The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-09-05

edneSS and despair tnat SpurEcu MIN 10
mighty effort
1t is his turn to 60 on, and as he
steps out he notices with pang that
not ripple of applause greets him
The scene is an elegant palace OF
wealthy man. Miss Raybourne is play
ing the part of the wealthy mans
daughter. Standard is young lawyer
attached to the firm which attends to
all OF the affairs of the young lady's
father. He is there on business err
rand He has met her there often and
has been captured by her loneliness
The difference in their social positions
precludes any idea that he might have
of love making. He fancies that she
would scorn him If he should ever
attempt ii, which he does not dare TO do.
There Is something in the situation that
struck Standard as bearing remark
able similarity TO the real position of
Hiss Raybourne and himself The gulf
existing between himself and the young
woman in the play is one that he feels
to exist in reality. but of somewhat
different character. He feels more in
symp athy with his part than he has ever
felt before: he throws his whole soul
into it. deriving a strange sort of JOY
from the effect He feels that he has
never done better, and as he leaves the
stage he is applauded for the first time
in weeks. He feels savage sort OF
satisfaction as he walks back. Miss
Raybourne passes him, but says moth
ing.
.'She can't know the TRUTH" he tells
/ himself He watches the progress of
the play from his place in the wing.
The confused sounds that reach him
sound as if they were of another world.
Every time he goes on the stage he
raises an approving murnur OF APP
plause. His voice is imprisoned. full
of feeling and his manner unstudled.
Smile and Crisp have come up from the
Office and are watching the play from
behind. Their eyes are upon Standard
at times. When he does particularly
well, they nudge each other. They
note the change of his acting with won
der And Miss Raybourne was getting
/ more than her usual share OF popular
approval tonight Her acting. which
! is always excellent, is much improved
! tonight When the curtain was rupg
/ down at the end of the second act,
/ Smile said in gratified tone: THE
! play is going nicely tonight"
1t was the last act The play had
carried the unhappy lover and the
charming maiden through varying for
tunes, now separating them irrevocably
as it seemed, now bringing them nearer
together apparently, until now in the
scene the young lover had brought him.
self to confession of his love. He had
not the slightest hope of a favorable
result-how could he when there was
such a wide difference in their posi-
tions-but he felt strange and in
defnable joy in laying bare his heart
to her.
AS Standard came upon the stage his
! cheeks were flushed and his eyes
glowed like Goals of fire. Ins ide a fu.
rious conflict was raging. The hand
some young actor looked the part he
/ was acting His overwrought feelings,
his mingled love and despair had com.
bined to produce climax. He had lost
his stiffness. His air ofRconsciousness
had vanished He seemed to be uncon
sciouS of the presence of others beside
Miss Raybourne and himself. His
words and manner were unstudied, pas
sionate, dramatic. His words and man
ner were but the natural expression OF
man in his state OF feeling.
Il know l have no right to speak in
this way to YOU" he was saying. pas
sionately, II am keenly conscious of the
difference between us. You have posi-
ton, money-everything-I have moth
ing. But must speak to you--I can
not help it. l love you, love you.
/ Laugh at me, scorn me if you will, bu,
i love you!"
Miss Raybourne's face was bent
downward and she was nervously toy
ing with fan. The bright blush or
her cheek, the heaving of her breast
the breath which came in short pants
was the perfection of fine acting
Slowly she raised her eyes until they
rested upon Standard A glorious ligh'
suffused her face. 1t was like tn,
bursting of the sun from bank OF
clouds. The great audience sat breath
less. spell bound.
'You do love me- he cried; impul
siveiy, throwing himself forward HI
caught her in hls arms and kissed he
passionately. Miss Raybourne lay in
ertly in his arms. To his confused
senses came the ringing of the curtain
bell and then the curtain dropped ant
shut off the glare of the footllghts
The audience was wildly appiauding
Smile ard Crisp had forgotten them
selves, and from their place had joined
in the storm of applause. The or
chestra started up stirring air.
The two lovers stood together for al
instant, and turning ran from TIM
stage. In the wing they met again
each of their faces wearing fushec
and happy look that had caught TIT
audience by It's naturalness. STANDARD
caught Miss Raybourne's outstretehet
hands in his own.
And it is true-you do love me-" h
cried ecstatically and he kissed he
again and again
Rising above the din of the orchestri
the fury Of continued handclapp in;
reached their ears.-Robert l. Adam
son, in Atlanta Constitution.
W here to Find Him.
cobble-Jagway osses me some mon
ev and visa could ina niTn.
stone-Th.. last heard OF him n
had gone up IN the country on fish
ing trip
Cohble-But he must have returned
Stone-Then why don't YOU iDqar'
a. the iuelyriafe asvlu-Il - ud4e.