The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1879-12-23


ng my door. the gentle hand Of this.
~ friend indeed, skisted me into the
,ouse. He had mounted the box
,eside the driver unknown 10 me.
"Bless You for your kindness.
aid family, rs he seated me in my |
library. the little rom with It's dimly |
light aud 6reless hearth, 50
Of my feeling. IL cannot
hank YOU enough" and I gave my
;old hand to his strong. friendly grasp
~ require no thanks. Miss Mattel"
he said. g'avely. IF you need inc. do
not hesitate to call up'u me- And
Kidding me good night. he lett.
Hour after hour passed UNDECIDED
When the CLICK sgain cLimed out The
hour. my stunned senses caught the
sound g., the first time since midn :ht.
| counted the strike. Ia a Ii,iie.s
manner. S.x-was il possible. !
raised nv eyes TO the glass oppnsiie
me and shrank from the appari,ion
which met my gaze. A ~hite.
hs.gard face: eyes unnaturally
brilliant. with dark circles around
their lids. Could that be Mahel
Stuart, who. but !ew short hour>
since, had Looked in that >elf-same
mirror with face rosy with
light aud 1--we:
I threw myself upon couch and
tried TO cry-no tears would come.
but the thoughts crowded upon my
brain ill l feared i should go mad.
Presently l became ohlivifus al
everything. and fell into heavy.
dreamless sleep.
Twas aroused suddenly hv kiss :
AMI starting up, beheld Helen Eger,on
nending over me. With cry
pushed her from me.
"Whv are you here ?" l demanded.
Il? What IL the matter. Mai@'y'
and the fearful. innocent eyes sought
mine with their honest. terrified
glance. I pressed my hand Ia nv
head. Could | he mistaken ! Was
il all a horrid dream? | locked ~
quickly. and caught mn exuli-d glenn
in the clear orbs. With a NIL hy
efirt controlled mys-lf.
..Sit down." l said. calmly.
She tok the seat l m"iioEed !eI
to. q little paler than usual, AID heI
ewes fell as they met mire bent upon
her.
! Helen" ! began. firmly. iron
this time forth We aIe strangers.
She sprang up and came toward
! me.
You are an admirable actress"
said, snerringly. You would make
your fortune ON the stage.
She opened her lips Z" speak.
FLUSH !" l exclaimed, f-rceiy
land listen t. me. YOU We're IN,
friend l loved sou would simo,'
have died TO have spared you pain
Heaven only knows wha; l would
have done Tor You J!
And l." she sxid, coming t"wait
me agam-''am / not your friend:'
You nav spare yourself any III
necessary falsehood.," l said. Ia :
hard Voice. Il was at the MASQUERADE
last hight"
The color fed from her face
leaving i. aim ,st as white as my own
perhaps y"u will tell me-, Went
ON, keeping my eyes fixed Pi,ilessl,
On her. "ihat the piece Of acting
witnessed in the conservatory MAS pr
Of the programme And 1 actual,
laughed. "Oh. it was vastly wei
played" / continued; land l-po"'
dnpe-looked in upon the drama al
The Loan Of Lover. looked "n. Will,
the actors. who were nearest m,
heart, we're deliberately wreckins
every hope Of happiness ! had IN ih.
world. Az, truly you are NV friend ;!
Have you seen PhiIip?' she said
family. after . pause.
Icsughi her by the arm.
Philip RI said. augriIy. "wha
right have you to call him Philip ?
Then. loosing my grasp. bowed
mockinglv, Il beg your pardon. va,
have every right in the world. No.
have not seen him. but you need no
fear / give you nv blessing. Yo,
can 20 ! and ! painted to the door.
l Without q word she left The room
Scarcely ten minutes elapsed whe'
n card xas brought me with '.PhiIiI
Lawrence" engraved on its snowy
surface. The clock struck twelve
It brought back the past night ST
wildly that a feeling of fainines
came over me-; but thrusiing j
hravely aside. l descended m ih'
library. where he always went.
entered noiselessly. He had in hi
hand picture If himself. which In.
been living on the table. and was con
templating it.
That VAS nv idol" ! commenced
without any preliminary words
/ WAS! r.. l hope" he replied
turning toward me.
"Ah." ! said. taking the picius
from him, and not Noticing his Out
stretched hand. Yes. it WIS m,
idol /; now-"I let the picture fall
it was an ivory type-and broke int
q duz-n pieces.
WHY. Mabel. what do YOU mean !.
he exclaimed in establishment.
| This" | said. looking him straigh
in the face. That nv idol Is hn ken
I thought to give you a surprise las
night" I continued. presently. "an'
went tn the hall: there the table
we're turned very unexpectedly. an
I w. the one surprised. YOU did n"
know there we're spectators when th'
little scene was enacted in the conservs
tory. bat there were two-Mr. Sey
mour. ut whose love for me you hav'
- often lauyhed-and mvself."
mabel" hogan Philip in IN ex
i.,~>~..1.ss~. ~Us~>