The Wilmingtonian., 1886-08-28

make ones hair stand on end to hear Mr.
Trudkins tell about it,
sit don't do to believe all one hears, " said
Mrs. Leeds, losing all count of the eggs she
was breaking into china bowl, in her con-
sternation. "And Stapleville does beat all
| for gossip"
"Well, you can ask her yourself, and see
if she dares deny it p said Abby Jane, ex-
utantly. "Here she comes now. Ask her
only ask herr
And Eliza came into the kitchen, with
the spice box in her hand. Mr.. Yillars fol-
lowed close behiud, tanning himself with a
straw bat.
81 have come from the men in the hay
field, " said he. "They want another jug of
cool ginger and water, with plenty of mo-
asses stirred in, Aunt Leeds. Good morning
Miss Clark ! | hope the deacon is quite we'll
this morning."
Abby Jane turned pink, and smiled her
most seductive smile.
"Oh, quite So" she simpered. Eli on
ly came on"
''Is it true, Eliza?" Mrs Leeds asked,
sharply. Have you been deceving me ?
Are you a play actress all this time ?"
Eliza's large eyes turned slowly first to
one, then to another of the little group. She
did not blush-it was not her way-but the
color ebbed slowly away from her cream pale
cheek.
81 have been deceiving nobody" said she.
,Nta I L.
But did not like the life, SO left it. If
anyone had asked me, l should have told
them long ago."
Mr.. Villars came forward and stood at the
girls side, as he saw his aunt shrink away.
"Well," he said, 'even taking it all for
granted, "where is the harm ?''
Charles Charles r' cried Mrs. Leeds, put
ting up her hands with gesture of warning.
"Remember poor Alice J"
1t is because remember her that speak
thus" said Mr.. yillars, calmly. 81 had an
elder sister once" be added, turning to Abby
Jane Clark, "who ran away from home and
became an actress. She had talents far above
the average, but my parents were old-fash-
ioned people, and their ideas ran in narrow
grooves. They disapproved of the stage, SO
Alice left us. Whether she is dead or living
we know not, but whatever she is, am sure
that she cannot but be good aud true and
pure"
Abby James eyes fell under his calm
glance. She was little sorry now that she
had chosen to come hither and bear the news
herself
Somehow, Mr.. Yllars had taken it in a
different spirit from what she had anticipa-
ted. And Eliza's soft, languidly- y-modulated
voice broke on the constrained silence like
drops of silver dew.
81 have been an actress, and perhaps
should have still have been on the stage" she
said. "had it not been for circumstances My
father dealt in stage properties, and l was
brought up to the business, but still never
liked it, But one cannot easily stop out ci
the path where ones feet have been placed,
especially if one is a woman,
However, the turning point came at last
Our leading lady fell sick of contagious
fever, in a lonely village where we had
stopped to play one night. The manager
packed up everything in panic, and bade
us all to be ready to 60 told him l could
not leave Mrs. Montague alone. He said il
l left the company thus, should never re-
turn TO it.
"Well, what could do? The stage wal
my living, it was true, but our leading lady
had no friends. 1t would have been inhu
man to desert her. so | stayed behind anC
took care of her. She died, poor thing anC
it swallowed up all my earnings to bury hei
decently.
'And then tried here and there to earn
my living as be st could. l was not always
successful More than once l have beer
hungry and homeless but, heaven be prai,
ed, have always found friends before the
worst came to the worst. Now you know all,
she concluded quietly, leaning up against
the door, where the swinging scarlet beaut
made a fantastic background for her face
Mr.. Villars had advanced step or two
toward Eliza as she spoke; his gaze hat
gre wn intent.
"This-.this leading lady of whom you
MENTION" said he, with an effort. "Dt
you remember her name Her real name
l mean?
"They called her Katharine Montague OF
the bills" said Eliza. 'If she had an
other name, she never told me what it was
say if, because-because- Mr.. Yillars
1 never quite understood it BEFORE but thei
is look in your eyes that reminds me o
her. have been startled by the famila
expression many time, but I could neve
convince myself where the link of assnca
tion belonged. And-and l still keep lit
tie photograph of her that 1 found in he
Bible after she was dead. kept them both
Wait, and will bring them to you.'
Mr.. Villars gazed at the picture in silence
Mrs. Leeds uttered little cry of recogni
tion.
"Heaven be good to us y she walled q
is our Alice, sure enough"
The sequel of this little life idyl is simp
enough. Any one may guess it. Charlie
Villars married Eliza. And even the mos
fastidious Sisters" Of her husbands foe
can utter no word of reproach against th
minister's wife, although she makes no S,
cret of the fact that she was once au actress
And poor Abby Jane CLARK is chewing th
bitter husks of disappointment. For eve
Mr. Trudkins has gone back to the Packer
ton without delaring himself.
-, Int1a ,JfK,a f,N h,