The Press., 1889-08-08

he hoped the people wouldn't pull the house down, as the author would not be forthcoming. His words treasured MT. Nash, who had had horrible dream. in
 which the solicitor to the estate of the de deceased author had appeared before the
 curtain with black bag, at the end of the play, and had bowed his acknowledgements on behalf of the relatives of the deceased author.
 Amid the silence in which the curtain rose MT. Nash could hear his heart beat l ing. Tho opening words reassured him. l The language was grand; and, for the
 first twenty minutes, he was so absorbed
 in sshis own play" that he could think of
 nothing else. Then it suddenly occurred
 to him that, of course, he knew it all by
 heart, and must not appear interested, so
 he retired to the back of the box. As he
 rose he glanced at Dorothy Trendlesham
 to see what effect was being produced up-
 on her by the performance. Her face full , filled his most sanguine expectations.
 Leaning forward on the edge of the box,
 her fingers clutching her fan in feverish
 grasp, Miss Trendlesham was listening to
 the play with widely -distended eyes and
 parted lips. Her color, heightened by the mental turmoil which was taking place
 within her, gave to her ordinarily hand some face 8 grand, stormy beauty that we'll nigh intoxicated the unconscious Nash, and with timid familiarity hesmooth- !, ed with his hand the bow which graced her right shoulder. She started violently as she felt his touch, and, recoiling in her chair, whispered sGo away P
 "Egadr P thought Mr. Nash, ''what an
 effect its having upon her.
 And so it was. After the first few mo
 | unaDta aha had rooli1aa thot if uos Ropa1T l NealPs play that she was hearing, and in 6 few minutes more she had grasped the whole revolting situation. She clenche6 ,; her hand to prevent herself from launch
 ing torrent of scathing sarcasms at hel 3 host, and the curtain fell on the first ac l amid storm of applause.
 - "Really, MT. Nash, said Mrs. Trendle n sham, to whom the secret had been con Q fided, "l congratulate you most sincerely ? Do you know, l must make a dreadful con
 fession did not think you capable o f this. And what brilliant house, too t An and here is dear Mrs. Domaria in tn
 box next to ours. I must run in and sa l. How do you do?' Au revoir, you two !! :. and Dorothy Trendlesham and Mir. R. R E Nash was left alone
 o "And you" said he, s'what do yon thinl g of the play? ?" He hung upon her words. II IS STduu-SFAuu, balu Su0
 IS 'sAh Miss Trendlesham- r. you knew-if you only knew how hay V longed to hear you speak in such tones C o work of mine You know, surely, how n value your opinion ; and yet cannot al
 ways obtain it. Will you-will you giv @ me right always to ask for it ! Dorothy will you be my wife?"
 d She rose from her seat, holding one han to the side of her shapely head, and, afte J. a moment of almost stupefaction, she turI o ed to him, livid excitement stamped ur
 on every feature of her face What sh :- would have said to him we do not know y but at that instant, at the side of the cu1 l. tain, she caught sight of Ronald Neal l. standing at the wing in evening dress, hi n eyes earnestly fixed upon her, and ID tha l. instant her plan was formed. IS ''Mr. Nash,' said be- Git is too early i
 the evening for me to answer you A 1t present 1 consider that the author of d play like this might aspire to the hand ( B. princess, and should be the proudef 7, woman in the world if | were his wife is Pardon me now am too excited. I wi e answer you afterward-afterward. * B. The play went on. During the next il ;o terval Miss Trendlesham scrubbed on th
 blank left on the program by an unlet at n yertisement space "Come before the GU k tain when they call the author. For m Il sake. D." This she sent round by an a D. tendant to MT. Claxton, marked s'To "a given to MT. Neall."
 r Behind the curtain the manager hs W been saying to Neall "Go before tl D. curtain when you're called, man, and l. $ me advertise you as the author. WI v. not? The best men have written play v and the successful dramatists is an envi in ble position nowadays, can tell you. B se sides, what pleasure for your friends WI
 are in front !' At this moment Dorothy e. note was placed in Claxton's hands; I I@-=======z= -