The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-06-15

81 will have nothing can't afford, thanh
you"
You don't understand" he insisted
sweetly. Miss Loowella is not due foI
several days If you fail to play the
theatre closes. I must therefore, as {
business matter, insist upon your taking
care of yourself, and 1 shall order you q
fire and DOCTOR"
struggled to my feet and answered
back: "You may order me coach anC
four if you like. Don't be afraid, l viii
| play; only, when Miss Loewella returns
hope then may be allowed to die, if
like, without being insuitedp'
Our genial manager said soothingly
that had an awful temper, and softly
| left the room. / lay on the sofa crying
and feeling very small and lonesome
was all over tears when Mr.. Ned brought
the doctor in. He was young and strong
looking. He laid vigorous hand on my
wrist, pushed my hair back in womanly
fashion, and said quietly: ga very sick
| girl. She must go to bed and stay there
''Oh, no, she mustn't" said l. eff she
fails to play the theatre closes. So she
can't go to bed"
But your life, child?"
Think of the THEATRE answered,
adding earnestly: Zone must do her
| duty, mustn't she. doctor?'
He looked at me seriously and kindly.
| Then he said l must do as l thought
right. He mixed some stuff in glasses,
from his case, gave Mr.. Ned a lot of in
structions, said he would see me in Phil
adelphia, where was his home, and de-
parted with parting admonition to me
to take such care of myself as 1 could
"How can he be here if he lives in
Philadelphia" asked Grossly, for being
sick seemed to spoil my temper.
''He visits here to lecture at medical
college" Mr.. Ned explained absently.
l lay back, remembering how firm and
kind his hands had been. Then things
blurred and my eyes shut up. Icame
from my half swoon to find Mr.. Ned
kneelipg beside me with his arms across
me-
Katie, Katie: he was saying broken
~, "don't be ill--for my sake"
thought him very kind, and laid my
hand over his, Saying gratefully: "How
good you are! I'm only lazy-don't mind.
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-Ilove you'll"
struggled with the heavy stupidity
which fever laid upon me, saying it was
all a dream, and not true-not true.
Then, when l felt his lips hot and eager
on my throat and hands and eyes, I
pleaded that he must not, and that | was
very ill, whereat he dragged himself
away.
For long time everything was mis-
cradle confusion. Weary, staring days,
rushing cars, noise and light always A
questioning each morning if thought
could play at night, and logged answer
always, Yes" Awful times at the thea
tire; dragging 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 l did; then
merry rush on, my voice sounding strange
and my laugh like another persons, and
the line of footlights wavering up and
down so fast that | seemed to be dancing
before a wall of fire. Then the nightly
swoon after it was all over, and being
lifted into the carriage which the man.
agement provided as a matter of business
And through it all-Mr. Ned doing every
thing
Mr.. Ned! Mr.. Ned, to whom I chung
in dumb gratitude for his kindness, in
spite of the nightmare of what he had
told me, and kept on telling me. | was
so afraid, too, that people would see.
The horror of being blamed for making
a 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 thati if he would
only try, in little while it would all
pass and his heart would go back where
it belonged. Each time he would an
swer:
'As long as l live shall love you"
got all confused. He said such won
derful things. My head went round till
l 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 /
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 except 10 be allowed to
love me, and to serve me, and to know |
did not hate him. And, of course, | did
not hate him. He laughed at all my lit
tie creed of right and wrong, till it
seemed stupid and narrow beside his
older knowledge; yet, even when l could
no longer talk against him, believed in
my soul that my right was the best right, /
and that if l could only help him he
would come to it.
But at last | grew afraid. Once after
the play l swooned, and came to myself F,
to find Mr.. Ned's arms holding me up, F.
and his lips taking my very life from
me. | cried weakly that he was cruel, |
and he answered, "No, nor that he must |
wake up my heart-that he loved me. /
although l did not know what love /
meant. At that. and at the hunger Of /
his lips, l became dreadfully frightened, 1
and struggled free, holding him at arms /
length and staring, scared and Mortified, |
to see if | should know him. He seemed I
to remember himself, and said sullenly 1
that men were only brutes; that he must 4
not forget how much a child / was, nor I
spoil all BY frightening me; and saying .
so he left me-