The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-22

On which the handwriting was easily
recognized at a glance. Lake collected
himself and handed the missing page
to the newcomer, which. was received
with a relieved look and hearty thaEks
Is lac hurried out.
In the meantime the bouquet arrived
by pert little messenger boy, and
you can imagine my feelings when
Lake sent it rslnd the front TO be
thrown not TO Miss Swansdown. but
To Miss Carson.
AT the next instant, fortunately for
me. was taken up behind the scenes,
and found myself in great demand by
those not on the stage. | was trying
To keep my eye on Lake, who was de
voting himself to any lady who came
in his way, excepting the writer of the
fatal letter. His avoidance Of ler il
was evident she observed. | had
known her too long not to read the
slight culver of the corner of her
mouth. She would never seek an ex-
PLANTATION, but if something would
only happen TO break the ice, ! felt
that everything could be explained.
When the last act was in progress.
having nothing more to do on the
stage, Lake stood around in an undo
cided manner for time, then suddenly
prepared TO depart, placed me in bis
oyercoat pocket and started. Then
again lac hesltatcd, and finally paced
the dressing room HCivOusly till the
play ended Then hui1ying 10 the foot
of the stage stairs h. began q lively
conversation with Miss Carson while
the Others were rushing back and forth.
Miss Swansdown passed without bis
apparently observing Ter bat |, peer
ing from his pocket. detected her hali
glance at him, and ! felt tie quickened
beating of his heat.
Days and weeks passed. but the stu
do was not again frightened by the
presence Of Miss Swansdown. and the
theatrical season being over was not
again taken out; consequently what
was going on had to learn by study
ing the face of Lake and listening TO
the conversation of callers. Even
when Inc held long consultations with
me in regard to the arrangement Of
his front hair, | only knew that he
was going to some reception, party or
dance.
How / used to wish he would be like
otherhcroes in novels or on tie stage,
and talk aloud when alonol Then /
should have been thoroughly posted,
instead Of having to surmise and
worry. How could | tell what lac
might be planning TO do Suppose he
should lose heart on account of ms
love affair, and, like the impctuous
hero in the novel, suddenly start foi
foreign landsi
Then what would become of mci
I've always had Il nameless dread Ct
auctionecrs. Think Of Inc IL a second
hand store, in a dusty window mixed
up with a lot Of common cutlery.
cheap iewclry and old furniture! The
thought sends cold chill down my
back. No wonder | was anxious for
Lis affairs to run smoothly.
| watched 10 see linn become thin.
melancholy, morbid, neglect lis work
and write poetry, but he did nothing
of the kind lac seemed more energetic
and Industrious than ever, but how
ugly he was, and how he used to KICK
the furniture around
Finally the June days came: he
packed his traps. entirely ignoring me,
and was off for the summer vocation.
How the dust gathered How quiet
il seemed Even the ianitor neglected
us. and my vision became quite OBJ
scure. Ny neighbois the brass
sconces. the Chinese feather duster.
the Spanish knife, the bronze lizaitis
and the rest Of Us became too dull %
shine IN our own sccicty.
Finally a brush with thc Ja.htof
rubbed us up a bit, and tic next day
in stalked Brown Lake. In looking
over his accumulated mail among tie
recent letters | noticed one from the
secretary Of the Amateur Dramatic
club asking him 10 join III q repetition
Of The play given the preceding season.
Holding the letter in one land, hc
took a lovely photograph If Hiss
Swansdown from "a cabinet and looked
IL il in q discouraged sort OF way thcn
he answered the letter, politely, but
firmly declining TO again participate,
saying he had never yet seen TIC
whole Of the play, and he counted GA
Me pleasure Of being III the audience
on this occasion.
A month later the night Of the play
came. Fortunately for me. one Of tho
amateurs, seeing me in the studio and
remembering how useful | had made
myself borrowed me for the evening,
much to my qualification. Brown
Lake. on front seat, was watching
the play with rather languid interest
till Roberts. coming upon the stage
with Miss Swansdown, seized her hand
and opened the love scene with tie
familiar words Of the fatal letter:
Il love you. l love you with my
whole heart"
Lake realized in an instant how lie
had misinterpreted IT all-it was simply
Roberts part in the play which Miss
Swansdown had copied off for him.
The moment the act ended Lake was
behind the scenes. As Miss Swans
down came down the stairs he grasped
her hand-both handS-and spoke TO