The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1883-02-11
SHE KEPT HER SECRET.
CHAPTER |.
A RIVAL sUITOR.

DllII IN III i IL IIh lDlIOIlIII {.
CHAPTER
A RIVAL sUITOR.
Father, father, have done IL IL have
played 1t ~ cried Mabel Dudley, bursting into tho
little room where her invalid father his armchair
pulled close to the FIRE, was awaiting her return from
the theatre.
Throwing down on the table a superb bouquet Of
hol-house flowers she carried In her hand and hastily
untylng the strlngsof her plain little bonnet Mabel
fell on the hearthrug at her fathers feet, and taxi
Ing both his wasted hands In hers covered them
roor Tom Dudley's eyes frightened as he looked
down her silky hair, and dlsengaglng one OF
his hands, gently sroked her head, as he said, In
"At last, Mabel-at last How was lt9 can
sec by your face yon have succeeded. My Mabel
"Fai - cried the young lady, with laugh. ~
should think not Look at these flowers dad. Do
you think that bouquet was brought into the theatre
for me? Not likely. They were meant for Miss
Henthcoto, and II had not pleased the donor they
would have gone home again, suppose, But there
I'm not going to say another word until your supper
Is ready, and then you' II know all about It,
Ana In another moment Mabel was busily engaged
III arranging the table Tor the frugal spner In which
the two were wont 10 indulge every night when the
little actress came home.
Hut Mabels avowed Intention OF 'saylng not
another word ~ could hardly he accepted literally
inasmuch rs she had barely smoothed the cloth upon
the table when she broke forth into disointed re-
clal Of the evening events.
Eyes, you old dear, I'm going to make your
fortune at last-where's the salt Y-and wei have
nice little house somewhere all To ourseves-a house
with pretty little garden round 1t, you know, where
yon can sit the whole summer day hasking in the
like cat l don't mean that there's anything of
the cat about you, love, except your gentleness ~
and here she made sudden dash round the table,
Loaf Of bread In one hand cruet In the other, and
planted kiss on the point of her fathers hose
but You must confess cats have habit OF basking
In the warm sunshine And III bring You home the
delicionssst OF fruits mabel liked homemade
perlatives: there was vigor about them that acted
n of her high Spirg- and the bplut-
fullest of nowes-no, WEI II grow the flowers ourselves
where has the bread knife gone g-and Wen never
never, never he the least wee bit afraid about the
rent or the taxes the price OF coal again In all
lives Wen, just before the music was 'rnng In
Tonight, all at once there was terrific hubbnb In
tho green. room. Miss lIeathcoie had received II
telegram, and there she sat when went In immova-
bic as statue, and as white as marble. II seems
That when she FIRST read the message she had Jumped
up with positive shrek Il she had been shot, but
fell back again on the couch and hadn't moved or
spoken since. Poor dear -
"Bad news Mabe2''
mad? Horrible, fatherr aud Mahel's voice
sank low, as though she were afraid that the injured
woman would hear the repetition Of her sorrow.
Her huspand-l nave often told yOn how she loved
that man has run away from her with another
woman. The telegram came fran Paris.
dear, dear. dear ~ said Mr.. Dudley, sympa-
thetically. "roor thing -
And Geonrey Abyn stood there, already dressed
for Hector Blake, c0Ning her to play, that she might
forget her miseries for time, but she never seemed
10 hear him. Then all OF sudden her eyes fell upon
me, and She rose quickly. Mabel Dudley must 90
IN instead of me-, she said, In strange voice. Il
shallnever act again = Nothing would move her; So
all In trembe, | dressed and went down to the
stage. Passing to the grcen-room heard mans
voice saying, IT'S most cOnfonndedy awkward, but
little Dudley must stumble through 1t AS best she
Tonight. hut what frlghtful thing II she should
spoil the escape scene!'''
''Was 1t Moseley dear?' asked her father. Nose
ley was the stage manager.
''No, dad" said Mabel. alt was Mr.. Allyn
himself. So-there was nobody near to mel
cenched my hand, and raising 1t toward the dies.
Heaven help me, l said, I'm astonsh them -
You know they had no Idea what was In me, and
never intended that should play the part; but felt
1t, father-I knew 1t there; and the words had
heard determined me to strain every nerve. did.
At first was fearfully nervous; but gradually be-
gan to forget myself, and remember only that was
Esther.'
al see you haven't forgotten my lessons, Mab.''
said her father, with pleased smile.
''And never shall - cried Mabel. con, you'll
lind L II be credit to my teacher yet, old dear -
81 hope so, Mab-I hope so ~
Everything went swmmingly, and at last we
came TO the great scene in the third act You know
how that scene goes?''
"As well as If l had seen It, love, thanks to your
descriptive powers. -
Mabel rose from her chair, and made a profound
obesance In reply to the compliment.
'You remember the scene; Wild, rocky pass In
Corsica Hero and heroine lost among the noun
tlns. Hero takes advantage of the situation to dis
close his passion for heroine. Esther won't hear
him. sends Hector OF to TRY and find road to get
sistance. Esther alone. Enter the Band OF Bro.
thers'-i mean brigands. Esther in despair. prays
for mercy. Captain of the band relents, and tries to
save her. Followers won't allow the prize to go.
Mutny. They prepare to carry her or, and threaten
10 shoot the Captain If he resiss. Hector PUSHES on;
terrific struggle with biigands; catches Esther In his
arms; PUSHES up the rocks brigands firing right aud
left. Hector reaches the higher ground; pauses
minute to find means of escape, then punges with
his fair burden uhat's mel into the foaming tor
rent. Saved Tableau 7! Curtain =! vowed
would astonish them ALL astonshed myself
flowers. There!" Aud Mabel clasped her hands
exctedly as She recalled the scene ''Geoffrey AL
byn grhsped my hand when we came off, and
"And what dearE''-for she had stopped alb
ruptly.
''Kissed me. father, and said l would be great
actress some day. oh. 1t was only expression of
gratitude; he won't do IL every night -
~ hope not, Nab, said her father. dryly.
''old Moseley didn't say much; but know he
"Ahi wbyS'
~ Because he sent me home In cab. Fancy,
Mr.. Dudley confessed that Moseley's generosity
beokeued certain amount of satisfaction; and after
hearing the rest of Mabel's story he expressed his
wish 10 retire for tho night.
"By- the-by, my darling, had nearly forgotten
oh, dear me, what foolish, f0rgetful old man your
father is, Ia he sure Mr.. Coebrook has been here
this evening"
The girl gave slight, quick toss of her pretty
head, and her color heightened little bat she
merely said demurey
Indeed, dad nope he Is quite wel?'
',oh, you little hypocrile ~ said her father,
smiling, as lie kissed her at his Ded-r door,
whittier IL was Mabel's nightly habit TO lead him
leaning on her arm. quite well You rogue! Hen
be all the better when he hears OF your success III
DO bound Good night, NAB; God bless You -
Charles Coebrook, handsome young fellow, OF
good family but limited means, was u clerk In one
OF the big onces at whitehall, and partly by his
talents, partly through the influence OF powerful
friends In the government he was rising rapidly, and
looked forward with degree of confidence to al
most unlimited promotion.
His intimacy with the Dudleys had already lasted
for several years-in fact, ever since he was quite
youth, and Mabel mere child; aud although lie had
never positively declared his love, both Tom Dudley
and his daughter knew perfectly well what II was
that brought him so frequently to the little rooms In
Crush street.
Many and many time had Charley Colebrook
given up aurng Invitations to dine ANA dance the
houses of his arOeratic friends for the sake OF spend
ing quiet evening with MaDe's father, upon whose
dropping spirits his bright, sunny nature acted AS
spell.
sometimes he would stay until Mabel came home;
yea, he had even rare occasions remained To par
take of crust Of bread and cheese, AZ Mabel de-
scrhed their supper, but he had the tact TO that
his absence was really a greater Kindness than his
presence, however pressing the invitation might be-
The feelings with which Mabel Dudley regarded this
young gentleman were Of u mixed nature
She liked him for himself, and she felt grateful to
him for his many acsof kindness attention 10 her
father, whom sho was compelled by the eNgences OF
her profession 10 leave very much aOne but II cannot
truly be said that she allowed herself TO love him.
Mabel was devoted 10 her profession. II absorbed
her every thought that not bestowed upon her
father, and she had strange Idea that love and
rlage would IN some way or another Interfere with her
progress
IN fact she feared that II Charles Coebrook wished
to marry her at ALL he would also wish her 10 leave
the stage, and this she felt 10 De greater sacrifice
than she was prepared TO make, In the meantime, at
least, she was In love with the stage, and was apt
Ooh upon poor tnalt1 as rival AulOf Tor the object
Of her affections ana resented his attentions accord
ingly.
ts highly probable that had ColebroOk proposed to
her that very night Mabel would have given him
distinct aud unqualified REFUSAL but IL Ii almost
equally certain that she very would have regretted
her action, and fretted herself III after his dismissal
Charley had not yet asked Mabel TO be his wife for
two reasons both very good In their way.
In the first place, la did not feel at all confident that
the girl cherished sufficiently warm regard for him;
aud In the second place. he wished TO make his posi-
tlon In life more secure before he Offered any
share OF his fOTtunes-Or reyerSes,
lie had his own particular code Of honor, aud his
own ideas regarding marriage, and these he never
dreamed OF settling aside however strongly his incna-
lions might bs opposed 10 them.
Thus matters stood while Mabel remained In her
obscure position IN the company at the Phoenix Thea
tres but that night olated with her success, she felt
less inclined than TO think Of the government
clerk In the Hight Of lover She yearDed TO give her
self up heart aud soul to her profession; follow up
the unexpected opportunity she had that night en-
jOyed, and 10 make for herself that should live
on the scroll of hlstriOnic fame.
So Mabel dismissed Charley COlebrook from her
thoughts as unceremOnousY as she had done tho re-
membranco Of her supper, aud was asleep acting
her triumph over again In the land OF dreams,