Democratic messenger., 1889-10-05

IN Fate. and feel sure that his daugh.
ter is sure Ia have talent If she
proves Us satisfactory Us I imagine, l
would gladly pay her well, for am
my own manager ut present.
Amy turned pale. Neither my
husband nor | ever intended Sybil for
the stage. Miss Desangcs. am not an
actress. but know quite enough of
the life behind the scenes 10 wish TO
keep my little girl away from the foot
lights. IL you can spare n few min.
utcs ] will go Ia my husband. but j
am almost sure that his opinion will
coincide will, my own strong feeling
in the matter. | hope he will bc able
to come IN and see you himself"
While they sat waiting tho young
author. who had thin. marked fea.
lures and melancholy eyes. took up
framed photograph from the table.
Viola Desingcs lcant over his chair
asld looked ut il intently. with a soft
expression stealing over her beautiful.
weary face. 1T is like dream To mo
u think that my play will soon he
brought out with you as its heroine.
said Horace Melton, after u pause.
Like all poets. have my queer fan
cics. and | cannot help thinking that
such child us this must bring good
fortune with her She is like one Of the
visions Of the old masters of the angels
watching round the Holy Child"
Miss Dcsangcs sighed. There was
something odd and unworldly about
this young man. lie Ind strange
way Of speaking his thoughts aloud
that fascinated her by its simplicity.
She felt that he ut least believed her 10
bc u good woman. and his faith in
her was more precious than the in.
ccnse poured at her feet by host Of
a,lorcrs. To all Of whom she was equal.
Is cold. But deep IN her heart there
Was one OvernIasterimg love burning
like iicrce flame. and she felt that,
bound in honor us she was tO a man
whom she had learned 10 dcspisc, il
hc who had inspired this strong pas.
sion pleaded hc would not plead in
vain. hllilicsc thoughts fitted through
her brain as she sat there. Simple
and poor. III were all her surround.
ings. she knew in,uitivcly that she
was in II happy home. contrasting
Amy Ilcsullincs lot curiously with
her own splendid misery
Meanwhile. III the next room. Amy
was hurric,ily explaining Ia her hlis-
band what had happened. Al first
his negative was rs emphatic as her
own. but she could see that his father.
ly pride was mucl, grs,tiiicd by the
visit Of the great actress. III you will
give me ruy crntclics ! will 90 in and
sec Miss Dcsangcs myself" aud in
spite Of his crutcIcs Jack looked SO
handsome when he made his appear.
ancc that he inspired both visitors
will, very sincere pity. :liss Desangcs
plunged into business, at once. cXcr
ciSIng all her powers Of persuasion.
until at last the parents yielded.
II was not any love Of art that made
them consent, poor things. Even
Jack had no wish to see Sybil on the
stage. but there was the haunting con.
sciutisness of debts f.hit were too hon.
est not to desire 10 pay, and the fear
Of still more grinding poverty in the
near future. Miss Dcsangcs was sim.
ply delighted when she had gained her
point: size was so rich that she could
well afford To be generous. but the
terms she offered were far higher than
she had ut first intended.
Perhaps Mrs lIcsseltinc. you
would kindly bring her down to-
the theatre Tomorrow. at
o'clock. just 10 Try hf
afraid. lioM.by. Sir.
get well and We must scc IL
lind you place IN our coii,,..
They say Mr. Nauiicld is Ia b. married
la an lt4rcSS soot. and II this is true
| he will retire and leave II vacancy.
( You have done uic real service. and
| shall not soon forget it, "
II TOOK Mrs. llcsScitlnc hong while
10 explain all Thu 10 Sybil. although,
like most ON Y children. she was older
inan her years. Sybil WAS quite IA.
mlliar with theatres, and had often
seen her father act. but she had her
own quaint ideas upon the subject.
and sometimes talked about the cruel
people who claplrtl aud laughed al
papa WHEN he was we'll. and forgot
HIM when he was Ill and suffering.
She adorcd her father. and when she
once grlspcd the idea that il she were
n good girl and did what she was told
she would have money enough Ia buy
! him all sorts of nisc things, she con
senicd To- try. Her little heart almost
failed her when she WAS taken To the
theatre, but she was quick aud clever,
and learned the few words of her part
so rapidly that Miss pcsangcs WAS
more than satisfied.
1t gave Amy llcsScltinc thrill 10
hear the clear little voice as she stood
half hidden in the wings. She let her
veil fall over her facV. rs siic silently
prayed for her darling prayers that
she might be kept pure and spotlcss
and learn no evil IN this strange. new
atmosphere. NcillcrSybil nor her mo
ther ever guessed how strange an in
ilucncc wasrxcrcis.tl by the new child
member Of the company. Men and
women nike felt better Tor her inno
cent presence; the very scene shifiers
loved her. and Viola Dcsangcs. who
had never known the magic touch Of
baby fingers. acted the scene with Sy
bill as she had never acted before.
II was pathetic enough Ia all truth.
! 4 beautiful. Imaginative woman, with
II silent reserved husband she iamcirs
| indifferent. has ~ "a weak moment
consented to leave her nome with a
rich artist His Spcioli> arguments
convince her. and at last at ball ni
her own house she gives her promise.
sac goes upstairs to put on cloak
nnd then cannot resist going Ia the
room where her child is lying asleep,
All is dark save for the lamp held IN
the hand III the mother. whn knccls
by the cot weeping passiona,ely and
half rgrctting her rash inilnIlsc The
child sleeps calmly. ~ she pnurs cut n
piiifui prayer ior forgiveness. bui
wakes when the hot tears tail upon
her cheeks.
Why are you crying -. darling
nUaninai And ARE son going away
that you have your cloak ONT
Hush. baby. il is >Iiil night, but !
have got Ia 20 away on u long jour
nCy.
Nothing prettlcr than Sybil was
| surely ever seen oG a:,y stage when