I called to-night with the object of discussing a dissolution of partnership. You’ve simply saved me the necessity.” “Jasper, you don’t mean that! You can’t!" she cried. “You.know I love you—that you’re everything to meii" “Don’t you think we might get rid of this —gentleman’s presence first?" suggested Stonelelgh. Michael, who had been- listening in amazed silence, threw back his head. “I don’t know by what right you are here, or how you entered this flat, but your manner Is Insulting. Miss Tempest is free to choose her own visitors. How dare you force your way into her home at such an hour'?" Stonelelgh stared at him for a second, and then burst into laughter. “Good heavens, man, are you crazy?” he said, contemptuously. “By what right do you imagine I have entered this flat, except as the owner of It? This charming lady,”—bowing towards Magda—“has dona ma the honour to accept my hospitality here for the past two years.” “It’s 'a lie I” cried Michael, hoarsely. “Magda, say it isn’t true!" She seemed not to have heard him. Stonelelgh looked at Michael with amused scorn. “Why, surely I've seen you before?" he said. “You’re employed at the Crown Theatre, aren’t you?” “I am,” said Michael, sturdily. “W?ll, your employment ends from to-night. You need return there no more; your salary will be sent you. Magda, kindly ask your visitor to be good enough to leave us. I want half-an-hour’s conversation with you.” Fury blazed in Michael's eyes. “By heavens.” he cried, “I’ll not be got rid of by you!” Swiftly Magda turned on him. “Be -silent, you fool!" she said. “Haven’t you done enough harm? Leave my flat!” Michael -stared at her In stupifled wonder. “Leave my flat!" she cried again, hysterically, and threw herself in Stoneleigh’s arms. “Magda,” said Michael, “you don’t mean it? You’re not turning me out for him! You can’t mean to do that!”

(To beGonlinucd.)