Pictures and the Picturegoer (October 1915 - March 1916)

PICTURES AND TllZ P1CTUREGOER Wkek ending Oct. 9, 19)5 " DOWN the Parisian Boulevards each evening tbeatre-goiog traffic move*J in a never-en&mg stream. The idol of the hour was Sadunah the dancer. To miss her performance was to miss tin' artistic sensation of the day. Sadun. 1I1 had many admirers men and women too, who deemed it a privilege to pay her homage; to render tribute to a wonderful performance. But Sadunah was more than a great artiste; she was a great mother, one to whom no sacrifice for her daughter would be too a win]. Editha was a winsome girl on the threshold of a womanhood which her mother had decreed should he entered with every hope of future happiness. Into their lives came Henry Laroche, secretary to Mostyn May. a wealthy financier. The young man had seen Editha, and loved her, and in the hope of gaining the mother to his cause he often mingled with "her admirers after the performance. The dancer, however, encouraged no one. and jealously guarded Editha from her artiste's life. That the world should forget she was only a dancers child was the mother's sole ambition Chance having acquainted Laroche with Sadunah, he frequented the house in the hope of seeing the daughter, but Editha evinced no desire to extend their acquaintanceship. The fame of the dancer reached Mostyn, and. pressed by friends and Laroche, he went to the theatre to see her performance. Sadunah's "race and charm carried him away, and he invited her to dance at an entertainment he was giving to his friends. In accepting she unconsciously took the first step in the direction of the great tragedy. A big crowd gathered at the financier's house to see the famous dancer, and among the guests was Mostyn May's millionaire uncle. Clifton Judd, an infirm invalid, who lived alone with his valet Mark Repton. Sadunah's weird and wonderful dance created a deep impression, but none was so visibly affected as Mostyn. "When Sadunah left the house she realised that the Money King was ready to place his "name and fortune at her feet. But all his efforts to induce the dancer to promise to marry him failed, and one afternoon Mostyn accused her of being' in love with some one else. In reply Sadunah showed him the portrait of Editha. "My daughter." she murmured gently. "than whom the world holds nothing dearer," "What do yon think of him, darling?" asked Sadunah of Editha after an introduction to Mostyn. " What if he became your father!-" The girl's answer must have been satisfactory; ,1 few weeks Liter she was wait ing in t lie financier's house for the return of the lovers from their honeymoon. The Earl of Wansford, one pf \io.. tyn's business Friends, accepted an invitation to attend a hall being given by Mostyn May and his wife to celebrate Adapted from the Gausnant Exclusive, A I'tl in Version of William Le Queur'-* Latest VoveE. "SADUNAH THE DANCER." the birthday of their daughter. Lord Sandown. the son of the Earl, came with his father and fell in love with Editha at first sight. Sadunah saw in this a brilliant match for her daughter, and decided to use her wit to bring about a marriage. Unable to deny his wife anything, Mostyn wrote to the Earl inviting him and his son to their Chateau Mirimar on the Riviera, whither they were going for a holiday, Sandown. having told his father of his lo\e for Editha, succeeded in inducing him to accept the in\ itation. and shortly afterwards the merry party gathered at the beautiful chateau overlooking one ©f the loveliest bays in the world. Sadn. mill's plans succeeded, for a marriage was arranged between the Earl's son and the financier's step-daughter. During the mutual congratulations upon the terrace Laroche came on the scene, and although he endeavoured to fender hearty good wishes the engagement sounded the death-knell of his hopes. To the chateau also came Uncle Chiton. The old man had written that his health was worse &£ he believed that the Riviera sunshine would ward off the inevitable, he would he grateful if his -nephew and niece would prepare for hi> reception the little cottage at the Devil's Pool. Accompanied by his faithful shadow Mark, the decrepit old man arrived, and took up his abide in the cottage perched on the summit of the treacberous cliff. All was pi ace and happiness at the Chateau Mirimar until the morning | brought dismay to Host] a and Sadunah. A colleague of the financier wrote that sorre 1 ne had get wind tyn's operations with the Fan Farigoul Transfers. Several shareholders had lodged complaints, and unless 230,000/. was available at the end of the month to put things straight Mostyn knew what would happen. As a precaution the writer was leaving at once for the States) So serious was .the situation that Mostyn immediately consulted his wife. Sadunah was horror-struck as she read the letter. The plans she had schemed for her daughter's future appeared tobe blasted. " Then you were only a thief after all." she cried, in anger. " This is no time for recrimination.' replied her husband. " What can you sug-gest ? We must get out of the mess." " You have brought it upon yourself. Wbv do you ask me for __ ons? Even such a sum as this should not trouble vou." •• But it does. My recent speculations have all turned out badly, and I cannot raise a tenth of the amount." "Then you must confess all to your uncle. He can help us out." Uncle Clifton, however, was not disposed to help. On the contrary, he was inteiiselv annoyed, and a heated interview ended with Mostyn being ordered out ot the cottage. * * * * Like a tigress defending her young. Sadunah paced up and down the room, as she turned over and o\er the dire problem After years of toil, after long planning to see her daughter happily married, the mother wa? faced with the ruin of all her plans. "No. no." she muttered, "it shall not be." and from the ten she summoned her husband. • Your uncle's death can alone save us,fl she told him. •• True: but he may linger for years." answered Mostyn. Sadunah approach to her hus band and looked straight into his ej " Then kill him ! " she hissed. ■• 1 cannot. I dare n< t ! " "You must, an.l you shall. ' declared his wife. " Think what it means. The great financier dragged down to the level of the meanest thief, Sadunah the dancer a byword, and my darling Editha irretrievably ruined when life lor her is only just beginning." The dinner-gong ended the disc:, hut worse was before Mostyn. A 1 from h:s uncle was handed him in which t he old man w rote. " Make w hat exci you like to your guests. 1 will not eat