The Penn's Grove record., 1884-02-16

For some time he talked OF lndiI5f
ent subjects things theatt'Gti' o5
course; actors always tSIh SHOP j anu
then he brought the eonYefs'lio4 5ouu,'
to himseIf-,old her that be loved nef'
and asked her to be hls wife.
"Oh, stop!' size SAID III '", 7',i'-
ling voice. "Eemember yoa "lie-
but the law MS
Greed you, yoa would say. Nj.
You both vowed once to re-
man true to each other till death parted
you, Ii she broke her promise 1t As no
reason why you should.
'In the eyes Of the law, Of society, /
am a single man.
Eyes; hut in the eyes of heaven you
cannot be free. 'Leaye me, Mr.. Ham
ilton; Won have my answer.
as INV flfe to be one long disappoIut-
ment?p he asked sadly. Il loved my
uife rasstopateJv. but not with the
deep love l have given you,
MureI. Tbas was the romantic passion
of a bov. this is the love OF my man
hood oh. NV darling, tie world has
been SO cold to me; don't let your hand
be INST me, toe! Think Of MY lonely
wretebed lifei WIN YOU not come to
cheer me. and help ma to he a better
mapP"
oDog't fempt mel cried Muriel, with
n break in LeT voice. which he was quek
Ia notice.
neTeIl me, Muriel. wll you not re-
Ient2 Perhaps [ have Ieeu fo9 hasty.
lake time. dear: consider your an
swer."
cit would be useless" she replied,
with gentle irmuess, ''for until you can
come to me with proofs OF your Wite's
death we must be strangers"
"An1 then?' he asked.
at is ungcnerous to ask me now"
''You love me, Nuriel-you love me
I Will wait, since You must have 1t so
wait for my freedom?'
ooh, no. she cried with a shudder;
81 could not bear to think that ion nay
sake You were wishing for her death.
Il cannot help it; | must hope M
til l am assured that you do not love
me-"
'Such. then, 10 the case, ~ she SAID,
quickly.
"What Muriel!-are you you mad?
You love me, do you not2'
: "NCf she SAID.
And then, turning away with avertea
face, she fed homeward, leaving him
stunned by her words aud unable to I'M
derstand them.
1t was a falsehood, and she knew it,
bnt she had spoken for the best,
81 Will go away from him" she
thought. land then as be tbinss | dc
not love him perhaps he will learn to
forget me"
The next week the following para
graph appeared among the provincial
items OF a theatrical paper:
we understand that Miss Meryyn
has seeded from the Hamilton Shakes
pearean Company, an amicable arrange
ment having been come to. and intends
resting for a short time to recover her
health before accepting another engage
ment.
Another year has passed. Hamilton
is still on his prolonged tour, and Muriel
Is playing ut a London theatre.
On a wet, colo night in early spring,
rs she was leaving the theatre. her
quick Y saw q wOman's form leaning,
As it were, against the door.
Thinking she might be the bearar of
some message, possibly for her, Muriel
asked:
care You waiting for any one'"
The woman looked up helplessly,
shook her head IN reply, and attempted
to move on; but as she did SO she stag
gered and would most likely have fallen
had act MGrlel caught her.
"Iou are Ill, she said. 'Can 1 dc
anything to help you?'
ono said the woman in a weak.
hollow voice. 81 am very Ill, l know,
but | wanted to purchase some things,
so | had TO come cut Tonight.
"a hope o do not live far from
here?'
mo; in John street"
That is my way" said Muril, "YJu
viii let me see you home?"
The woman consented-iu fact. she
seemed too weak and ill to resist-lnd
Muriel left her at what she said was the
door of her home.
1, was evidently a very poor pace. il
which she rented but one back room,
but it seemed respectable, and Mis-
Meryyn, whose pity was aroused, said
al parting, "Let me call tomorrow IL
inquire ii you are better %
After this she often called. and WA.
soon very interested IN Mrs. smith ~.
the woman called herself She lad 6pI,
been in her present Iodoino. a fe4
weeks. end was evidently mlserabiv
noor verv iii ami onita ,Iano ~,
would never Talk Of the nast excsnt TIN,
once She told Murlel tba. Nj bad beer
an actress.
,gNIiss NIeryvn. we NAV ne snra dill
not 90 empty handed to that moor iojg'
Ing and Sic even persnodsd Mrs. Snj9.
to have a doctor.
Bnt ali was OF no avail. and .ro d,r
Ia the middle Of Nav when MINI
called. she saw a terrible chance In. nm.
worn. psIe face.