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

looked up at me. 1t was Rutnven's. But
what a face 1t was the face of man
long dead-white and drawn, with great,
CLASSY, staring eyes.
"Ruthven! Aren't you well?"
He stood up, rising slowly like corpse
from grave.
IL am quite well"
He did not look well. He did not sound
we'll either. His voice was harsh and
husky. There was about him an air OF
wildness, of abandonment, which was al
together indsscribable.
~ Bit nervous, Ruthven-eh?
Nervous? i am not nervous. A man
in my position is not likely to be nerv-
GUS" His manner changed. His voice
rose like the vail of a trumpet. ''Why,
tonight | will witch the world with act
ing. l will cut for your playa notch on the
tree of fame. They shall acknowledge me
at last. | will charm them"-he spoke
with degree of earnestness which did
not find altogether sgreeab le-"with a
voice from the grave"
did not stay with MIN long. / did not
find his company congenial
"Madr l told myself. as l left the
dressingroom. 81 believe that mans
stark mad only hope that bis madness
has a method. and that he will do as ne
saws, and pull the piece through. Halo
4
What do you want hereW
This ejaculation was caused by sudden
" encountering Maidment wandering
about behind the scenes as though he
were stroIling through the halls OF his
fathers.
Pm going in front. thought I'd Just
come round and ask you what you were
going to do"
DO Won mean now, or in ten years
time?' Maidment laughed. He seemed
to think was joking.
Who have you got to take Ruthven's
placer"
"Confound it, Maidment, you seem to be
uncOm monty anxious that | should get
some one to take Ruthven's place..
He laughed again. He seemed in a laugh
ing mood.
How have you managed about a substi-
tute2 You must have found Ruthven's
death little awkward"
"Deathp' Ifancy l started Maidment
stared at me. "Ruthven's death! !"
Haven't YOU heard?"
Heard WHAT
My dear fellow, you don't mean to say
you don't know that Philip Ruthven died
last night"
For a moment l was speechless it was
with an effort l drew myself together.
Look here. Maidment, have a great
respect Tor your character, but ii you don't
take care | shall lose it. / don't know in
what societv you have been mixing lately,
but 1T must have been IN that OF parsons
who are descendants in the right line from
Ananias have just left Mr.. Ruthven in
his room. lie Is not in his collin. lie is
dressing for the stage. II you require oc-
ular demonstration OF that fact YOU shall
faxr. a I'LL
take your seat and wait till be comes on. !"
had hardly rid my5elf Of Maidment
when Miss Stacey came up. She seemed
TO be in q state OF eXcitemsnt, and even oil
distress.
"Now, what's to be dons2"
i sighed. No more first night for me
My dear Miss Stacey, would You kindly
address that question to some one else and
ask me another"
"But hear that Mr. Ruthven's dead Pr
That is exactly what hear But Mr.
Ruthven himself assures me that no isn't
| lie is At present in his room, and tells me
that he is in excellent health. lie is en-
esged, nay dear Miss Stacey, in doing what
YOU ought 10 be doing, and that is-dress-
ing"
Two or three other people mad come up.
What's that? Ruthvens not dead?
Why said Cardewe, every body's talk
| ing about it at the club"
"Babee OF the Herald just told me that
ia had heard OF it through the Central
| News"
That was Charlie GOrdon He is one
of those men who are always hearing
things is Gordon.
Tom Dawson tells me that ne has had
il in private wire"
That was Rayno-Cecil Rayne. He's
another man like Gordon.
Gentlemen. ii you desire 10 hear MIR.
RuthveRs own testimony as to whether
he ia or is not dead. shall be happy 10
escort YOU, so that you may interview him
in his dressing-room."
Not :" said Gordon. 81 wouldn't for
a flyer! Pm not fond of ghosts
| Miss Stacey gave little scream. She
clasped her hands with what | imagine
she thought was an effective gesture.
Joking apart" said Ravne, 81 don't
like these stories being always told about
a man. lie ought TO be dead. if every
body saws be is. Upon my word, it's
| quite upset me.
L should have liked to have boxed their
ears. But q man cannot assault his com
pany on the first night Of his own play
and before the curtain rises Afterwards.
oil course, II Is different thing.
Ladies and gentlemen. might ask You
| to adjourn to your own apartments? ?"
They We're just moving of, when who
should come laundering up but Trotter.
l immediately cav that he was as bad as
| they were-and worse
"Ince, what's all this hear about Ruth
ven? Is he dead?"
mo, my dear Trotter, he is not dead -
not dead mot dead As | have lust been
explaining 10 our friends here, he is AT
the present moment alive and kicking in
his dressin0.room. Might | venture to
suggest that it would be no harm if some
| body else was alive and kicking in his
dressing-rOom as well?"
j went upstairs with him. He seemed
hall beside himself
"Ince are you sure that Ruthven is in
his dressingrOOm
CAS- sure as / am that you at present
ere in yours"
"Are you sure it's Ruthven?"
"Do you suggest that it's his ghost?"
| "lnce"-he caught me, with no slight
pressure, py the arm-"last night |
dreamed that he was dead; not once. nor
twice. but over and over again. | kept
OH dreaming IT, saw that ne was dead
knew that he was dead. have STAYED
indoors oil day 10 get myself a little cal IN.
| Calm. Feel my pulse; I'm in something
ike a ringing fever As | was coming
down to the theater half a dozen men
stopped me TO tell me that Ruthven was
| daad