The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1886-01-21
AFTER FTYEY YEARS.

AFTER FIVE YEARS.
at is too bad!'' pouted pretty Mrs
Benton. ''Amy made such 8 sweet
Columbine! The pantomime will bt
nothing without her"
"Wel, Miss Amy couldn't help get
ting sick, ] supposeP" said her elder
brother dolefully, for Columbine had al
ways been very sweet to him, and the
farce seemed farce indeed without her.
'tBut we'll have to get along somehow.
Teddy says he is going to hire someone
from the theatre"
81 don't like the idea of professional
actress" objected Mrs. Benton. '.But
suppose we can't do any better. There
comes Teddy now"
A tall sfnewy undergraduate, with
honest blue eyes and fair hair, that
curled perversely, came in with a radiant
look of triumph.
I've got somebody, Blanche" he as
serted. ''She's down stairs. Shall ]
bring her upP"
"Why, Teddy" Mrs. Benton began,
''what made you=@-"
1--WE must see whether she will do, 81
interposed Dick. Bring her up, Teddy.
=
''She's good deal prettier than Amy
Love-" Teddy declared.
But Dick regarded him with derision.
You never had good taste, Teddy"
he observed in a superior tone. at
wasn't born in you"
Teddy made no reply, but started off
to bring his Columbine and prove his
point by evidence.
She was pretty girl of a very striking
type. She had a fair delicate face,
whose flowing lines were thrown into
clear relief by a framework of soft
wavy brown hair; her hazel eyes had in
them the sweet coyness of fawn, and
her slender figure had a childish sup
pleness that quite belied her sixteen
years.
This is Miss Violet Glenn, Blanche"
Teddy said, by way of presentation.
"Have you ever played Columbine
beforeP" Mrs. Benton began somewhat
awkwardly, with the odd feeling that
she was asking the girl to do something
beneath her.
''Oh yesi l used always to be cast
for that role when 1 was a little girl.
know the part very we'll"
Teddy is to be Harlequin" Mrs.
Benton went on; Il mean my brother,
Mr.. Terry
Violet raised her eyes to Teddy's face,
and met look that made her cast them
down again.
do you think you could play with
meP" he queried.
''Oh yesr'
''You may try at the rehearsal to-
night" said Mrs. Benton. Teddy, I
suppose you have fixed the terms? We
can't afford to pay much, Miss Glenn.
The entertainment is for the benefit of
the Romulan Orphanage, and"
A changed expression came over
Violet's face.
81 shall not charge you anything"
she said softly. II was once in the
orphanage myself"
s'You are very kind" said Mrs. Ben
ton; ''but don't you think you had
better
NO." she answered with a smile;
81 don't I will play for you if you
think ] can; but I don't want any
money"
So it came about. The pantomime
was a grand success, and by courtesy
the little actress was asked to the COLA
ton which Mrs. Benton gave after
wards to the participants.
Under the Queen Anne stairs that
angled up to the roof of the house, was
a crazy corner, where Teddy seated
Violet and brought her refreshments.
81 suppose I shall never see you
again after tonight" he said gloomily.
'You can see me any night that l
play" said the young coquette.
mot you" Teddy answered with a
sigh; 'Columbine-"
81 am not a Columbine, but violet, -
she said saucily.
MAY call you that?'' was his eager
query. ooh, Violet, 1 don't know what
I am going to do without YOU"
What did you do beforeP"
81 don't know. 1t nearly kills me
when think of your going away with
that travelling-troupe. I say, Violet, do
you think could play Harlequin well
enough to go on the stageP"
'I don't know" she answered dubi-
ously. 'You don't play it very well.
But 1 wouldn't go on the stage if were
you, Mr.. Teddy. 1t isn't very nice"
Then why do you stayp" he cried:
81 have to; I'm poor. But if had .
father and mother like you"
The sweet voice choked.
"Aren't they good to youp' asked
Teddy, clenching his fists fiercely.
it isn't like having somebody of your
own to take care of you"
Teddy put out his hands and took
hers with boys awkward tenderness.
I'm take care of you, Violet" he
said soberly. "If you will wait for me,
will marry you when I come of age
and get my fortune"
81 couldn't promise that" Violet an
swered, brushing away her tears. mo,
don't ask me, Mr.. Teddy. / am never
going to marry till find my father. ]
have got one somewhere, and"
''Oh, is this where you are, TeddyP"
cried Mrs. Benton as she descended on
the tableau. ''They are getting up q
dance in the garlor, and they want you
to join them"
.:WilI you favor meP" Teddy whis-
pered, and Mrs. Benton gasped as she
saw him walk off with the little actress
on his arm.
Dick x burst 20a1 out acd la1ghin s6e or,so. .
he isn't flirting with her.
II was five years afterwards thai
Teddy graduated from Oxford. and the
following spring he went on his travels
There seemed to be nothing more fol
him to do. He was rich enough, haC
seen enough of society, had had enough
of everything
1.-THE happiest man is he who hai
| something to do" he reflected, as he LAY
under the shadow of great rock, look
| ing up at the cloud-patched heavens.
Above his head, in a messy cleft
grew a bunch of wild columbins, nod
| ding gaily in the mountain breeze, hkt
| little witch-fiower.
He was watching it idly, when 1
| white hand fluttered over the cliff, ant
delicate fingers, ringed with diamonds
began to pluck the nodding flowers.
Presently, there came q figure hall
way over the cliff, and then a face
shaded by 8 little peaked straw hat
sstip-tilted like a flower" and twiste'
round with scarf of red Grape.
"a very pretty GIRL unused Teddy
'fShe looks like q columbine herself u
that red dress, with ali those cream
colored frills about her. Oh, it is Mis-
De Lancey, the new belle"
He was watching her, and caught
passing glimpse of shapely foot a
with . sudden movement, she swun
herself over the rock to gain access
another clump of columbine.
Take carer' cried Teddy, springin
forward to the rescue.
For her foot had touched soma Loo
gravel which afforded no secure found
ton; the earth slipped, and she was lie
swinging by her hands in mid-air.
Teddy was strong and prompt T
clambered up over the rocks till
stood about six feet beneath her, shoU
} ing his instructions in clear firm voic
'.Now let yourself gor' he called.
And the little pendent figure droppI