The morning call., 1891-09-13
CHAPTER XIV.
IN THE sICK-IooM.

Meanwhile Bird had lain sleepless in bed.
She seemed daZed and was very weak. The
physician commanded absolute rest, mental
and physical. m
Kildare, the tears shining in his eyes.
"a tender-hearted gentleman" thought
the doctor. 81 am, Of course, not familiar
with the constitution of the patient, but she
| seems to be suffering from complete nervous
collapse. Absolute rest for months would
probably restore to her system the needed
yigor The need of a short period of rest
| is imperative" The doctor said "impera-
tive in ave a very serious way
THE patient has consumptive tendency
Her maid tells me hemOrrhages are not en-
tirely unknown. Exertion, mental or physi-
cal, might result most seriously-most seri-
OuSlyY
''She shall have every care" said Kildare,
evidently deeply moved-very evidently.
"a tender-hearled gentleman" thought
the doctor.
Bird understood nothing. She lay quiet,
her eyes sleepess yet heavy, as one too
weary to SEE. II Kildare spoke to her she
smiled little wan smile, but took no fur
ther note of his presence. She seemed
utterly tired out. About q Monday evening
her lids began to drOop.
Let her alone" said the doctor. 'Sleep
will do her much good. Watch her care
fully. | will call about 10. unless sum-
! mOned before"
The maid settled herself behind the screen
to read by the shaded lamp.
Guess that rig can stay where 1t Is" she
thought, glancing at the white satin that lay
on the chair where Freda had placed it.
"She wont be into it unless it's for her
coffin"
About s o'clock n tap came on the door.
The maid turned the latch softly.
"Mollie says you're often the 'atre,"
spoke husky voice.
Yes"
''Coom aup to the housekeeper's. She's
to her stepfather's funeral the night, and
Molle's in charge. We're havin' a spread
and bit O. the stuff hot. Coon aup."
Pm left watching my lady," returned the
maid obviously.
Whose wild yOu|'
'I'm alone"
''Oh. psaaw! Then ye can COON. Is she
quiet?"
ASLEEP like baby"
Yell be but a minute"
The maid crept 10 the lamp, turned it low
and coming back said:
IF It's no more than ten minutes you per-
suade me. I'll come"
shadows thrown on the wall by the fringe
of the lamp shade. As her mind cleared an
unrest seiZed her.
MARIE she called, and began to gasp.
She wondered at this~and at the weakness
of her voice. The room was dark-it must
be late. Yes and Sunday evening-for-
! no: not Sunday. The dress rehearsal had
been Sunday. The dress-rehearsal. She
had fallen. Her dress was wrOnG-she must
do it ain-then-darknessl All began to
come to her. She closed her white lips
firmly, and lifted herself in bed. The play
was going on and without herl ''MarieW
she called again. Then she gathered her
strength and slipped from the bed. She
took her watch from the bureau and carried
it to the lamp. Nine O'Clock. Nine o'clOcki
Nine! Every one had gone; The play was
nearly half over.
Things grew confused. She stared about
helplessly. A CLEAN OF pearl and sadn
shone through shadows of the room. Her
ball dressl Freda had put 1t there Ah, good
Freda, dear Freda; Freda had brought her
home i'll it. The ballroom scene would
hardly come on till $3.50 o'clock. she be-
gan to sob nervously. Ljstenl Listen !
Keep still If she could get there in timel
Not for the frst-neyer mind the first! just
to do that fall right. Bob would be pleased
and forgive her for being i'll, and let her
have the part again.
She got into the dress somehow, and
combed out the tangles of her soft short hair !;
then from her jewel case took necklace
and band of brilliants for her forehead.
This last took some time to find. She opened
several boxes, among others the one in
which lay the piece of half-written half
printed paper AT the sight of this, sudden
| tears started and she forgot everything else.
Then she thrust the paper in her bosom and
clasped the band about her hair.
| As she stepped across the room she noted
that her feet were bare. Freda had said
something about putting the slippers-ah,
| yesi She thrust her feet into the high
heeled satin things. Then she rang the
bell.
"a carriage at once. please. for Miss
Elaine, and come and tell me when it Is at
| the door,"
The man stared. But there was no ac-
counting for the queer things these actor
| folks do.
When he returned Bird started unsteadily
| for the door. Her bare shoulders cleaned
in the dim light.
"Your wrap?" said the man.
Eyes, my wrap" returned Bird, afraid
within herself because she hardly under
stood. aud because she feared the man
would notice it. Then she added slowly
| 'Be good enough to open the closet, you
| will find wrap there"
The man handed her a long cloak. She
drew it about her, and stood looking pitt
fully at him.
"The carriage Is ready" he said.
Yes, she answered and hurried into
the hall.
"It was no affair of his" thought the
| man. But she looked so white and queeri
he followed her TO the elevator, and helped
her int? the carriage, giving the csbman the
order she spoke:
- The Elite Theater."
To be continued nert Sunday.