The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-04-19

thor. Seldom has an author felt less in
clined TO bow his thanksl Ruthven's eyes
blaZed like lightning He seemed to have
increased in height. At that moment his
very personality would in itself have been
almost sufficient TO have carried scene.
you saw him diew
He addressed himself TO Farncombe.
He spoke with o strength of passion
which was in uncomfortable consonAnce
with his entire bearing. Ut eight of him
Farncombe shrank awav-as, indeed, We
all did.
"Ruthvenr
''Ges-Ruthven :"
Ruthyen stretched out his hands in
front OF him. He uttered his own name
almost in a shrek. For a moment l
thought that Farncombe was going to
have fit, or less turn tail and flee. But
be did neither. Suddenly he rushed for
ward at the man before us.
Its not" he shouted; by the Lord
it isn't Philip-it's his brother, What
fool I've been"
Not the least surprising incident OF that
night was the extraordinary change which
took p ace in Farncombe's bearing Ruth
ven broke into peal of discOTdant laugh
ter-laughter which suggested anything
but merriment. lie still held out his
hands with the same wild gesture.
1T isn't Philip-it's his brother. Phil
ip's dead. He died asst night-in misery
and beggary. His life-dreams faded. his
hopes ali blasted The voice which told
him that his time would come proved a
liar after all /"
Advancing a step or two he addressed
himself 10 Irotter and to me.
And I'm fraud-a swindler It's a
clear case OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENT for the
police. Pm only Ruthven's brother. Years
ago tried my luck upon the boards and
failed, and failed aud failed | tried
again and failed again / was a failure
even in a booth! Hal ma ha! As a super
/ almost failed But | knew that It WAS
In me all the time If could
only get a chance. and could
only get it out. And then Philip fell i'll.
He had had little better luck than mine,
but he too had been kicked from pillar TO
post. Six months out OF q shop, AMI six
months couple of pounds a week-that
had been the sort of thing with him. [
went and saw him as he lay in bed. He
told me that Robert Ince had seen him
act, and offered him the big part in his
new play. His chance had come at last
as he lay diving. The dream OF his life was
realized-when he WAS face TO face with
death. half IN joke, he put an idea
into my head. lie said believed
in my own powers; no one knew
him up in town; why didn't / take
his part? ! said nothing, but / took
the script away and read it, As | read
1t knew that my chance had come; that
this was the part of which l had been
dreaming; that was fitted 10 hair that.
if / could only get the chance OF playing
il. this time | should not fail. told him
so. He was incTedulous He wanted at
least to write and suggest me as his substi-
tute. But L knew better. ! knew that il
wasn't likely that the odd man In iit-up
travelling leg show would be allowed 10
create the big part in a new piece by one
of the most famous dramatists OF the day,
at a first rate West-End London theater.
80 he let me 90. And YOU took me for
Philip. And you thought | was a stick at
Tehearsas. So was. l was half fed. l
was ill-lodged, / was pretty nearly pen
niless. | knew that Philip was diving. |
realized, a little late. the responsibility l
had taken on my shoulders. My heart
sank. / began TO think that, after ali, /
should fail. But this morning II heard
that Philip was dead, and-and L went
mad, and-and came down to the theater.
and-and-- You heard those shouts
on hear that noise L IN fraud! m
not Philip-Pm his brother It's a clear
case OF impersonatlon! But I've not
! f0iled Not failed !"
just then Clifford. the acting manager,
came hurrying up.
Il don't know if you're aware that
| there's something very like q riot in the
| house. / don't know what's the matter
| behind here, but nobody seems paying
much attention. They're calling for the
| author"
The autbOy want