The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-01-04

cane, and a beaver hat, thickly fringed
with feathers and thrust beneath his
arm, completed the costume of the
magnificent fop he was to represent In
the comedy.
You've no heart, George Kncvit. =
said Mrs. Askew, passionately. :.
Quite true" he answered, with a
sort of gay scorn. ''Still,, [ had one
once; as good a heart for ordinary
wear as a man need have. | must
make shift now to do without it,
suppose. | gave it away-lent it,
rather, to a woman who used it shame
fully, ard returned it, wounded, crush
ed, bleeding, worthless. No; I've no
heart now"
You never loved me"
Did [ not? And yet. thought /
did, And you thought so, too" #
You know you never did. If you
had ever loved me, you would not
mock me as now you do"
The hooking has not been all on
my side. Is one to go on loving for
ever, whatever may betide?" He took
snuff with grand air. Il value this"
he went on, tapping his box as he
spoke. "'Twas given me for gold; /
deemed it gold; but if one day
scratches should come upon it, and
make clear to me, past all mistake,
that it is but base metal, for all it
wears so bright lacquer should | not
be dolt and mailman still to deem
it gold, and value it as now / do? No,
not am fool enough for most things
but not for that. If the idol we
bow before is but simple clay, for all
our faith in it and devotion to it, be
sure we find out the fact some day,
and topple the thing down from our
altar, never to lift it up or bow down
to it again" 80
Something of both the manner and
the matter of the theatre was in his
speech. What wonder? Was he not
an actor? And then in Mr.. Knevit's
day all conversation assumed tone
of somewhat artificial elevation-be-
ing, as it were, surmounted by tall
periwig, and moving about on high
heeled shoes.
If you knew all, George-if you
knew all |" moaned Mrs. Askew.
| thank you, mistress. | think [
know enough, y he said coldly. 4
And you despise me?,' FL
6 | despise myself twas not you
that deceived me; / deceived myself
| have but myself to thank that my
deception has cost me SO dear And
it has cost me dear Be assured of
that. 10 His voice trembled rather as
he spoke -
TRY to think well of me, George"
;. To what end? Do you want my
heart mended, that you may rive it
again, as children build up houses of
cards for the pleasure of knocking
them down? That can not be. [ W as
mad to think that you were better
than the herd among which | found
you. 1t was not your fault; it was
my folly that | tried to find diamond
in lead mine. You stood out for
your price; that was all. You were
not in truth better than therest,. Nay,
let me value rather the reckless weneh
who lets herself go at the cheapest
rate; there may be a grain or so of
heart, of honest liking, in her bar
GAIN There can be none in yours.
A glass coach, with footmen to run in
front, and wax fambeau to attend
you; black boy for your lap dog,
and plentysof money in your purse!
Well, you have found a market;
you've received the stipulated price;
the TRANSACTIONS closed May you
never see cause to repent it,
What right have you to address
me thus, George Knevit? she de-
manded fercely
The right the love | once had for
you has given me. 1t was a poor
you treated it so. ? But poor as it was,
it was a thing you will never know
again. Be happy with this boor who
has bought youths sot-this Welsh
goat from the mountains! Will you
weary first, or will he?"
How dare you say this to me2n
Nay, never scowl, mistress. The
fire in your eyes has no terrors for me.
You have not to lOUe me tonight as In
yesterdays play" With7a laugh he
raised his hand to his face. +, The
mark still shows, / fear / must pile
on the paint to hide it,
Il was mad last night! You goad
ne and torture me, and then marvel
that [ turn upon you, Your bitter
ness, your cruelty, raise devil in my
heart | seek in vain to lay; and then
and thenr-Iny brain whirls, and |
know not what / do 1t shall not
happen again; only be merciful to me,
George. Your tongue wounds we like
Ia knife. HzIio4 .4lsI0mlgd sas2,M
L have had my say, mistress. My
tongue shall wound you no more.
And, though all is over between
U.S. she paused, as though reluctant
to believe thatsall was In truth over.