The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-19
Now FIRST PUBLIsBED.l
lCopYR1aHTED ~. ~ TaE AurHoRl

3: BY TIE AUTHOR.)
her that the play was beginning, 80 she en-
| deavored to forget the real drama in which
she was engaged and tried to concentrate
her attention on the mimic one now open
ing on the boards
But her thoughts were not to be chained.
The men and women on the stage became
/ shadows, mounting sentences she could not
J grasp; and if her face was directed toward
! the footlights she and her mind were be-
I hind her in the center of the dress circle,
/ where Paul Meredith and Cordelia Carsland
| were sitting. doubtless enjoying themselves
and the play, while she was eating out her
| very heart 10 direst anguish.
That her handsome and aristocratic lover
! had been playing with her heart and affec-
| tions there was no reason to doubt. In
J every particular concerning himself he had
| wilfully, grossly deceived her. He had
! given a false name, a spurious address; and
/ instead of being the commercial traveller
he had intimated, he was Paul Meredith,
| Sir Sydney Carsland's ward.
| There was little to be wondered at, con-
sidering those things, that the girls breast
was heavy as earth and that her head was
crowded with thoughts Of the bitterest and
most disquieting kind.
And yet all the vials of her wrath were
not emptieG on Paul Meredith alone; she
blamed herself as much as she blamed MIN.
Had she been wise, sensible, even, she
would have refused to meet a stranger of
whom she knew almost nothing-would
have declined to permit any one to woo her
in secret as lover whose history was not
in her keeping, and of whose probity and
| honorable intentions there was not the
least suspicion.
The fault was hers alone--as was the
punishment. She had held herself too
cheap in Paul Meredith's sight, and he had
simply taken her at her own valuation
What would he think Of her! IL he
thought of her at all he would write her
down as one who was careless OF her good
name-as a reckless fiirt, who was pre-
pared to carry ON with the first good
looking man who threw himself in her way
These and host of other kindred refec-
tons fitted through SRlome's brain as she
sat there, so engrossed in her own trouble
that the actors on the stage came and went
like the dim creatures that people dreams
She wanted, ever so much, to turn about
and look once again upon her recreant
lover and Miss Carsland; but she had not
the nerve to face the painful sight; she
wished to be anywhere rather than amidst
that crowd, but she lacked the courage to
get up and walk out, dreading the ex-
plantations she would be called on to make
TO her companion.
II Nell had not been deeply absorbed in
the play and the players she could not have
failed to notice Salome's distraught condi-
ton. With her attention riveted on the
stage Nell seldom permitted her gaze TO
leave the boards, and the occasional re-
marks she addressed to her friend were Of
such nature as to require no definite
answer.
When the curtain fell on the first act
there was the usual hum OF conversation
and hustle of people moving about. Thirsty
,laxv ss, 10 ayA ,4w IL 4.
circls left their seats aud picked their way
toward the refreshment bar
Now SRlome found courage to glance
about her and her eyes wandered slowly
along the edge of the velvet covered ledge
until they rested upon Paul Meredith and
Cordelia Carsland. He was on his feet and
was whispering something in the fair girls
pretty ear-probably excusirg himself for
leaving her side while he followed the baro-
net, his worship, and the rest OF their male
friends TO the bar.
At that moment Meredith's eyes and those
of Salome met Her look was cold as ice,
defiant as she could make this was one of
sudden wonder aud confusion. That ex-
change OF glauces was like a passage of
arms. The soul of each was facing the
other, and that hers was the stronger and
more righteous one was quickly evident, for
his handsome countsnRnce famed scarlet
in moment. his eyes dropped, he turned
away with a sudden gesture from Cordelia's
side and mounted the red steps leading TO
the refreshment room.
Salome watched him until he disappeared
through the folding doors, and then she
leaned back in her place with some measure
of satisfaction in her breast. Out of that
silent war Of looks she had come victorious.
His guilt had been plainly written on his
face; and the unexpected sight of her had
driven him in haste and confusion from her
rivalB side.
When the curtain rose again Salome felt
rather than saw that Paul Meredith was
back in his place. She felt also that his
eyes we're upon her constantly, but that
knowledge did not draw her face back tC
his. Never again during the rest OF the
evening did she glance toward the dress
circle. She remained with her eyes di-
rected to the footlights, and forced herself
TO watch the play and to converse with her
companion.
AT length the play was over. and Salome
and Nell passed out Of the thearer quickly
timing their departure 80 as to avoid the
crush. Before the door of the theater they
saw line OF carriages and hansoms drawn
up, and as they dived among the crowd
which filled both pavement and thorough
fare they heard some lacquey call out
"Sir Sydney Carslands carriagel Make
way, please, for Sir Sydney Carsland car
riage"