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

A man is seated on worn horsehair
sofa, head bent on his hands, sobbing
as only strong men whose best and
dearest feelings have received death
blow can sob.
At his feet lies crumpled letter,
where he had thrown it in the first
pang of the great agony it had inflicted
upon him.
There is no need to enter infinitely
into the details. 1t is the old, old
story of mans love and woman's in
constancy.
Hardly two Years before Richard
Hamilton had stood before the altar by
the side of the woman he loved so we'll,
and she had vowed before heaven to
Glove, honor and obey" him, to be
faithful to him through evil and through
good report until death, and now she
had broken those VOWS, and, tempted
by money, had left her husband, who
was only a struggling actor, and fled
with rich man who had been attracted
by her pretty face.
For hours Hamilton sat there in his
great desolation; then he arose and put
his sorrows from him by mighty effort.
No matter how great his grief, the
public must be amused-his engage
ment fulfilled. He was what is called
ssutility man. in a touring company,
and that night he had to play rather
good low comedy part. He remember
ed he had been pleased when he first
saw the cast, feeling that he was rising
at last in his profession but now what
did it matter? Let him rise or fall, who
would care?
He played that night as if he were in
a dream. His senses seemed. dazed,
but the dark phantom of his grief
seemed to overshadow him. He had
studied the part well, however, and he
never missed cue, so the audience
were good humored, and remained
silent at what they certainly could not
applaud.
The other members of the troupe had
heard of his trouble, and rallied round
him with that unselfish kindness found
in the theatrical profession. He had
only to play the first scene of his part,
another gentleman insisted on playing
it for him, which he did fairly well.
The "heavy man" Chat is, the vii
lain of all the pieces), who was, blythe
by, thoroughly good fellow, walked
home with Hamilton that night.
''Don't grieve for her," he said.
ashes not worth it; no woman ISL
Hamilton rested his aching head on
his arm as he leaned against the door
post. He was completely crushed, and
made no reply.
''Of course you'll get DIVORCE"
went or his friend, after pause. ''Look
here, old fellow! Lawyers won't do the
thing for nothing, you know. Cheap
justice is out of the question; and so
you see, we-the company, 1 mean
will raise enough to begin with at any
rate, and Virgins is going to let you
have benefit, and, of course, what
little you owe us you can pay out of
the damages you recover whenever You
;like.'
"No,' said Hamilton, rous1ng him.
self 81 will get no divorce. Do you
think know so little of the world as to
believe he would marry her if she were
free?''
perhaps not; but then, if divorced.
you would be free YOURSELF
Hamilton laughed bitterly.
81 would waste no money on my
SELF" he replied. 81 don't care wheth-
er am free or not.''
''But still she bears your name-the
name of your family. Don't let her
disgrace them further. Sever the legal
tie that binds you, as she has severed
all Others"
"You are right said Hamilton.
ayes, will try for divorce -
Hamilton had no difficulty in obtain
ing divorce; indeed the case was un-
defended, and he might have been
awarded heavy damages, but he would
not accept the money, which seemed to
him the price of his wife's guilt.
Ten years had passed away, in which
Richard Hamilton had raised high in
his profession. He had studied inces-
santly-more to drown his regret than