Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1883-08-03
Stage Struck.
Continued from first page.

YOUR cruelty" said the stranger. "Yo
are both cruel and ungra.eful. This
afeeling you have cultivated of lat
years; when q p,a,tling child on m
knee you used to put your chubb
arms around my neck and tell me no,
much you loved your uncle"
"Uncle," thought l. "Oh. yes,
have it this time sure be is her uncle,
and began to look carefully at them t
see If could discover any family re
semhlance. but the next sente nee u
tered by Nellie proved that l wasin
error.
ut was you that taught my infan
lips to utter the lie. 1t was you Wit
ingratiated yourself in my childlsl
affections by claiming to be relativ
Gimme; and far better would 1t hav'
been for me if l had chosen the cobr;
for a playmate. My childish hear
even then told me how base You were.
Base as l was, your molher-,'
he began,
'Hush!" cried the proud girl, start
ing to her feet and extending her hant
toward him. "Do not defame hel
memory by allowing her sacred nam,
to pass your lips. Your mouth is pol
luton itself: you are a monster"
have seen excellent acting in m,
lifetime, but this bit of melo-drama ex
celled anything had ever beheld.
could scarce keep from clapping my
hands in loud applause.
The william sat as stolid as if he hac
been hewn out of stone. He seemed
confused, but only for a moment, and
then he said:
~ might be alarmed at such demon.
stratiohs if l had not grown used to
Them, but sit down moment and lei
us come to business"
The tone was cool and Nellie obey.
ed. The man laid his cigar on the
table near by and said:
"You know the hold I have on you!''
"Alas, l do
"Do you doubt my ability or incl.
nation to use ita'
"No."
"You are correct in both. Now
did not send for you to meet me here in
order to rehash old times and call up
all our past quarrels. l had another
motive"
The girl remained silent and he went
on.
"You must either permit me to re-
main with you here in the troupe to
which you now belong"
81 will never consent to that. 1 will
die before my disgrace shall be known
by the dear friends l have made. who
are members OF this troupe"
"Never miHd now. l don't care
for any more of those airs tonight; SO
just wait until 1 get through"
"Go on" she answered IN plaintive
subdued manner.
"You must either consent to allow
me to remain here with you, or you 60
with me-"
"Oh, heaven. what must dos What
must l dog" she sobbed. "You can
not, shall not remain here to disgrace
me, and l ot-can-not leave"
leave who?" he demanded sharp
ly.
1.-THE troupe"
"You seem strongly attached to it."
lam"
"But you have your cholce-e,ther
the one or the other"
80, l capnot."
"You cannot. hey!" he demanded
arising and bending over the beautiful
girl who, with her face on the table,
was sobblng bitterly. "You can't?
Don't utter tina: word, for remember.
1t is only to step out of the penitentary
to swing from the gallows."
"Oh, heaven" she almost screamed.
II swear It."
"Do not be so cruel"
"Tis you who will be murderer, not
l."
"Spare me-"
II have made two proposition; you
must accept one. l furthermore believe
you have disobeyed my strictest man.
date and fallen in love with one Of the
actors of your troupe. l believe you
are engaged"
Il am not; swear it," she said.
Oh how l wanted to send a bullet
through the Villains heart.
IF you do l swear he shall hang
higher than Haman." |,
She only sobbed in silence.
"Now which will you do, allow me-
10 remain with you, or you go with meg
"Give me time to decide" |:
"How long do you wants" |:
"a few weeks"
"You shall not have it." IL
"Then 60 and do your worst" she '
nswerd with considerable spirit. Blow
ny name and sad story on every,breeze c
ntil every man. woman and child shall
Earn to despise me. I will not yield Y
, your tyranny without some terms
avorable toward myself.' a
"Alice, think what you are doing" II
e SAID coldly."
I started again. Was her name "
lice instead of Nellie? Alice who 2 Ii
5as this mystery never to end! But
he tall, dark stranger was speaking
gain. c
think OF the degradation a fullrev- p
lation would reduce you to. Think of y
M ,o,, should love SWINGING and e