The state herald., 1893-09-22

llghteu MS cigar, ne continued, be-
tween puffs:
'.I'll bet hos way up in G, too,
when he's home. Saw, sortie. Of hin
clothes t'other day; and, by thunder;
they had one Of these here-wha*.
Observation-Disclosures or coat-of- arms
on 'em-old family, you know. Hen
been q blood, You hear mo Whisper
ing. And Katie's as good as gold,
cure for him; id if he'll take n
drink Of ginger-ale, now" Whereat
the speaker laughed delightedly, and
nudged his friend between the riba
as Markham passed them on his way
to the stage.
A month passed, and closer and
dearer to each other grew tho
strangely matched pair; they took
long walks nbout the city; they went
to the 200" together; they even had
drive in q beautiful carriage with
two horses, and the driver clad in
some ones cast-off livery, now and
then; and they were very, very happy.
The tall. handsome young man and
tho smiling, sweet-faced little girl
were very fond OF each other, and
tho company wondered why-and
took it out in wondering.
Matters came to crisis one after
noon soon after Dorothy took her
peremptory departure. The manager
was in anything but a good temper,
owing partly to that affair and part
ly to the new play now being gone
over, and which seemed determined
to go wrong from the first. The
cast had started out being slow, and
when he stormed, as no always did
when angry, they became sullen and
Indifferent Markham was )ate--off
on one of his Summing tours, said
the leading mainland when, to cap
the climax, Katherine forgot her
lines completely, and could not no.
member them when angrily prompted
by the manager. Mr. Phillips lost
control of himself entirely, and
plunging at her. he struck the
troubled, patient little face cruel
blow with his open hand
'Tnkc that, you little fool" he
cried. with curse. while the others
stood staring at him In incredulous
establishment; "you haven't brains
enough to live! Get off the stage, |
tell you, and don't you come back
till you can say those lines from first
to last. doy' understand And il |
catch you"
He stopped suddenly, and his I'M
pleasant face grew fairly livid; stand
ing in the wing was the towering
form OF Barry Markham looking al
the manager in such d way as to
make him SILVER.
With little cry of love and trust,
between her sobs OF pain. Katherine
ran to him with outstretched hands,
and, STOPPING. ho gathered her into
his strong arms and held her closely
to him. She laid one soft check,
still red with the mark OF the mana
gers heavy hand, upon his breast,
and began kissing the hand she loved
so much and which held her tightly
now. One OF the women pressed her
handkerchief to hor eyes quickly
and looked away. For u minute
Markham held the loving baby to
him, and then he put her gently
down upon pile of grass-mats in tho
wing. Then he shook OF the big
top-coat he always woro. stripped his
gloves quietly from his hands, and,
laying them all down beside Katb-
crime. crossed the stage to where the
manager stood. For the first time
he spoke, and his voice, though low
and calm, foil upon Mr.. Phillips ears
like the ring OF cold steel.
Put up your hands."
The manager turned a shade palcr
and started to speak.
''Put up your hands," said Markham
little louder. doing 80 himself. The
manager, hardly knowing what he
was doing. doubled his fists and held
them In front OF him. The next mo-
mcnt he was staggering across the
green stase-carpet as II he had been
shot He was u powerful man and
with roar OF rage he recovered him
self suddenly and hurled himself
upon the motor. But Markham had
been n gentleman and an athlete, and
he was ready for him. One-two-
thrcc blows only, but so tcrriiically
scientific were they, so entirely
square and hard. that no more were
needed, Tho manager fell agains,
the back-drop In senscless mass
and Markham. with q grim smile.
picked up his coat and hat and put
them on again. lie turned to the
others rs two silent stage hands car
riod tho bleeding manager to tn.
nearest dressing room. and said,
slowly;
I'll sincerely beg the ladies' pardon
for this disgraceful scene. but IL was
quite unavoidable. have lust
learned this afternoon that my--my
wife Is dead. and that Katherine. as
] hoped and prayed. is my daughter
That Is all"
He turned. and. taking tho little
Girl Into his arms once more, he
bowed TO the others, and picking his
way through dust-covcrod piles OF
ropo and furnished fnery. pas, worn.
out drops aud broken furniture, and
into tho little alloy where he Ind
llrst mot the little one who was cling.
Ing about his neck now and smiling
through her tears again. As thoy
passed under tho dim light which
ilarcd and danced in its wlro cage
above the door, no stopped anil
pressed his lips again and again TO
those OF his baby; and. though sho
knew ho was happy. there was some.
thing like tears In his eyes aud his
voice trcmblcd II ,riHa when, n
moment la'or. he called cab to
talsc them ~ the hotel.
You have seen Markham and his
daughter play "fnuntlcroyT Then
you have soon tho best little lord
aud tho most natural earl on tho
stare. for the love ,hcy show for