McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-02-21

Wu6u We Scc Hill again uc Woo eouilh6
with his own company, and playing to
large audiences.
All this time he had heard little or
nothing of his wife, and could only
look back upon his short married life as
upon some brief, bright dream that had
ended in hIdeous nightmare.
Lately, however, the gloom that had
become habitual to him had in some
measure vanished, and this was particu-
larly the case when he was in the soci-
ETY. of Muriel Marvyn, the leading
lady.
Muriel was beauty, tall, fair and
graceful, with curling, bright brown
hair, sweet, firm mouth, and dark,
violet-blu eyes; and, better still, she
was-as fairy tails say of their prin-
cesses-as good as she waslbeautiful.
She lived with her mother, some
what bad tempered old lady, if all &C
counts we're true; but Muriel kept her
home troubles to herself, and went
about with bright smile, giving help
ing hand to all who needed it.
Sweet, courageous, gentle, unselfsh,
all that is most pure and wOmanly, as
she was, who can wonder that Richard
Hamilton, weary of brooding over the
dead past, turned to her for comfort?
She was clever actress, too. Always
graceful and iadylike, sympathetic and
tender, there were times when the
sweet voice would be raised in pleading
or in mortal agony, when the express
i've face would become changed, her
whole being absorbed in the character
she was playing. 1t was at such times
as these that the depths of her heart
were revealed, and the firmness and
passion that lay as yet dormant therein
were disclosed.
The company was playing in a town
in the North of Scotland, and the rain
was pouring down heavily, so Muriel
was forced to find occupation and
amusement in her somewhat 'sstuffy''
lodgings.
In cupboard in her sitting room she
found some old volumes of an illus
trated paper some nine or ten years
old, and as she sat idly turning the
leaves, her eyes fell on the name of
Hamilton.
1t was headed:
"Theatrical Divorce Suit-Hamilton
VS.. Hamilton and Disney
And then she read the story of Rich
ard Hamilton great trouble.
By the time self-made men rise in the
world, the unpleasant stories of their
early lives are forgotten, and Muriel
had never heard of this before. She
knew he had been married, but she al
ways believed his wife to be dead.
With white face she laid down the
book and walked calmly to her own
room. Once there she locked the door
and fell on the bed with an exceedingly
bitter cry. Even while she had read
the lines the truth had dawned on her,
and for the first time she realized that
she loved Richard Hamilton.
When at last she left her room all
trace of emotion had disappeared. She
had locked the secret in the depths of
her own heart, and vowed that none
should ever know of her suffering.
How often has the Spartan boy been
quoted as model of courage and en-
durance by those who would seem to
forget the heroes and heroines of every
day life?
Muriel Mervyn had taken up her
cross bravely and gone out to fill her
accustomed place in the world, with
smile on her lips that just before had
uttered such passionate prayers for
help.
That night she avoided Hamilton,
and certainly gave him no opportunity
of speaking to her alone; but on the
following morning when she was out in
the town, they met, and he took his
place beside her.
For some time he talked of indiffer-
ent subjects (things theatrical, of
course; actors always talk ''shop'O;
and then he brought the conversation
round to himself-told her that he
loved her, and asked her to be his wife.
sob, stopi' she said, in a low, star
tied voice. s'Remember your wife!"
"But the law has
"Freed you, you would say. Mr..
Hamilton, you both vowed once to re-
main true to each other till death part
ed you. If she broke her promise it is
no reason why yoo should.'
''In the eyes of the law, of society,
am single man."
eyes; but in the eyes of heaven you
cannot be free. Leave me, Mr.. Ham
ilton; you have my answer
els my life to be one long disap-
pointment?" he asked sadly. s'I loved
my wife passionately, but not with the
strong, deep love have given you,
Muriel. That was the romantic pas
sion of a boy; this is the love of nv
manhood. Oh, my darling, the world
has been so cold to me; don't let your
hand be against me, too! Think of
my lonely, wretched life! VIII you
not come to cheer me, and help me to
be better manp''
s.Don't tempt me?'' cried Muriel,
with break in her voice, which he was
quick 10 notice.
"Ten me, Muriel, will you not re-
lent?" Perhaps have been too hasty.