The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-11-13 00:00:00

though without the remotest conception of its cause,
strove with all her power to bring him back to some
little consciousness of what he was required to do.
And she succeeded so far that he contrived to pull
through without anything more observable in his
demeanour than a certain hollowness of tone which
had not been there before; and when the act was
over to lead his blushing, gratified companion before
the curtain in response to the call which greeted
them.
Again he cast an upward glance to where Beryl
stood, her eyes looking coldly over his head with no
loving glance al: recognition in them such as he had
once hoped—nay, been certain to see there.
Cara noted the look, and with the quick instinct of
her sex, divined everything.
"The time has come that you have wished for "she
whispered, as the liveried super let fall the act-drop
behind them. "She is there."
And a slightly envious pang shot through her heart
I as the thought that the mere sight of another woman
I should have power to stir Allan from his composure,
for, almost without knowing it, certainly without any
seeking on his part, the pretty actress had given her
whole undivided love to this man.
" Yes' " muttered Allan, hoarsely. "It was almost
too much for me to bear. I have to thank you, Miss
Belassys, for not having made a fiasco this night.
Some time, perhaps, I shall be better able to thank
you than now."
She looked after him with a little sigh as he left her,
and then peeped through a little chink in the curtain
to obtain a closer view of Beryl than the cursory one
she had got from the stage. But the box was empty
now, for it was just after Mrs. Dalton's fainting-fit, of
which those behind knew nothing till Dr. Twist and
his friend made their appearance.
" It's coming to a close, I think," said the doctor.
I thought somehow or other that we should see some-
thing when those two came face to face."
"Whatever it was, the girl was as much taken by
surprise as anyhody. I thought at first it was a sham,
do you know.
"I should like to know what made the old woman
go off in that manner?" mused the other. "She
seemed to lose her nerve entirely."
Mr. Chetwynd came up at this moment, and,
shaking hands warmly with his confrre, was in-
troticed to Dr. Twist., just as Graham Carson came
httrying down the stairs om's Noel's dressing-
room.
"What's the matter now?" asked Mr. Chetwynd.
"Temple—l'm afraid he'll not be fit to go on .1 gain,"
hurriedly explained the young man. " Ah, doctor !
I'm glad to see you. Come up and have a look at
him, will you ?"
Bui; when they reached the room Allan was him-
self again. It had only been a temporary weakness,
he declared, and he should be able to finish the

piece.
" You look more like going home to bed, and stay-
ing there," said the doctor, when they were left
alone. "But I suppose it's no use arguing. I need
not ask you what has been the cause of all this. I
suppose. You saw her ?"
"Saw—her r
"Yes—the heiress, Miss Beryl Atherstone, as they
call her."
" Oh—hush ! hush! Don't speak of it yet, or I
shall go mad. Perhaps it is so that lam already."
Dr. Twist looked keenly at him, and laid his fingers
on his pulse.
" H'm ! No. I think you're pretty safe at pre-
sent," he said. "And now I want to ask you a
question."
" Well ?"
"You are convinced you saw Miss Atherstone
"I saw the woman whom they told me was Miss
Atherstone," returned Allan, excitedly pacing the
room.
"Told you! Don't you know her ?"
"I did know Beryl Atherstone—butthat fair-haired
woman was not she —not my darling. Ah, Beryl,
Beryl what has become of you ?"
"For heaven's sake, calm yourself, men cr:ed the
doctor. "You'll break down. ate. You are sure you
are not deceived ?"
" Deceived! IV'
"And yet everybody else who has seen tier declare
she is no less a person."
"It is they who are deceived !" vehemently ex-
claimed Allan. " There is a trick, I'll swear. Some
vile conspiracy which I must and will discover."
"Had you not better take another look," urged
Dr. Twist. I daresay you think you are right, but
" Think ! I tell you lam sure. There has been
foul p'ay somewhere, and, as I am a living man,
will find out what they have done with my lost
darling."
"Then I'm the man to help you."
" You!"
"Yes. There is no time to talk of it now; you
will be wanted almost directly. Have no fear—the
plot that has been so cunningly laid we shall expose.
But there must be nothing rash, or our plane may be
defeated after all."
So Allan returned to the stage, and when the even-
ing's performance was over a little party assembled
in the manager's room, when a conversation ensued,
the purport of which would have made Beryl's cheek
whiten and her eye grow dim could she have guessed

it.
But this was not to be just yet. As Dr. Twist had
said, caution was necessary above all things.
"We must pay out enough rope, or they will escape
us after all," he said, as the party separated; and,
though Allan was all for immediate action, the advice
of the others, and especially Graham Carson's, over-
ruled his wishes, and for the present, at least, all he
could do was to watch and wait for a solution of the
horrible doubts that filled his brain.