Democratic messenger., 1889-10-05
she sat up in her crib with her golden
Ceirls all rufiled.

HsaHtuseht NCb kO
away aud leave papa and me. Oil
lake US with you; We cannot be left
alone, we love you so dearly"
AS she said this she clung round the
neck Of the mother who was going to
forsako her, and the victory was won.
The curtain fell us Viola Dcsangcs
threw off her heavy travelling cloak,
and sat down holding the tiny hand
in her own.
Go 10 sleep. my baby; will stay
and take care Of you Away"
Then the husband. who has been
an unseen witness, comes forward
with his full forgiveness. and all ends
happily.
Wiseacrcs expressed doubts ms 10
the success Of Passion Flowers" Il
WAS too simple. too poetical, too SON
ber; in fnct. there was no end Ia tile
charges brought against il, and lio
race Melton sometimes dcspondcd.
Not 50 Miss Dcsangcs.
II tell you | am sure Of the yer
dict" she said To him again and
again. Il have never had par,
like so we'll AS to Sybil. she is
unique; that utter simplicity and that
face must take the audience by storm.
know audiences SO we'll"
II was gray, chilly October even.
ing. and tall. distinguished looking
man was sitting alone in n luxurious
room in Piccadilly writing rapidly.
He was pale and agitatc.l, and his
hand trcmblcd as hc wrote. Hugh
Errington was rich, free and gifted,
yet he was most unhappy. The only
son Of good parents. he had been Il
good man in spite OF all temptations.
But then he had never known the
real force Of temptation until he dis.
covered that the passion against which
he had silently battlcd for years was
returned. Ilc could scarcely remember
the time when he had not loved Viola
Desangcs. but he was nan Of honor,
and he knew that she was married.
Lattcrly she had been more miserable
than usual. and then one memorable
night each had guessed the secret Of
the other, and the knowledge had
brought bitter sweet rapture that
was more like pain than gladncss.
Viola was the stronger now, since u
little golden haired teacher had
taught her sweet lessons of patience
aud forgiveness. She was learning to
be brave III her resignation. But
Hugh Errington had grown harder
and more reckless since he knew the
truth. and now, on the first night Of
Passion Flower" ominous name
he was forgetting honor, forgetting
pride. and forsaking tho right path.
In his hand he now held the seal.
cd letter that implored Viola De.
Singes to leave London. to leave the
world with him. 4 bouquet lay be-
side him, aud lac carefully fastened
the note among the roses which con.
cc;llcd il. Half an hour later he was
with two or three other men in a
small high box at the Perthcnon. II
all seemed like a confused, idle dream.
lie bowed aud smiled to his acquaint
anccs. and talked abstis,ctcdly To those
who were with him. This time to
morrow his place would be vacant,
his story the talk of the town, and
honest men would have no part or lot
with him. The play proceeded. and,
as Viola DcSangcs had forsccn, il
was received with growing favor.
The critics agreed that shc had
surpassed herself, and even Hugh
Errngiun was conscious of an mex.
plicablc change in her.
Littlc SYPHILIS entrance reused him
'om rcvcric, and lic followed her
very movement with liked attention.
ne brought back 10 his remembrance
picture that had hung over his bed
in the old hall when hc WAS boy.
the picture Of u child angel with II
white lily in its hand. He remember
cd how lie liked Ia fancy il u guard
iaE spirit when hc fell asleep al night.
What had suclr thoughts rs these To
do with the present. lie had chosen :;
il wns too late. No, not yet too late.
The ilowrrs lay beside him; Viola was
un the stage; they were still apart !;
the barrier Was not broken, as il
should he broken before another day
dawmcd. He did not follow the action
of the play very closely. but its con.
strUciiun was SIMPLE. Was IL merely u
coincidence that il seemed 10 have been
written especially for himi you
say you will give me everything heart
can desire. Lat. Godfrey. IL 90 away
with you. you can never give me back
II wonEin greatest treasure. my good
name. With what thrilling expires.
sion Viola DcsamScs spoke these
words. and What "a depth of meaning
lay IN her great w.>iiul eyes!
There WAS not sound in the the.
atrc. Tie great acir'>, had arisen tn
an uniniasincd height of power, and
child! When the flushed face ON the
pillow was revealed by the lamp there
was u moisture in the eyes of many
but little used Ia feel emotions such us
these. and real tears fell OH SYPHILIS
cheeks as Viola Dcsangcs lcant over
her. forgetting the artist in the woman.
Aud Hugh Erringlon! Surely the
guardian spirit Of his boyish dreams
stood before him in the glisc OF little
Sybil. Silently. earnestly. the great
battle between good and evil was he
ing wngcd. Ills friends had left him,
and he had no witness when he took
the bouquet and tore to fragments the
note that had lain like serpent
among the blossoms.
lie would leave England, but he
would leave i, alone. Tie would not
tempt loving woman To sin for his
sakc ne would begin new life that
should be higher and purcr than the
old. The curtain fell amid frantic
applause. Tho actors wce coming,
aud for a moment Viola Dcsanges
stood before them with Sybil beside
her. The smile Of triumph upon her
faco made il more beautiful than
ever, but To the man who watched her
for the last time il had an added
sweetness. aS he looked at her and
lung the bouquet Of roses at the feet
II the child who had saved him and
come 10 them both like an angel una.
wares Roland Grey in The Stage.
Il would like 10 ask you question"
said "A l,rlltleluun la "A fellow Who was