Pictures and the Picturegoer (October 1915 - March 1916)

PICTURES Als'D THE PICTUREGOER 110 X ENDING 6, IQISi The Duke bit his lips, then, in an even replied, " STou mistake, Mademoiselle. 1 am IJ>uko of dimy.'' There was another tense silence, and the girl's eyes seemed to blaze in her bead. Faver< au turned his face towards the '.'irl. and his heart quickened in sympathy, but cnif'l necessity knows no law. Diane, with an accent of contempt that struck the Duke like a lash, said ; '" You coward ! " Favereau signed to the Duke to leave the room. When he had gone he turned to the girl. 'You mistake. Mademoiselle. He is the Duke of Cluny, and, nc doubt, you will understand that, undei the painful circumstances, he can hare uo-connection with Monsieur le Cheva tier." " Ah. I understand now," replied the girl, in a tired voice. _ That evening Diane went to the Duchess, telling her that she wished to go away. "I can't stay here — in this house/' said the girl, '"1 can't accept so much from you— ah3 the Duke." The Duchess put the request down to girlish whims. • "Now, little Diane, stay to please me."' she replied, "I have no child to love but you." " Very well," replied Diane. She felt as though fate guided all her movements, and that her own desires or wishes availed nothing. Diane, under the Duchess's tactful care soon accommodated herself to her position in the house, and the Duke was beginning to feel that the load of anxiety was lessening, for he believed that the secret was now safe. There was only :me circumstance that caused him uneasiness, and that was the growing infatuation of Lieutenant Dodd, for Diane. Not that he had any qualms of jealousy. He bitterly regretted his folly at Narbonne, and prized the respect of his wife too highly to even desire to renew the intrigue. But if his wife's relative grew to love Diane, and proposed marriage, the trouble would have complications he never dreamt of. After dinner lie was aghast to hear Dodd addressing Diane in tones that left no doubt of their sincerity. " Has no one ever told you how beau* til'ul you are P" The Duke again consulted his old friend Favereau. " What is to be done now. Favereau?" he asked.. '"Dodd is head over heels in love with Diane, and before long he will be proposing to her. I can't let him marry her. He is my wife's kinsman.'' "You have already taken a course, and you must stick to it." said Favereau, firmly. " Don't trouble about it. Let Dodd look alter himself. Let honour go let everything go to save your wife's happiness." " Very well," replied the Duke resignedly . The next day brought a climax. Dodd had followed Diane into the conservatory. The young lieutenant noted that the girl wore round her neck a pearls which looked very valuable, and he playfully remarked, " These are very pretty, Diane, did thej belong to your mother?" "No," replied the girl sternly "I wear them to remind me that I have no righl to love." The Lieutenant turned pale " Do you mean that for me, Diane? You know that I love you, and want you to be my wife. Don't you care for me P Diane faltered. " I do care for you— I do— but I can't be your wife," " Why not ? " persisted Dodd, anxiously. " Why can't you marry me ? If there's a real reason, Helen will know. I'll ask her." The girl remained silent for several moments. It was evident that a struggle was going on in her heart. " Will you take the Duke's word that it is impossible? " "Oh!" replied Dodd, considerably relieved—" I forgot I was in France. If " TlIE STAN TRIEU TO PAT 3IE WITH THESE '■ " you must have the Duke's consent. I'll get it." Dodd turned and went to the smokingroom to find the Duke, and discovered him in conversation with Favereau. Diane followed him. She was curious to see what the Duke would do. but hesitated near the door on hearing the young Lieutenant say : " Cluny, I want to marry Diane." "Ah ! " replied the Duke, as thougli a douche of cold water had been suddenly hurled at him. Favereau's eyes narrowed. "Is there any reason why sue should not be mv wife?" continued Dodd. Diane listened with tense interest for t lie reply. "I know of nothing to prevent your marriage."' The girl walked into the room, a hard, determined look in her eyes. " foil force me to tell." she replied fiercely to the Duke. Turning to the young Lientenant, she continued : " 1 can't ace any honest man's love. .1 have beei: deceived, and" snatching the pearls from her neck " the man tried to pay me with tl. There was a moment's silence. N had noticed that the Duchess had ent< red the room. " Who was it"? His name • You said the Duke knew," demanded Dodd sionately. " The Duke ought to know. He is the man," replied the girl. The Lieutenant looked at the Duke, who was pale as death, for he saw that his wife had heard the conversation. Before he had time to reply Dodd struck him across the face. The Duke bowed. There was only one answer to such an insult. "At dawn, behind the rose-garden," he replied, bitterly. Early next morning two men 1 each other at fifty paces. The secondhad marked the distance, and the fall of a handkerchief would decide which oi the two was to live. The Duke | '. resigned. "I have been in fault all through." he said. " 1 intend to die. I shall lire high. My death will atone." The handkerchief flur Two reports rang out. and the Duke immediately fell to the ground. A doctor in attendance ascertained the nature • •£ the wound, aud wb' Favereau, " He won't live Hi' re than half au hour," The dying man scions, and turned reau. * Take me to my he murmured. " Helen — forgive,"' ho implored of his wife, whose pale face told the story of as endured within the last t hours. There was nothing but forgiveness in her and the Duke's last moments were passed in his wife's arm-. " I have been the cans a great deal of trouble." replied Diane to Dodd's re] requests that she should him an answer." The Du< has behaved like a saint, and I cannot promise to be the wife of a man who killed her husband."' " I hive given yon my love." returned Dodd. " I have not the power to take it back." The girl's eyes filled with tear.-. "And I have been the victim of a cruel circumstances. I love you— but marriage is not possible." "I wont give you up. Diane ; I'll wait and wait." returned the young man. Diane placed her hands on the l.i utenant's shoulders, and looked into his face with the light of love in those "devil's" eyes which fascinated both the dead Duke and Dodd with their magnetic light : " Perhaps— some day."' # • • The cast of this splendidly I romance is sure to interest you : May," Cleo Ridgely; " Diane," Blanche Sweet : " Duke of Cluny." Edward Mackay; "Helen" his Wife.'" Gertrude Kellar; "Lieutenant Dodd." I Biaefewell : " Favereau," The Roberts ; " Nanette." Margery Daw. The plaj isdown for release next week.