Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-30


"Besides, what's the good of seeing doctor
for laziness?"
'T will pay"
You'd be compromised" objected.
"And shall order you a fire.
"Can't afford it, )" I said again fretfully.
He looked at me in queer earnest way,
and then turned sharply from the room.
Presently our business manager, pros
porous looking fellow with suave manner
and big diamond pin, came in.
Tempest" he said softly, aand that YOU re. re.
fuse to have fire. I will order one
Ny face blazed as answered shortly: II
viii have nothing I can't afford, thank
you"
''You don't understand" he insisted
sweetly. "Miss Loowella is not due for
several days. If you fail to play, the thea
ter closes. must therefore as business
insist upon your taking care of your
self, and I shall order you fire and a
DOCTOR"
I struggled to my feet and answered
| quickly. "You may order me coach and
four if you like. Don't be afraid-I will
pay-only, when Miss Loowella returns,
hope then may be allowed to die if like
| without being insulted."
| Our genial manager said soothingly that
I had an awful temper, and softly left the
room. lay on the sofa, crying, and feel
ing very small and lonesome. I was all
over tears when Mr.. Ned brought the doctor
| in. He was young aud strong looking. He
laid vigorous hand on my wrist. pushed
my hair back in womanly fashion, and
said quietly: "a very sick girl. She must
60 to bed and stay there"
'tOh, no she mustn't, t." said I. "If she fails
to play the theater closes. So she can't go
to bed."
"But your life, child"
''Think of the theater," answered,
adding earnestly. "One must do her duty,
mustn't She doctor?"
He looked at me seriously and kindly.
Then he said must do as thought right
He mixed some stuff in glasses from his
case, gave Mr.. Ned lot of instructions,
said be would see me in Philadelphia,
where was his home, and departed with a
parting admonition to me to take such care
of myself as could.
How can he be here if he lives in Phila-
delphia?" asked Grossly, for being sick
seemed to spoil my temper.
He visits here to lecture at medical
college," Mr.. Ned explained absently.
lay back, remembering how firm and
kind >his hands had been. Then things
blurred and my eyes shut up. I came from
my half swoon to find Mr.. Ned kneeling be-
side me with his arms across me.
Katie, Katie!" he was saying brokenly,
don't be ill-for my sake"
1 thought him very kind, and laid my
hand over his saying, gratefully: "How
Whatever should you cry for?"
He hid his face in the folds of the shawl
about my throat, and said, over and over
again:
"God help me, love you-I love you!"
I struggled with the heavy stupidity
which fever laid upon me, saying it was all
a dream, and not true-not true. Then,
when 1 felt his lips hot and eager on my
throat and hands and eyes, pleaded that
he must not, and that was very i'll, whereat
he dragged himself away.
For a long time everything was misera-
BILE confusion. Weary staring days, rush.
ing cars, noise and light always. A ques-
tioning each morning if I thought 1 could
play at night, and dogged answer always,
eyes" Awful times at the theater, drag
gIng into dresses that each night had to be
frightened over the shoulders to keep them
from slipping off; waiting in the wings sure
that could neither hear my cue nor move |
when did; then merry rush on, my voice |
sounding strange and my laugh like an
other persons and the line of footlights |
wavering up and down so fast that I |
seemed to be dancing before a wall of fire. |
Then the nightly swoon, after it was all |
over, and being lifed into the carriage |
which the management provided as mat |
ter of business. And through it ali-Mr.
Ned doing everything.
Mr.. Nedl Mr.. Ned, to whom clung in
dumb gratitude for his kindness, in spite of
the nightmare of what he had told me, and |
kept on telling me. I was so afraid, too,
that people would see. The horror of being
blamed for making good man forget his
home and his honor was always before me.
For was sure he was good, and over and
over lifted a weak hand to shut out the
hungry light in his eyes, and said that, if
he would only try, In little while it would
all pass and his heart would 90 back where
it belonged. Each time be would answer:
"As long as live I shall love you"
got all confused. He said such wonder
full things. My head went round till I
could not tell right from wrong. Some
times when he told me that only If was
good to him could he remember his con-
science and his honor, it seemed as if I
should do better by the wife, whom never
forgot, if I was patient and let him love me.
He argued, too, that he asked nothing ex-
cept to be allowed to love me, and to serve
me, and to know did not hate kim. And
of course did not hate him. He laughed
at all my little creed of right and wrong till
it seemed stupid and narrow beside his
older knowledge; yet even when could no
longer talk against him, believed in nv
soul that my right was the best right, and
that if could only help him he would come
to it.
But at last grew afraid. Once after the
play I swooned, and came to myself to find
Mr.. Ned's arms holding me up, and his lips
taking my very life from me. I cried weak
hot ha ond ha |
no-that he must wake up my heart-that
he loved me, although I did not know what
love meant. At that, and at the hunger of
his lips, I became dreadfully frightened,
and struggled free, holding him at arms
length. and staring scared and Mortified to
see If should know him. He seemed to re-
member himself and said sullenly that men
were only brutes; that he must not forget
how much child was, nor spoil all by
me, and saying SO he left me.
I lay weak and dazed. As the things be-
gan to blur, I said, clasping nv hands and
crying little: ''Please, dear Godl know
to make anyone wicked. Please help me?
We reached Philadelphia. Miss Loo
wella had returned and I could rest. Mr..
Ned took me to a hotel, telephoned for the
doctor and came to my room. He was white |
and haggard, and his eyes were dull. He
stood beside the chair in which I was
,rumpled, and said hoarsely that he could !
sooner shoot himself than leave me; that the
lime for pretense had passed; that body and .
Ioul and all he loved me, and if did rot ,
understand he would teach me.
tore myself out of his arms and my lips
rom his. In the instant 1 knew him for :
What he was. stood straight on my feet
md cried that there was nothing in the
whole world so hateful to nv sight as he.