The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-10-26
IA pantomin.e.'' he repeated wondering.

~ no IOPSo'SN VNAfNOhtAy-
". "What is THAR
/ hesitated, unable to conceal my surprise,
Was it possible he did not knows But his
eyes were fixed inquiringly upon mine, and,
evidently puzzled, he waited for my an
swer.
IA pantomime!' said at last rather at
d loss for definition. "Why, q pantomime
is IA children's play--all scenery and spec
tacle and dancing. Generally they are
founded OH fairy tales"
'.Ah, possibly a kind of masquew he said,
appearing to understand at length Then
he added casually: "You must remember
that am not acquainted with your modern
terms. | have not seen play Tor nearly
$50 years. Things are greatly changed
since my day."
i'ecoiled from him instinctively, hardly
able to hide the uncomfortable feeling OF re
pugnance which Insanity inspires Inc
next moment wave of regretful tenderness
swept over me. For the first time realized
the full beauty of the soul struggling tragi'
cally to retain its ascendency over the dark
ness which now and then seemed to close
over the mind. In one short evening | had
learned to love this man as friend OF mary
years, and | could have wept with sorrow
for him, and passionate self-pity that had
given my love in vain. In the seliishness
of INV grief began to wish that had never
seen him. | was silent so long that he
turned to look at me, and as he gazed his
eyes grew wistful and serious l was con-
scious again of the eerie feeling that he
knew my thoughts, and as soon as he spoke
had no longer anv doubt that by some
mysterious affinity between his brain and
mine he could read them. He laid his hand
on MY arm and said gently and reproach,,
fully, "You are losing your faith In me and
your desire for my presence. If you do
that you will drive ME away. | implore
YOU to bear with me a little while longer.
After to night we shall never meet again,
and if you force me to go now you will be
inflicting greater pain and disappointment
than YOU can conceive on one VINO WISHES
you nothing but good"
There was something in his touch which
laid my selishness to rest and recalled my
better feelings. As if he knew It's power, he
let his hand rest for some time where he
had placed it, and looked into my eyes with
half commanding, half-appealing expires.
sion. With Joy in submission which CHI,
had never known before, | felt my own will
yielding to his stronger one. l had exor-
cisei my sadness and regret and left me
conscious only OF growing love Tor him.
He knew his victory, and smiled little
when at last he withdrew his hand You
have done more for me tonight than you
KNOW he said gently; 'you will not be
sorry afterward."
He glanced arouul the audience. Tell
me, now,n he said with rapid change of
subject, ''who are all these people,"
"Just an average audience l replied
glad that he had asked no question requir'
ing mental effort in the answer, for felt
suddenly exhausted with nervous excite
ment
IA nineteenth Ger tury audience"' he
murmured thoughtfully, -glancing keenly
round as he spoke. "And do they all read
| Shakespeare"
"All the educated and intelligent among
them do. Some of them come because 1t is
| fashionable to do so, and a few are litter
ate and have not read his plays. But to
many of them his works are, as has been
well said a lay Bible"
A flush that looked like grateful pleasure
passed over his face; but he made no an
swer, and after few moments the rising
of the curtain for the next act stopped fur
ther conversation. He did not speak much
more through the rest of the play. One
| brief comment on the sleep-walking scene
was all he uttered. "She is very sweet and
| pretty" he said, but it needs more think
| ing out. The dreamy intOnatlon is good,
but the words and actions should have
more energy"
| In the last act he watched Macbeth
driven to bay and fighting against despair
with return or something like the ex.
| element he had displayed in the murder
scene, At the close of the play, when we
rose together to go out, he fingered a mo
ment to watch Mr.. Irving and Miss Terry
come before the curtain, and said with d
| sigh as they disappeared, 81 would 1t were
possible to thank them for the pleasure
they have given me tonight. They have
almost reached the playwright's meaning.
Alas, that it may not be"
How significantly the words nearly the
last he spoke, have wrung in my ears
| since. At the moment | did not fully un
derstand their accent Of gratitude and long
| ing
We descended the stairs together in
| silence. / was dreading the parting thai
| was before me, and, hoping that it might
not prove a final farewell and yet re
strained from giving utterance to my wisf
| by an unwonted awe and a despairing con
| yiction that any words of mine would BIZ
powerless to control events. In the crowC
near the door we became separated, and
| fancied that he passed out in front OF me
There was thick fog: outside nothing
was to be seen but a small semicircle OIL
! lurid misty gaslight, and torches passing
to and fro out of the surrounding darkness
| passed out into the street and looked
round, expecting to find my unknown frien(
awaiting me. He was not there. 1 waited
a moment in vain, and, then with feeling
of forlorn disappointment and utter desola
ton, | moved mechanically out OF the gas
/ lit circle into the darkness beyond will
some dim notion of seeking him. A long
| ing to see him again and hear his voc
overwhelmed me, but stopped bewildered
| not knowing whic h way to turn.
Suddenly, irradi ated by faint etherea
| light, there cleaned before me the mystic
| rious face Of the stranger. The features
were shadowy and indistinct. but there wa
| O new almost devine beauty in his smile
His figure was shadowy, too, but the heav,
| concealing cloak was gone and in its plac
1 dimly saw the outlines of an Elizabethal
dress. While stood motiouless and awe
struck the tones of his voit'e fell on my ca
with something of the deep solemnity of
far-off passing bell
"You longed tonight to see the William
Shakespeare you have loved so well, and
came in answer to your CALL It is the frs
time that the cry of a human heart witt
it's earnest faith, has been allowed to reacl
me for nigh 300 years. l thank you
friendp'
/ My brain grew suddenly clouded and m.
eyes dim; faint deep sigh sounded in m.
| ears; touch, gentle as the memory OF
vanished hand" rested on mine an in
slant, and then was left alone in the dark
ness.