The record-union., 1893-04-22

her feet. She understood that look he
had given her. The blood rushed into
her face, then receded, leaving it white
and cold. She staggered as if she would
lall; then Strengthened up and took her
7 position again. From the wing May was
anXlously waiting the result of her ex-
pertinent. The curtain was rising. With
an effort Ida regained her composure,
ana the audience saw picture that nearly
/ held them breathIess. on the ground
crouched the figure of a man clad in rags,
his attitude halfsupplication half-de-
SPAR; standing above him, by one side
was an angel bending towards the poor
wretch with Il look of well-nigh divine
compassion on her beautiful face with
one hand outstretched as If to aid him,
the other pointing upwards, and the
glow of the weird pink light thrown over
it all.
The light was fading, and the curtain
fell, but the audience demanded an
other look. and then still another before
they were satisfied.
The Pardon" was the success of the
evening. AS Ida descended and May
came forward for her, they all crowded
around her with congratulations. May
gave one look at her pale face and waved
them back with quiet authority.
"She must be tired aren't you. Ida? II
must have been IA strain on you to stand
| in that position so long"
So talking she led Ida off to the dress
ing-room and kissed her silently.
She knew the cause of her friends
pale face, and understood the struggle
going on i'll her breast. her love and her
stubborn pride contending for the mast
cry.
So, for while, she stood, gently strok-
ing Lida's brow, then began to remove
her costume. She had taken off the halo
| from the golden head, and unfastened the
wings from her shoulders when there
was a light knock on the door behind
them. May opened the door, said softly,
go in and try" then slipped quietly
away.
Presently Ida turned, wondering why
May had not come back; turned TO look
into face never absent from her Thoughts
/ to see her lover with head humbly bowed
and with hands imploringly outstreched.
She had expected him; she knew, when
she first saw his face on the stage why he
had come back to her; she had tried to pre-
pare herself for the meeting, yet now with
him before her, she knew not what she
should do.
At last he exclaimed, brokenly, "Lida,
can you not forgive me and forget?"
Still she did not answer She had asked
herself that question only yesterday.
and her heart had answered her so quickly.
Now he asked her, and her heart an
swered as quickly then, but her pride,
the pride he had wounded, forbade her
heart to speak.
Suddenly he sank upon the floor in al
most the same attitude that he had taken
on the stage, but there was no acting-it
was natural.
You knew me, then, yet you bent to-
wards me with such a look on your face!
oh, Elise, can not you pity me now?''
1t was on her tongue TO say, II could
not help myself then" but she checked
the words. She would not wound him so.
Then, with little culver i'll lips and
voice, Il am not an angel now-only Il
woman
lie still knelt at her feet. Nays words
came back to her-''The spirit Of forgive
ness at this time" Then sweet voice
came to her from the stage in a wondrous
song.
Something suddenly made the large
eyes very soft and bright, and then, not
with an angels plying face, but with q
woman's loving and tender, she bent to-
wards him holding out her hands.