The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-08-15
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had bought while out shopping. Wasn't il
cute! She was sure he would like it. She
disappeared INTO her dressing room, leaving
Standard standing like n man in dream. =
lie remembers that he had not spoken a
nall dozen words to her
STANDARD takes no note of the arrival of
the other members of the company He
watches the setting of the scenery with a
| blank look. Presently Miss Raybourne
comes out dressed for her part. In the ele
CANT robes of the rich mans daughter she
IS remarkably lovely. She stands chatting
with Standard in Il vivacious way On tho
other side of the curtain they hear tha
tramp of feet. the sound of ushers turning
down the seats, the cry of the fan, candy
and opera glass boys, the shrill whirr of
the yi0niSt tuning his instrument and -,
| confused murmur of conversation. Now
the orchestra bursts into q popular air and
there IS Il responsive murmur of approval
from the gallery The bell rings and the
curtain swings up Together Miss Ray.
bourne and Standard watch the actors saw
ing their parts for few minutes. and then
Miss RaybOurne leaves Standard with A
smile and steps out upon the stage. Her
appearance is greeted by clattcr Of APP
plause From mis- place in the wing Stand
ard can see her, radiant and beautiful smil-
ing aad bowling. She speaks her lines with
an ease and naruralness that instantly
captures her audience Standard notices,
too, that actors who have much less impor-
tant parts than he are receiving applause
lie turns away sick at the thought. What
must she think of him. A strange sort of
fire burns i'll his breast. There was not a
CLEAN OF hope i'll his heat but something
rose out of his WretchetlneSs and despair
that spurred him to ii mighty effort.
1t Is his turn to go on, and as he steps out
ne notices. with pang that not Il ripple of
applause grcers him. The scene is an ele-
giant palace of i wealthy man. Miss Ray
bpEine is Playing the part of the wealthy
man daughter Standard is young law
Yer attached 10 the firm which attends to
an OF the affairs of the young lady's father
tie IS there on business errand. He has
met there often and mas been captured by
her loneliness The difference in their So
clal positions precludes any idea that he
might have of love making. He fancies
that she would scorn him if he should evar
attempt it, which he does not dare to do
Inere is something in the situation that
struck Standard as bearing remarkable
similarity to the real position of Miss Ray
bodt"e and himself. The gulf existing be-
tween himself and the young woman in
the play is one that he feels to exist in
reality, but OF a some what different char
aCter lie feels more in sympathy with
nls 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
Lrst tine III weeks He feels Il savage sort
OF s:'l' factitn as he walks back. Miss
RaybourGt passes him, but saws nothing
She can't know the TRUTH he tells him
sell. lie watches the progress Of the play
from his place in the wing. The confused
sounds that reach him sound as if th@Y
were OF another world Every time he
goes on the stage he raises an approving
Inlrmur OF applause. His voice is impas-
sloned, full of feeling and his manner nm
studied Smile and Crisp have come I'D
from the office and are watching the plav
| from behind. Their eyes are upon Stand
ard at times. When he does particularly
well. they nudge each other. They note
the change of his acting with wonder. And
Miss Raybourne was getting more than he,
usual share of popular approval tonight.
bier acting, which is always excellent, is
much improved tonight. When the cur
tain was rung down at the end of the Sec
ond act, Smile said in grltiied tone:
The play is going nicely tonight
1t was the last act The play had car
ried the unhappy lover and the charming
maiden through varying fortunes, now sep
aratlng them irrevocably as it seemed. now
bringing them nearer together apparently
until now i'll the scene the young lover
had brought himself to a 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-
tons. but he felt strange and indefinabIe
JOY in laying bare his heart to her
AS STANDARD came upon the stage his
like Goals of fire. Inside Il furious conflict
was raging. The handsome young actor
looked the part he was acting. His over
wrought feelings, his mingled love and de-
spalr had combined to produce climax.
He had lost his sWftncSs. His air of
consciousness had vanished. He seemed to
be unconscious of the presence of others
beside Miss Kaybourne and himself His
words and manner were unstudied. passion
ate, dramatic. His words and manner was
but the natural expression of Il man in his
state of feeling.
''lknow | have no right to speak in this
way to you. he was saying passonately,
81 am keenly conscious of the difference
between us You have position, money
eyerything-I have nothing. But | must
speak to you'll cannot help it. l love you,
love you. Laugh at me- scorn me if you
will. but ! love-
Miss Raybourne's face was bent down.
ward and she was nervously toying with a
fan. The bright blush on her check, the
heaving of her breast, the breath which
came in short pants, the perfection Of
fine. acting. Slowly she raised her eyes
until they rested upon Standard 4 gior.
ious light suffuscd her face. 1t was like
the bursting of the sun from bank Of
clouds The great audience sat breathless.
spcllbound.
you do love mel he cried impulsvely,
throwing himself forward. He caught her
in his arms and kissed her paSsionately.
Miss Raybournc lay inertly in his arms.
TO his confused senses came the ringing
of the curtain bell and then the curtain
dropped and shut off the glare of the foot
lights.
The audience was Wildly applaudng.
Smile and Crisp had forgotten themselves,
and from their place behind had Joined III
the storm Of applause. The orchestra start
ed mp stirring air.
The two lovers stood together for an in
slant. and turning ran from the stage In
the wing they met again, each of their
faces wearing Il flushed and happy look
that had caught the audience by its ra-
turalness Standard caught Miss Ray
bourncs outstretched hands in his own.
'And it is trueyou do love me- he cried
ecStatically and he kissed her again and
again
Rising above the din of the orchestra thI.
fury of continued handclapping reached
their ears.
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