Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-03-28


er girl"
ooh, l don't mean another bewitching
little goddess like yourselfv'
"What do YOU mean them"
"Simply that Emersons whole heart
and soul are in his profession, and that
he has not a thought beyond it."
But, Dick, think what he has sacri-
feed for my sakev
"And, to reward him for having made
such a sacrifice, you are about to give
him your hand, when your heart has gone
out 10 another man.
"Dick, you have no right to say such
things TO mel"
"On the contrary, have the best right
in the world. You know very well l
love you, and / know equally well you
love rue. Come, Lizzie-you cannot look
me in the face and deny that ! am TWEEN
ty times dearer to You than the man
whom, from false sense Of honor, you
intend to marry"
oh, Dick, don't, dontr'-and | could
hear something that sounded like sob
as Lizzie spoke.
Lizzie, must and viii speak out
plainlyi Why should you and I, who
love each other so dearly, sacrifice our
whole lives, when we might be so happy
together? You loved me before you saw
Emerson; and, if you had been true to
your higher self, you would never have
promised to be his wife,
"But, Dick, it would break his heart If
were false to him now"
Break his heart! | tell You, Lizzie,
he has no heart left to break. Had |
seen that he really loved you, | would
never" Thornton stopped suddenly
at the entrance Of third person. Then
he went on with the utmost GOODNESS,
"Is that you, Emerson, old fellow? Liz
zie tells me you have been wandering
along the cliffs, hoping to find inspira-
ton
81 don't know about inspiration;
thought l could study my lines better in
the open air." Then, turning to Lizzie,
he said, "Why Lily, what punctua
little woman you are this morning! |
called for you, thinking we might walk
down TO the theatre together. Only To
find my wee bird had flown. Why,
what is the matter, dear? How flushed
you look!'
81 have a bad headache, Arthur" she
replied, falteringly.
Come and take a turn in the fresh
air, dearest. Mr.. Moss won't be here for
a quarter of an hour yet: and | have some
good news for you which should charm
your headache away
She complied, and they passed out of
the theatre together.
knew well the nature of the good
news Emerson wished to impart. / had
secured another engagement as leading
man, and in a fOrtnights time my old
schoolfellow would step into my shoes,
no,
surther delay. For a moment | felt
pang. 1t was rather rough on me to
hear my best friend speaking of that
which must once again cause our lives to
drift asunder as "gOod news" Still it
was only natural. l had made the sac
rtice, and | would not now regret what
it cost me.
Knowing that Thornton was now alone
in the corridor, boldly confronted him.
He was pacing up and down; but he
stopped instantly as | appeared, and
stood looking me fiercely in the face.
MAY | inquire how long you have
been secreting yourself in that corner
he asked, with suppressed rage.
Long enough to ovcrhear your CONVEX
sation with Lizzie Smith,
"You snealdng curl You contemplate
eavesdropper!" he Kissed
of you have any more titles with
which to honor me, pray launch them
forthl"
"Bah-you're beneath contemptw he
retOrted politely; and then he turned as
if to leave the theatre.
"Stop one moment, Thornton" cried
"You have been so good as to tell me
what you think of my conduct, and now
| will retm-1 the compliment by telling
you what | think yf yours. In my opin-
ion the man who, while he publicly pro-
fesses friendship for his brother-actor,
clandestinelv tries TO undermine the af-
fections of that brother-actor's future
wife is no better than q coward and 3
thief" He did not reply, and, thinking
that | had made some impression upon
him, | continued; you profess to be-
lieve Arthur Emerson does not love LIZ
zie Smith It's ale, Norman ever loved
a woman more tenderly than Emerson
loves the woman he has asked to be his
wife. Think of all he has sacrificed for
her sake-wealth, position, and the af-
lection Of his only relative, | tell you
every hair of her head is dear to him;
and, if you succeed in persuading her to
be false to him, you will break his heart
and ruin his life"
1T is Emerson who has stolen Lizzie
from me, not / who have stolen her from
him. l loved her and she loved me
months before Emerson ever saw her."
replied Thornton, doggedly.
He never knew it, ThorntOn-believe
me"
"Well, l know it well enough, replied
Thornton, with an uneasy laugh. "All's
fair in love and war, you know; and, if
,ril To htar