Democratic messenger., 1889-10-05
An ANGEL UNAWARES.

Mother. must l do itf" Tho swee,
voice that spoke these words was very
pathetic. and the lovely child face was
cloutc,l with un expression Of fear.
Her listener sighed sorrowfully.
My darling You know why ask
you 10 be brave.
The little girl east an expressive
glance ut II closed ,l~r adjoining the
sliabbily furnished room in which this
conversation took place. aud said with
evident effort;
Yes. know why. and | will try
To be good rnd not to mind SO much
for fathers sake.
Perhaps II few Of the playgocrs who
frcqucnicd the pretty little ''Sotl,crn"
theatre missed the handsome jcunc
premier. who for few weeks had
been lucky enough TO be- engaged
there in popular comedy. but prob
ably they would have been little af.
fcctcd by the news that owing Ia an
accident. he was now unable tc net by
the irony of fate. just when. after
years Of patient work in the provinces,
he seemed likely 10 obtain the share Of
recognition and success his mndoubt-
eel talent deserved.
Jack Hcsscltine had always had an
irreprcssiblc love for the stage. He
was gentleman by birth and educa.
ton. and when Lis spcndthrift father
died, leaving him alone in the world
with very slender means. il was n,tu.
raj enough that he should follow his
own bent II must bc owned that he
was imprudcnt, for he married very
young, and married u girl that had
lost her heart 10 him at u country the.
atre. and who was diSowncd by her
family IN consequence. She had
neither talent nor inclination for her
husbands vocation. which WAS for.
tunatc, rs he had mu desire for his wifo
Ia act, but she was charming woman.
able 10 make their poor home a hap
py one. and lac never gave her cause
Ia regret the union for which she had
sacrificed 81 much.
Their only child Sybil was now
. years old. and Of u beauty SO rare and
delicate us la cause the sterncst land.
ladies to melt and the most obdurite
creditors To soften when they saw her.
She WAS literally the idol Of both la.
rents. and when the first welcome
CLEANS OF success came, their first
thought was that they would he able
10 give their one treasure a good cdu
cation and Il permanent home. For u
few months things lad looked very
bright. and then. just at the end of the
season. Jack had u fall and dislocaled
his knee. II proved Ia be "a long,
troublesome buslncss. and il was. of
course. impossible for linn To get an Ell.
gagemcmL. As bad luck would have
IL, tue ''SOtlIcrm WAS changing hands.
aud the managcr. Ia whom he owed
much kindness. had gone Ia America.
II lad been II hot summer. but the
llcs>rlllncs had been obliged 10 give
up their pretty little huL,c in st.
Johns Wood. and To 90 iu;u imcxpcn.
sive lodgings. They would have been
better oil in the country. but Jack
Was ~ sahsuine of speedy recovery,
and 81 fearful of having Ia return 10
sthc old drudScry il hr once left Ion.
Itlon. that llc insisted upon remaining
there. Nothing seemed la hurt Sybil.
who for all hcr fairness WIS very
healthy. She made friends every.
where. and attracted good deal II
kIndly attention.
Onr day. IN Mrs. llcSscltinc sat sew.
ing aud tliln.ing sadly of unpaid bills
and II cloudy future. she was inter
rupted by The entrance of am umtidy
servant. who announced with mani
fest awe: Mis-, Dcs..ngcs and Mr..
Melton" Everybody knows beautiful
Viola DeSinScS. with her stormy lite
history and hcr brilliant artistic gifts.
Amy llcSScltmc had often admired
her upon the stag. aud r'Nc Ia receive
her niagmincenI!y arraycd visitor, u
little conscious Uf her own poor dress
and al tie shabby rOnI.
Miss DeSaugrs SAW In u numcnt that
Sho had 10 deal with u lady. and said
with her own special winning sweet
ness Of manner: Il hope yOu will for
give what seems like an intrusion
when explain its cause. But before
| do this, may introduce io you Mr..
Melton. the author,i Passion Flow
ers. the forthcoming new play at the
'parthcnonf Il WAS la have h. en-
brought olil in three wcci;S. Lui u very
serious obstacle Il. .r"urn Il. likely
10 delay its product. Is. \ ut,Sl I'M
porlant part Was Ia lave been taken
By "A small niece oi mine. who Is we'll
known fnr her clevcrncSS. but unfnr
tuImicly she has caught scarlet fever.
| Mis- rally ~ despair until quite 10y
chance ! saw your lovely little Sybll.