The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-10-20

ne called next morning. ne fRlGnt -s-e ntr-
She would tell ner if he would leave his
name
A sick dread took possession Of him as
he turned away What was her work.
that she could see him during the morn
ing hours. but at night. when honest
girls in their work of life were resting at
home. she was where?
Restless and uneasy. he walked through
after street. until he found himself in
front of a lighted building. with people
passing in and out He, too. would 60
in. to find distraction and relief
Paving the amount demanded for ad-
mittanee. he soon found himself within
the walls Of theatre. The curtain had
fallen upon the first act, and was about
10 rise upon a ballet inferlude, when the
new and graceful danseuse, Mile Teresa,
whose success had been - instantaneous
and remarkable, was 10 appear. Could
il be possible Nora ever visited such
places as these? He looked about him-
Everywhere he saw young and beausifni-
~ dressed women. looking with eager
ewes toward the stage
At last the curtain rose The scene
was from fairyland. Never had he seen
anything 80 bewilderingly lovely Myr-
lads Of oolored lights shed their radiance
upon countless flowers, when a huge
rose. slowly unfolding It's petals. gave
birth 10 the queen Of the fairies, who, in
burs. Of music, bounded upon the
stage Had he gone mad He rubbed
his ewes. and looked and looked again:
for in spite If the sheeny gauze envelOp-
ing her. in spite Of the exquisitely tiny
slippered feet, in spite Of the jewels that
giistened at her throat, II was Nora, his
promised wife. on whom he looked
Nora, who held the audience spellbound
Nora, who, with arms poised above her
head, seemed 10 float through the air.
Time, place, scene, were forgotten. a.
standing upright on his seat. he pointed
toward her the finger Of shame.
Ina the midst Of her dance, she saw
him. Her arms slowly fell an ashen
pallor rested on the beautiful cheek, as
slowly. slowly she petreated further and
further from the avenging Nemesis she
saw before her
A warning cry aroused her Too late.
One of the many Pickering lights had
caught the iieecy dress. In another in
slant it was in flames With Wild cry
Of terror she ran forward. i blazing HAAS /:
bat long before any one eoald mach her,
John Armstrong had ieaped upon the
stage, and enveloped her in his coat. con
s-ious only Of his mad love for her-for-
getful of all save her beauty and peril
But in vain The lovely face was un-
marred. but the fame had done it, fatal
work Only few hourswere spared 10
her Of life.
Very tenderly they laid her on her
bed then all withdrew, and left the two
together She suffered very little, strange
10 say, but her moments were short
The lovely eyes that now looked up 50
pitifully into her lovers burned into his
soul be could no; look into their depths
and donbt them
WAS 30 weary--o discouraged she
said 10 him, -and one day, seeing an ad-
vertisemeni- answered il, not knowing
what Was required Of me- When learn
ed, at once refused but for some reason
they urged me to acoept, and offered me
such terms that dared not refuse. /
thought they would never know at home,
except you, John. / had meant to tell
you all, but to tell you that no temptation
had .ssailed me, and that / did il for
mother and the chiidren's sake When
you stood up in the theatre, knew how
hopeless my faith in your forgiveness had
been. and, John, for one moment | was
glad when the wild flames played about
me. Then their pain sickened me, and
screamed in terror. But kiss me once
just once. Ny lips are pure You
need not fear. And--tell them-zt home
q