The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-03-16

we might extemporize?"
1--WE can scarcely play all the parts
ourselves"
| 1--WE can manage the principal ones,
| at any rate; and if we require more.
there is Graham, who is putting the
FARMHOUSE to bed; we might call him
when he has finished work."
"Then, it would be as well TO have
some general idea as to what our play
was to be about" suggested Mauric sc,
mildly.
81 have ever so many ideas too
many for my powers to arrange. You
| must help me-"
II shall try; This pretty scene ought
| to inspire us"
They were on the terrace now, and
she took her place within the doorway
of the bungalow. She grasped the
| ropes of one of the hammocks, and
| resting her cheek against the uplifted
arms her face was in darkness, viii he.
| standing without, had the full benefit of
the gently fading light.
''Well, am waiting for your inspira-
ton"
1.-The time, the place and the actors
make it impossible to think of anything
but love scene" he responded. amused,
but with that unconscious meditation
which even the harshest voice obtains
when sentiment is dominant
''Let us haze one, then" was the
prompt command, with no more senti-
ment in voice or manner than might
have been infused in request to pass
the salt or to shut the door.
"Am to play the lover?"
There is no one else on hand. except
Graham, and he is SO busy with his
| plants that he would be sulky for a
month if we were to call him away from
them for such ridiculous FOOLS play, as
he would say. There is no help for it; so
90 on, and l shall be the heroine. Am
anything like one9'
81 think YOU are so like one that"
He stopped; she had bent forward for
an instant. showing her face, on which
there was q curious expression of min
gled anxiety and mischievousness, while
in the eyes there was look OF tender
yearning.
That find it difficult not to speak
in earnest" he continued.
"Well, the more earnest you appear
the better will be the performance &C.
cording to your theory; and there is
nothing so easily burlesGued as-love"
She had withdrawn into the deep
shadow again. and the long breath
which she took before pronouncing that
last word seemed to him only part of
the stage business of the character she
was assuming.
"Yes. it is easily done. I approach
you softly, and try to look into your
eyes-and J on draw back. just rs YOU
have done; and say: Miss Crthbert,
may be permitted to make love to
you? It's very nice amusement for
leisure hours, and is interesting alike to
peer and peasant"
Ridiculous! You would never speak
That way if you were in earnest. and
you are to pretend to be so, you knowp''
What would happen ii the pretence
should prove real"
1--WE shall not discuss impossibilities.
Proceed, and GO not call ME by my own
name. Call me Arabella. Mary Ann or
any other fine-sounding name"
"Have you any preference"
"None unless you could bring your
self to use the name YOU liked best"
II did not know that Ihad displayed
any gartiality.,'
shall find another. 1t was silly fancy
of mine that you liked Lucy as name.
and that it would suit me. Use none at
present and perhaps We shall discover
good one as we progress. We are
not getting on very fast, are we9"
I'VE should 60 faster if you were to
give me your hand.'
That is too much to ask all at
once"
Then let me take it without asking
not yet"
THAT is drolI way to take it with
out asking; to say 'let me- is surely to
ask leave-and do not give it
.'Why. You are challenging me!''
"To whats'
ITO mortal combat of wit and heart
you are daring me to take possession
of prize for which so many are sigh
ing, AMI ], blind coward. am afraid to
touch it because it seems too high for
one so low to reach"
'.Is that in Y, ur part, or are you
are you forgetting yourself again, MIR.
Calthorpe ?"
lit is, indeed. in my part; but we
shall drop the play SO far that l may
speak my own feelings. l shall call
you Lucy, if you will, or anything" he
went on, excitedly. ..She was to me
in thought all that you embody. /
loved YOU before / saw you because
loved her-for God sake, let me en-
plain. She came across me like dream
and disappeared. You came-my heart
was filled, not with new love. or form,
but with the realization of my dream.
Be what you may; you are to me Lucy
Il love you and l live for you"
Passionate as his words were, his
voice was so low that it sounded little
above whisper; but this subdued man.
ner intensified his meaning.
She had shrunk SO far back into the
darkness while he spoke that she was
invisible. He did not attempt to follow
her; he waited. breathless, for her 10
speak, and there was strange stiffness
in the p ace.
The silence lasted so long that the
idea flashed upon him that she might
have tainted. and he was about to call
her name when he heard her dress rustic
and she spoke.
Would you have said this 20 Lucy?"
she asked, and the words seemed to
pass from her lips with gentle. tremu-
1ous sound, like that made by the leaves
just before rain.
ITO her? Ay, am saying it to her
now. can not see you. but hear your
voice and she YES in YOU"
'.But she was poor
He was stung to the quick; that was
not Luc, S voice or thought. The tone,
too, was harsh asthe sheer was cruel.
II d not tn nk of that" he an
swered, quietly, recalled to the actual