Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-18

mixture enjoying to the utmost a very queer
stage performance. and roaring the choruses of
the songs with zest that almost split the walls
and rafters A young man in blonde wig had
| for its refrain:
"'E's jolly good chap ven you know i'm,
But you got to know i'm fust"
The Chairman raped for the applause to
cease, then rising to his feet he proclaimed in
husky voice the next act on the programme.
Mam'selle Clarice, with song"
Deming glanced up quickly: The name Clar.
Ice sounded strange to him. He had not heard
1t since he used to speak 1t himself three years
before.
The band played its prelude. and while the
audience applauded the approaching artist
Deming and West both uttered exclamations
OF surprise. In the center OF, the stage, whittier,
more slender, more beautiful even than before
because light of divine resignation beamed
She was attired in a simple black dress with
broad white linen collar turned away from the
neck. Her hands were clasped before her.
half-sad smile played ftfully over her mouth,
her thick hair dropped as Of old, down over
heI brows She sang lovely English ballad in
soft, sweet voice. She did not move in the
as sad g. na5 eyss
food of tenderness and anguish overwhelmed
Deming as lie watched her.
As Clarice finished her song she lowered her
eyes, and they stopped with those of Deming
gazing back into them. The audience had
burst out with its applause. and she should
have left the stage, but there she stood. trem-
bling like a reed, her breast futtering. her
hands tearing at her throat, her eyes fixed. The
audience began to change its cheers to muir
murs of astonishment. Clarice was wavering.
and it was easy to see that she was about to
faint The Chairman had risen and was rap
ping for order, At that very moment a broad
tongue of fame leaped out from the wings of
the stage and crept round the prosoenium arch
along the soft draperies of the boxes There
was a scream from the women, and then great
roar from the men.
Clarice had not seen or heard anything since
her eyes found Deming She fell face forward
on the stage just as the fearful cry of the aud
ience went up, and lay there as motionless as
Like demons the crowd was fighting its way
toward the doors; a few cool headed men were
and SO save their lives more surely. Deming
and West had both moved toward the stage and
the fire by one impulse.
I'VE must save her, Jack, /" said Deming reso-
lutely.
With the aid of heaven. Jerome. we'll do
it." replied West. And they both leaped over
the footlights. Deming in the lead, with his
termination and dread for this beautiful, help
less woman. West had caught up his glass Of
brandy when he left the table, and now he
pressed it to the lips of Clarice as Deming
lifted her In his arms, and her futtering eye
lids showed a return TO consciousness. As she
came to she glanced in terror about her. Her
eyes caught the sight of the flames, of the
raging crowd on the floor beneath. the smoke
began choking her, and with her arms clinging
about Deming, she realized the position they
were in.
"Oh. poor Jerome" she cried, save your
self. Go. Leave mel Leave mer'
Now do not talk, Clarice, but lead us as
directly as you can to the stage entrance. If
there Is any work to do on the way we are
going to carry you through It. Now, show US
where the doors are."<
There; there" she said. Fright through
the flames. There is no other way"
Deming looked in the direction she indicated.
The fire was coming fairly out of the exit. Be-
yond the fame and smoke he caught giimpses
OF moving figures. He knew there was only
the choice of remaining where they were and
being burned t, death, or else making a dash
through the fire. When he turned to Clarice
again he found that she had taken the skirt Of
her dress of.
Here" she said gasping for breath in the
smoke, and holding out the garment toward
him; wrap this over your head Jerome, and
run through. 1t is your only chance"
He took the dress and began winding it over
her own head. Then he took off his coat, cry
ing to West TO do the same. Holding his coat
up before his face he threw his arm about
Clarice's waist and told her to 60 ahead Just as
he led her. Then the three sprung into the
fire. For an instant they almost breathed the
flame, and then they were beyond it, with only
the smoke choking them. Deming heard West
who was just behind him and Clarice shout to
him, and then he saw heavy beam. charred
and smolderlng, separate itself from the floor
just above them. He dashed forward, dragging
Clarice after him, but before she could pass
beyond the beam it was down upon her. and she
fell, without cry. Deming stopped and gath
cred her into his arms. With West he bore her
along through the smoky passageway and
gained the street. The crowd outside cheered
them as they appeared. Deming took the skirt
from Clarice's head and laid her on the ground,
bending over her and gazing into her face. She
was unconscious.
"Why, it's Mam'selle CIarice," said a young
man VINO stood BY and who was evidently
stage hand.
Yes" said Deming "And now tell me, my
good fellow, where she lives"
"Thirty-fve Holworthy road" was the an
swer.
Within five minutes cab was got through
the fire lines. Clarice had regaIned conscious
being driven TO Holworthy road.
Two hours later Deming was kneeling by the
side Of the bed in Clarice's room, his arms
about her. his lips close to her ear, whispering
WORDS of tenderness and regret In the next
room were Jack West. a physician and priest.
Near the window stood Clarice's maid, crying
from her handkerchief to see if her mistress
wanted anything.
Deming talked with Clarice, gently and
soothingly; and when he spoke of Madge's
death she stroked his cheek and said: Poor
Jerome, poor Jerome" 1t was Deming who
wept. Her beautiful eyes were dry. The
calmness was unmistakable. She was dying. =.
II have never doubted that you loved me-"
she said. "If 1 have deceived myself, do not
now correct me. have lived away from you,
but devoted in my heart to you. have be-
lieved that you would have married me if / had
not been an actress-if you had had confidence
in my integrity. o, do no not set me right if 1
am wrong. Let me die mistaken, for in that
mistake have lived worthy of you since we
parted on your wedding day."
Deming told her in a broken voice that she
was good and noble woman and she had done
everything that such woman could. How
could he help believing her when Clarice was
dying there? How could he help trusting in
her honesty when he knew of her working as
she had, and living as she did, with a beauty
that men would go mad over. And Jack West
-skeptIcal. calm, Deming's friend. now hers
grasped Jerome's hand. with tears in his eyes.
MY boy" he had said, you owe her all that
she now can DESIRE"
So all that could be done before she died to
atone for the mistakes of three years ago was
done by the request of Deming As she lay
there Clarice was his wife, for the clergyman
performed over them the marriage rites of the
church.
A half hour passed. and Deming still knelt
by the bed holding Clarice in his arms. Sud-
denly she started up. Her whole figure trem-
bled. Her arms frightened convulsively about
him and then loosened. She gave one look of
boundless love as Deming kissed her, and then
fell back, as softly and as white as snow.
1.-THE END.J
Copyrighted, 1889. All rights reserved.
CHINESE FLOATING GARDENS,