Wichita eagle., 1888-04-01
She's a charming woman

Of the stage"
'T've no doubt. She looks II Just now.
Is she marriedp'
'sNo. Theirs used to be a rumor that
she was somebody or others wife, but
fancy it was only rumor."
81 should like to meet her"
''Nothing easier. Come with me after
the play. I'm to meet her at her rooms. :"
.'BUt that is hardly
''Oh, she's perfectly unconventional
And she knows SC few people in New
York, you know, that she'll be glad to see
you. You'll remember the interview all
the rest of your life"
How strange! He spoke the truth I
shall never forget the few minutes of our
first and last meeting.
'iGenevieve Royal" TIE name Is not
forgotten yet. Everybody about town re-
members her triumph Of zone night only
in that burlesoue few months ago. Her
pictures are still in some of the shop win
dows-pictures Of the charming courier,
with smile On her face, her arms ex-
tended in the attitude Of the dance, her
lips half opened and her head thrown
aside in naughty abandon
Chesley was right. She pardoned his
liberty in introducing a stranger, when,
two hours later she welcomed Us into her
cozy sitting room in an uptown hotel A
fire burned in the CRATE. Tie gaslights
shone softly, their radiance subdued by
soft hued shades. Heavy curtains fell
before the window. There was an invit
ing air Of quie,ude and repose about the
place. She wore wrapper Of soft, cling
ing stuff. She smiled as she greeted us,
and held out her hand. 1t lay in mine
for an instant-soft and warm.
Eyes, now 1 may relax" she said, in
reply to q remark Of Chesley's. Then to
me: This hour after the play at night is
the only one out of the twenty-four that
my conscience allows me to call my own,
you know"
.'Then a professional breaker Of hearts
really has conscience now and them"
Chesley ventured.
She laughed softly. She had thrown a
heavy cloak carelessly over chair, and
sat leaning languidly back against it.
Then l noticed how dark her eyes were,
for the first time.
Well, perhaps not, 4" she replied. "My
health, then, limits me to this little hour.
1 have An astonishing anttp.thy to dying,
you know"
Curious coincidence. So have l."
! InesleS Sdlu ION \ Lalk Oh CylQS. II 3
a gloomy subject
'Yes! Suppose we wash away all
knowledge of il in glass of winer'
She rose and passed into the next room.
She returned carrying tray on which
were glasses and bottle.
ALLOW me-" begged, rising.
mo; let me show how gracefully can
/ do the honors," she said, lightly
rlos nd 70
smile on her lips. When she had poured
out wine for Chesley and herself, she
/ stood still in the center of the room, hold
! ing her glass aloft.
The light is rather dim, don't you
! think VIII you turn up the gas'''
( Chesley endeavored to obey. Instead
/ of turning up the gas, he turned 1t down,
/ by accident
/ The curtains at the window were drawn
| partly aside, and moonlight streamed in.
/ It touched the woman's face with its yell
/ low glow.
! Great heavensr'
1t was l who spoke in q loud whisper,
uttering the exclamation before knew
what | was doing.
The silence of surprise that followed
was broken by Chesley.
What is the natter"
The woman looked at me with an eI-
preston of dazed inquiry
Waltz l cried, my eyes fixed on hers.
stand there again-as you did before,
perfectly still-let the light fall on your
face-the moonlight, l mean-so. ThaCs
it. l have seen your face beforem
What do you mean''
There was less Of surprise than of vague
alarm in her tone.
Listen" l went on, as If under the
control g . will other than my own. ''I
viii tell you. Chesiey, l swear l am
right. have seen you Gsnevieve Royal,
or whoever you are, and this is where and
when. In Paris
She trembled. The wfueglass was still
in her hand.
"In lonely street while rain was
falling''-
"Well, welli''
Under . gaslight"-
Under O gashght, she repeated, me-
chanically.
''On the night before the second of Feb
ruary, 1881. And the"-
The shrek that followed drowned my
voice. 1t rings in my ears now. The
woman staggered bsck, motioning me
away.
And the mani / cried; ''the man
who was lying there silent on the groundi
Tell me, what of the man?'
She fell back to the window. She
leaned there painting. Moonlight bathed
her beautiful face, white and asonized.
In gasps she spoke.
The man, He deserted me, and was
driven mad. killed him-and you
have hunted me downi That is alll''
She raised the wineglass to her lips and
drained it to the last drop. The glass fell
from her hand. She tried to smile,
uttered sigh Of WEAKNESS, became faint,
raised her hand to her heart, humned a
few notes Of her song in the burlesque,
and sank to the floor, catching az the
curtains for support.
''She has tainted" whispered.
Yes" Chesley answered; her old
trouble, something about her heart. She
must have air. Open the window"
turned up the gas. Chesley bent over
her. hurried after him to open the win
dow. He mottoned me back.
What is itg'' asked
''She is deadr-R. ~. Stephens in
Frank Lesle's.