THE ERRATIC FLAME by YSABEL DE TERESA New York The Macaulay Company ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Copyright, 1926, by The Macaulay Company Printed in the United States of America ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENTS I THE SCORCHING LIMELIGHT II ESCAPADE III LIFE'S GLAMOUR IV THE PAWN V CLAIRE'S RENUNCIATION VI DARK DESPAIR VII THE LOST GIRL VIII MORTAL SIN IX YOUTH'S TEMPEST X MERRY-GO-ROUND XI ANNE'S VIGIL XII THE HEALING VISION XIII BALM XIV RAPTURE XV "DUG DEEP INTO MY HEART--" XVI IRREVOCABLE XVII STRANGE AND SINISTER XVIII DISCORD XIX A CRESCENDO XX OFFERINGS TO THE GOD OF GENIUS XXI TRIUMPH XXII ANTI-CLIMAX XXIII DISSONANCE XXIV TRICKERY XXV SACRIFICIAL XXVI "WILL YOU TAKE ME--" XXVII CLAIRE'S CHILD XXVIII "PITY THAT PAINS" EPILOGUE: PURPLE AND GOLD ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE ERRATIC FLAME CHAPTER I THE SCORCHING LIMELIGHT As the mountain mist, caressing and desultory, resolved into a steady downpour, Anne glimpsed just above her the outlines of a hut. Crouched behind sodden boughs, decrepit, ramshackle, it tottered upon the lip of the ravine. With an amused sense of relief she trudged up towards it, her feet sinking amongst a welter of brown leaves, her whole being cleansed within the gray mantle of the rain. After a hectic summer of bridge and dancing this solitude of dripping trees and drenched leaves, fell upon her bruised spirit like a benediction. Anne thanked her very modern and somewhat pagan gods for having inspired her to escape from the inglorious rut. To-day, the New York season ahead of her, shone meretricious in the face of the crystal cleanliness of bathing woods. Perhaps she would give it all up and open the villa in Florence immediately instead of waiting until after Christmas. The very thought rested her. She attained the top of the ravine with renewed serenity. Its gaunt outlines blurred by rain, the hut stood before her. Assailed by a feeling of almost girlish excitement she smiled with inward amusement. Surfeited, world-weary, surely she was not foolish enough to expect a thrill lurking within the walls of a dilapidated mountain cabin?