The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-11-14


in the dress she wore. Where should she
go2 Her parents would receive her,
without doubt; but she was in no mood to
listen to Mrs. Chips sobs and lamenta-
tions. Then she remembered De Lacy
In this utter downfall OF all her splendor,
she remembered the old actor, who had
first taught her to dance, to move, to hold
her fan, and who had been the first to en-
courage her vanity by his openly-ex-
pressed admiration. She took one Of the
cabs that stood by the garien-gate, and
ordered the coachman to drive to We're de
Lacy's lodgings.
For some time Mrs. De Lacy had earned
scanty pittance by braiding straw, but
her husband continued to grow stout,
while she, day by day, faded away to
mere shadow. He had just taken the
cover off a bowl of soup, when a knock
was heard at the door. The actor, who
had returned from the representation of a
thrilling drama at the "vic," started rs he
heard this summons in the middle of the
night.
"who is therei" he asked, in startled
tone.
sit is I-Sylvia! Open, quickw
She entered with a SILVER, took seat
in front of the stove, and poured out her
rage and indignation in q torrent OF words,
and voice that was subdued only ON ac-
count of Mrs De Lacy who was asleep in
the next room. AEEE T
The luxury of her dress. the simmer
ing silk and debate lace, offered strange
contrast to this dingy room, these piles OF
straw.
In the fearful dramas of real life, all
ranks and stations are mingled.
tsNo \ shall ,,avar ,rc hnel fhapa a in .
am free at lastr
"Bnt who could have denounced you to
your husband2'
at is Frank; am sure Of it. Hewould
have believed no one else. Besides let
ter came last night from Egypt. The idea
of his compelling me to kneel to that wo-
man! But will revenge myself"
And faint smile curved her pale lips.
The old actor listened with vivid inter-
est. Notwithstanding his compassion for
"that poor devil Florence" and for Sylvia
herself, whom he called in theatrical par
lance .'the frail beauty" he could not pre-
vent himself from looking at the whole
affair from a dramatic point Of view, and
suddenly cried out
"What a situation for a fifth act!7
She did not hear him; absorbed in
thoughts of revenge, she had drawn closer
TO the fire, and mechanically took off her
satin shoes 10 empty the snow with which
they were filed:
.And now what are you going to dor"
asked De Lacy.
"Remain here until morning, and then
we shall see."
II have no bed TO offer you, my poor
child"
"Never mind; can sleep In that arm
chair / am MT mart icnlars
The actor sighed.
"Ah, yes, that arm-chair-it was poor
Dora's; many time has she sat in It all
night when work pressed. Well, WE'LL
Those who are taken away are better off
than those that are Left
Just then De Lacy caught sight Of his
bowl OF soup, and remembered with grief
that it must be stone-cold by that time.
Sylvia saw his tragic start.
"But you were about to sup; don't let
me disturb you"
ut is part of my regular life" con-
tinued the actor; "a fixed hour for my
meals is impossible in my profession;
must eat when and how can. know
what should do We're ! in your place.
should so an the stage; you need the ex-
element of such n career; besides" he
resumed as he partook his first mouth
lui vi spuIf-''ptSiutS, u SuCCeSh On TIC
boards need in no way impede your sue
cess as pretty woman, nor rico rersd,
will give you lessons in elocution. With
! your voice, your intelligence, your appear
ance, you have a magnificent future be-
| fore you"
And as if to initiate her into the joys Of
the profession, he exclaimed:
"But you have had no supper, and emo
ton is exhausting; take this plate, am
sure you will find the soup excellent"
She seated herself opposite her host; q
faint color came into her cheeks, and her
eyes glittered with tears and excitement.
Shallow hearted creaturel Her life,
her name, her fortune, were complete
wreck. Honor. happiness, home, all were
gone. She had been disgraced, over
whelmed by..disgrace and disaster And
yet it did not prevent her from making .
good supper, and enjoying De Lacy's stale
and Improbable jokes.
She felt quite ready to start for Bohe-
mia, that country of which she had
dreamed, and to which she really be-
longed.
What had the future in store for her,
now that she was cut loose from all old
ties and associationsf Thus wondering,
Sylvia made herself comfortable in Dora's
arm chair, and slept for several hours,
awakening finally with her cherished
plan Of revenge fully matured in every
detail.