The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-04-22

VI the TWO months sue was uesllHeu
to remain at the music hall over which
Mr.. Arlington held sway four or five
weeks had passed. aud salome had
begun TO appreciate the advice the
music hall artis,es-Miss Flo Thompson
and Miss Violet stanley-had given
her, respecting the temptations to
which her good looks would subject her
when she once commenced her career
on the boards.
Her great beauty and conspicuous
ability had made her the central feature
OF attraction to the crowds OF men,
good, bad and Indifferent, poor, wel-to-
do, wealthy, and titled who hocked each
evening to the Babylonian.
Scarcely a night passed, during which
she did not receive evidence OF the i'm
preston she had made on the intlam-
mable hearts OF her admirers, After
each vocal effort it was q common oc-
CurrenCe Tor pretty and costly bouquets
to DO thrown to her on the stage, and
not n few OF these floral offerings con-
tanned a note asking her to grant the
writer an appointment at some place to
be selected by herself,
Occasionally, the punches OF roses
contained presents OF dainty jewelry
and offers Of all kinds, from wealthy
men, who were prepared to spend
thousands OF pounds on the grattica-
tipn OF their sensual pleasures. But to
none oil these importunate and vicious
adorers did the girl ever vouchsaie a
word OF reply, When it was possible
the presents were returned; and when
no name and address accompanied the
gift Salome never even condescended to
wear the trinkets,
The decided success she had won had
in no sense disturbed either the mental
or the moral equilibrium OF our hero
inc. She was too much the mistress OF
herself to permit her vision to be cloud
cd for a moment by the tempting bats
held out to her by her admirers, The
offer OF luxurious home, OF horses aud
carriages, splendid dresses and beauri-
iul diamonds, never troubled Salomo for
moment. They were cast aside the
moment they were received, and forgot
ten almost MS quickly
She cared more for her good name
than for all else the world had to otter,
and, despite the altered condition Of
things she still regarded herself us the
allianCed wife OF her lover Paul Mere
dith. She looked forward hopefully to
abe future believing firmly that when
her sweetheart returned from overseas
he would seek her out, establish her in
nocenCe, and make her his happy bride.
Salome was now residing in more
aristoCratic portion OF the town. Her
agent had pointed out that the Nelson
road was not the place where a rising
star ought TO live, and she had removed
to more comfortable quarters i'll the
West End.
But this was almost the only change
she Ind made in her way Of living.
She drove down to the Babylouian in
cab each night and when sho had fin
ished her business she returned home
in the same way.
She passed her time in a quiet and
unpretcnIious fashion, though, had she
preferred it, she might have lived the
gayest and merriest OF lives, for invita-.
tons to all sorts OF parties were pour
cd in upon her.
But the sensible, strong-souled girl
was living for the future, not for the
present, and for Paul's sake as much us
her own, she desired to como unspot-
ted through the new world into which
she had drIfted.
Occasionally Miss Nellie Barring had
visitors at her cosy lodgings in st.
Johns Wood These we're brother and
sister artistes OF the better and most re-
spectacle kind, whose acquaintance she
had made and for whom she had con.
celved liking; and now and again
Lord Dallesborough and his friend, Mr.
Lloyd Craven, dropped in TO chat and
take cup of tea with the singer.
Saome had indeed seen lot OF his
lordship during the past five weeks.
Since the evening on which he had been
introduced TO the lovely vocalist,
Dailesborogugh had become one OF the
most regular attendants at the Baby.
loniap,
Night after night the young scion OF
nobility was to be seen III his private
box there but usually only for Il short
time before Nellie Barring appeared and
seldom after she had made her final
bow for the night.
Dal.esborough's friends and acquaint-
ances had noted this and were not SLOW
to divine the cause OF his presence
there. They had remarked also that
he had been an altered man lately
had given up all his wild and vicious
habits, was living n quieter and more
clearly life than he had done for years,
and some said boldly that the affair was
directly attributable to the influence OF
the fair singer at tho Babylonian.
Oihers,said it was quite on the cards
that the stage would shortly contribute
another member to the list OF those who
had Quilted the boards to share noble
mans home and honors
For all this there was certainly plenty
OF ioundation. Dallesborough was hon.
estly in love with Salome, and meant
when he could summon up courage to
tell her so. Had his passion been less
deep and strong lie might not have
made up his mind TO take the honor
able course he had resolved to pursue.
But he loved her so passonately that
he had resolved to make her his WIFE,
That his offer would possibly be re-.
fused he had never dreamed-who had
ever .heard OF music hall artistic de-
cinlng to become a countess?
One morning, shortly before noon,
Salome was seated in her cosy little sit.
ting room. A novel which she had been
reading was lying open in her lap, but
her eyes were fixed not upon the book
but on tho roadway outside tho daintily
draped window, through which a CLINT
Of cold wintry sunshine came.
Salome was wondering when she and
Paul would meet again--was also Won.
dering also what her old friends and
workmates in tho Lancashire village
would think could they SEQ her then,