Pictures and the Picturegoer (October 1915 - March 1916)

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PICTURES AND THE PiCTUREGOER ;io Jan. THE VORTEX Adapted from the Esaanay Drama By IVAN PATRICK GORE. \ -• \ ■ , ■ -■••-, • CHAPTER I. FOR a moment the man looked at the while, angry face of his wife, then, shrugging his shoulder*, he crossed the room. " Yon understand what I mean, Agnes," he said quietly, ''and 1 expect 3 'Hi to respect my wishes." Without another look ho left the room, and as she heard his firm steps echoing through the hall Agnes Howard sank on to the richly upholstered settee, her angry mood of a moment before \ anishing in a flood of passionate tears. . . . Swiftly the scenes in the last few years of her life flashed across her mind. Again she saw herself the happy village I iclle. courted by the wealthy visitor to her father's home, and the envy of all her friends. Again she stood at the Altar and heard his deep tones as he repeated the vows that made them man and wife. Again she lived through the month of honeyed bliss that followed their marriage; then— well, then the brain-pictures took a darker, gloomier form, and she pressed her face down ong the cushions as though striving to shut the gates of memory upon them. . . . Slowly the happy days had waned, until at last they seemed to disappear. Little by little Graham Howard had appeared to tire of hjs clinging wife, absenting himself from home, and answering her anxious inquiries with the one curt plea of "Business," even refusing to let her share his worries when she pleaded with him to do so. Then, at last, the bitter truth was forced upon her -she was misunderstood, neglected, a stumbling-block in his path of suc She staggered to her feet and pi her white, beringed hands to her aching brows. "I will not stand it any longer." she moaned; "1 will not. 1 gave him all I had to give; 1 was his. all his. and he does not eaie nobody cares, I might as well be " She hesitated, and a lain! Bush spread oyer her beautiful face as she remembered the secret letter that lay within the bosom of her dress. " Yes, somely cares," she whispered, Looking round fearfully ; "one man puts my lo\e. my happiness above all else in the world oic man would sacrifice everything to bring happiness info my life again." Slowly the temptation swept over her, beating down, crushing all sense (>t uue. " I have a right to be loved— I will claim that right." Passionately her red lips pressed the written lines. ''1 3 Ingram, li want me, 1 will come to you. and the future shall be as you li!" Swiftly she made the meagre prepara tions for li'M flight. _ Without another glance at the beautiful room in which her day-dreams had been built, she turned to go; but at the door she shrank back as a man's voice fell upon her ear. '■Then I will wait for Mr. Howard. Mrs. Howard, you say. is in ? ': '"Amos Howell, my husband's friend she whispered. " If he should see me it would be fatal ! " Stealthily she' left the room by another door, and a moment later the servant ushered the visitor in. '-I could have sworn the mistress was here," he said. "Maybe, though, she's gone upstairs. If you will take a seat, sir. I will tell her you are here ! :' The old retainer left the room, and Howell commenced to pace the floor. "It must be so," he muttered, "and although I may lose dear old Grahams friendship, still, by that same friendship and all that it means to me. I feel it my duty to speak. What fools men are/' lie continued, bitterly, as. halting before a large portrait of his friend's wife, he looked searchingly at the exquisitepictured face. " Here's my friend — given the love of a beautiful, clever woman, aye, and a good one up to now. I'll swear to that. Yet he must needs gamble with his future— pitting his home happiness against ambition and professional success. I've seen it — watched the inevitable coming — shuddered at the knowledge of his seeming neglect that I have seen creep into her eyes : and, by Gad, before it is too late I will speak. Yes. I'll speak, plead with him, and then"' — the expression on his face became black vrith fury-" I'll settle my own affair, even though the settlement bears the shadow of the gallows ! " Behind him the door opened, and. the servant reappeared. "I cannot find Mrs. Howard anywhere," he said, in a troubled voice, "and her maid says she saw her hastily packing a bag. Perhaps she has gone en a sudden visit, sir. and neglected to tell us." " Perhaps — p< rhaps " The servant left the room again, and Howell stood still in the centre o\' the room. Hi sharp eyes fell upon a sheet of paper that gleamed white on the hearthrug, and scarce thinking what he did. he picked it up and glanced at the hastily penned lines — " M\ beloved," he read. "I can wait no longer for the realisation of the promise your dear eyes have given me. Leave this man who openly neglects and Haunts you -leave him and come tomy arms, and in themtind the sinner of your youth again. To-night at eight I shall Be waiting, and before 8 new day is born we can start on a new life together. Ingram Miles!" With an oath, Howell crumpled the letter in his hands. "Ingram Mil he hissed, his handsome .face ah. devilish as he struggled with the j • sionthat shook him; "so he has drawn Agues into the vortex ; but. thank ' • there is still time to rescue her. I<><j Miles the infamous blackguard, the vile ruiuer of homes ! First mj niv poor little Annette; and now my dearest friend's wife But. although Annette must pay the price, bis second victim shall be saved; then— then he shall pay -aye. he shall pay a hundredfold I " And crushing his hat over bis eyes he hurried out into the night. Chapter H. Alone in bis web the Spider watching the clock upon the mantel, his feelings alternating between hope and fear as the remorseless bands dragged on towards the hour. .Suddenly he sprang to his feet, a smi. triumph illuminating his sinister features as soft footsteps sounded on the ball without. A moment later a maid usbereq in the veiled figure of a woman, then discreetly withdrew as her master came forward with arms outstretched. "Agnes," h<3 whispered, sjtriyi g bide the passion that shook his v " von have come! " '"Wearily the other man's wife threw her veil aside and faced him. '"YeS,J have come. Ingram. No. "she continued, as he tried to draw her into his embr "you must listen to me first. I have come to von in answer to your \\ i -h. and because my heart, my very soul, cries aloud for the love you prom "The love that shall be yours yours only. I swear it." he breathed thickly. " But I cannot off r you the love that was in my heart before. I 1 learned how callous men could be in the hour of possession. That is dead, buried with my old day-dreams; but I .can pro you faithful ess. Take me away where perhaps I may lorget, and I will be J slave. Will you be satisfied with that? His slave!* A sardonic smile twisted Ingram Miles' lips as he heard he* heartbroken words, but the woman did B°t , , . , " Mv dear." he wins ered. drawing her slowly towards him. " it shall be ecu as wish. But you shall never bs my slave: instead. I will be yours. My loving c re will make you forget his nesrleot in time, and until that day 1 will be content to wait for the true love that will be mv best reward! lie held her. dispassionate but unreal in his embrace; then as he raised her face to meet his first CO a footstep fell upon his e irs. and be put her almost roughly from him. * ,nd he listened. Only one person I ever had the right to enter his h