Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-12-09
CHAPTER XII


From that day Tom was never alone
His secret went with him everywhere
When after months hurried prepara-
ton the play. rechristened In the Name
Of the Gar" was put before the public,
and he knew again the intoxication OF
praise and applause, his secret had much
TO say TO him Of II confidential and con-
temptUOus nature:
If these people only knew the truth!
Can't you fancy how the friendly hand
clasp would grow startled, cold, and the
fingers leave yours as if they had touched
something unclean? You have the arena
all to yourself. The plaudits are all
yours. They do not know. But do; l
do"
He listened with growing equanimity
10 these whiSperings. He saw the phi
loSophy o. getting ON the friendliest
terms with his secret, since it would
never leave him. Besides he possessed
il absolutely. He never considered that
some day 1t might possess him.
1t was now early in December The
thcaterS had just deluged Broadway
with thousands of matinee goers. The
evening was sluShy, the air damp and
warm. Rose leaf tints flecked the smoky
vapor " the sky. AT the perspective Of
the crowded street, crawling like a
/ luminous cleft between vast masses Of
rock. the humidity had heaped itself in
! 10 low hanging pink cloud.
! Tom came out of the stage entrance
/ paused to light cigar and strolled to
ward Broadway. He had not risen
until 3 o'clock The day was Just begin
ming for him. His face had the opaque
whiteneSS drbauchery leaves. and warm
| though il was the occasional dabs of
damp air struck through him. carrying
! n depressing chill.
As he turned the corner the currents
of people eddied around him. His wan
deriug glance alighted with butterfly
swlftness on the trifieS that sway a
crowd. then darkened, dilated, fastened
upon one face
One FACET seemed TO Leap up from
the sea of other faces to meet him, the
eyes strained, piteous, dark with an ar
raignment, challenge.
Toms ja3ed heart suddenly !ivened
with an awful fear. But he did no.
pause. The streets Swaved around him
As he walked ON. Once he turned as If
10 glance ut some flowers in a florists
shop and he saw the pale lrIapnght and
the gray dusk casting a weird radiance
over the face. He WAS being followed.
He seemed to hear those logging steps
above the multitude of footballs on
every side.
y hanson stood idle 1T 4 corner. He
Sprang into it, telling the man TO drive
fast. and sank hack. feeling l,rwildered,
stunned sick
Felix Dawson. the man he had de
traudel. WAS alive
II had ben :, ,-..sv for Ton with the
comfortable 81, y, '.!esS of lis nature to
GS>ui"r tAHc This mans long silence had
meant his death and gradually to as
simulate this superstition until it became
4 surety. He had never realized the
enornlty Of his act before. Felix Daw-
son had been but :; shatowy memory 10
him, d ranse. He had taken his play.
and l'y 4 toriuous, sophiStical vein Of
reasoning this fact had grown 10 seem
scarcely worse than if he had only de
s,royed II. since 70 one was injured
!, Was 50 different ROW that he knew
FELIX Dawson was NOT dead-no longer
= memory. but 4 man. following him. his
heart fired by this wrong; man with
eyes - scorch and voice to be raised in
condemnation; al opponent to face, to
fear.
His coming meant ruin, disgrace be-
lore the world. bpt il meant also sud
den. sickenins awakening 70 the nature
and consequences Of his act. shame
and hatred OF himself He was thief
in the commoCeSt sense.
When the horse WAS pulled M ut the
curb before his GCcr. il was almost a
shock He had been sitting upright, his
hands Grasping the apron q The hanson,
looking straight ahead. bur blind, not
even aware that II had commenced to
rain.
Delato!e called to him as lie went
down the hail. He paid no heed, and
entering his study iiunz, himself into q
chair. His face was clammy and wan.
comethinS must he done. What?
What could he say when Felix Dawson
faced him? What defense could he
make: That he was coming he was alb
solutely sure. He must be near now.
Perhaps in five minutes he would cross
the threshold. Suppose Delatolo heard
him. Suppose the blow fell that after
noon.
He SAT absolutely still, his eyes fixed
upon tho door. his veins holding q fluid,
icy terror instead OF blood
AT last. 10 his intense relief Delatole
thrust III his head, saving:
Are You going 10 dine here? Well
III be back in time TO have demi-
tas~e with Won. want TO see you.
Don't 20 out"
The danger Of betrayal over for the
moment. Tom breathed more freely.
IA, -
up, letting the rain dash upon his face.
The chaos Ill his brain was rent sud
denly by one sententiouS thought:
This man You dread has no proof"
No proof. The words sang in his |
the wind laughed in glee.
Defy him. Defeat him He is power
less You are strong"
The bell in the passage gave a whis- |
perins tinkle. Tom turned. scarcely |
surprised. The moment had come.
Mr.. Murray. sir. gentleman to see
you" said the English valet.
Show him in here. If any one else
comes. I'm out. Remember"
He was lighting cigar with an affec-
tation of careleSSness his back to the
door as the visitor entered. In reality
MS muscles MeEo oFdCeu 10 palnIuL
rigidity, his face was greenish white
He was prepared to deny the charge alb
solutelv. TO decry the man as mad.
No proof. No copy. No eye saw
YOU. It is Your word against his"
Braced by a logged, passionless as
surance in tho stability of the lie on
which he had surely builded, he looked
Felix Dawson in the eyes. and then his
plan of defense shriveled, his heart
melted within him for very pity. This
was not an accuser come to demand JUS
tica This uas a man in whom, +ha 6raS