Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1893-05-20
THE EMPTY .CRUSE.
GILBERT PARKER IN TOWN TOPICS.

GILBERT PARKER IN TOWN TOPICS.
You will not stay, my SOM"
Mon pere, must 60"
1T is long way, and what will be thu
end of it, my good friend?"
The young man smiled, his face shone
he spread out some paper before him OF
the table. "Mon pere, have finished tn.
play. I read it to her last night. She
was pleased--she said such fine things
She wished to have it then! I said, NO
there is one to whom I must read it, ani
have brought it to you"
The priest sighed, and his eye dwell
with wistful regard on the young man
''It is admirable, as play" he said, "and
it may bring You praise, and money, and
all such. But is it well, altogether we'll
Francois?"
"It has brought me love-" was the con
vincing reply.
Father Lavarre sat looking steadfastly
at the other for moment. At last he
said meditatively--a if repeating thoughts
| that were familiar to them both, without
| passion, yet with quiet emotion-"It is
twenty years since brought you here's
Francois, child of 2, to share my home
I remember when you first served at the
altar with me. The smell of the leaves
was sweet that day, and the mass was
like none other. You were a child of my
oldest friend and an orphan. became
father to you. Ever since, like Samuel,
you heard one voice; until the woman
came, beautiful, and with (as you say q
| radiant mind. She changed all. Is it
not so?"
"She did not change all, father. For
you, all is the same. 1 shall never cease
to care for you"
"But still she changed ALL In another
year you would have been ordained to the
holy Office and my long wish have been
fulfilled. Like Simeon, could then have
cried out in my joy. But you came to me
little while back and said there were but
two things in the world for you--ah, yes,
you said that--only two: Love and the
Immortal Drama Was that not it9"
"My father!-"
eyes at times I had foreseen the danger.
You were poetical. Your mind was free
and true, still had seen your eyes flash,
unknown to yourself, at the bloom on a
girls cheek. had seen how you loved
the function--the mass, the mission, the
Interchangeable beautiful form of it all.
And 1 thrilled when you read from the
book. All, it was, as you said, the SIM
mortal Drama in you. could not SEQ
why the church should not make that its
own-to its greatness and years. But my
son, this woman--a beautiful hummer
has robbed the altar and my home.
IL = No, do not be angry at the word
hummer. I speak of her merely as a
woman of the world, of which / am not,
nor were you until she came"
1t was impossible for the young man to
protest in the presence of that voice,
speaking as from solemn heights of
knowledge.
"But, my father, felt it from the be-
ginning I first swung the censor.
1 loved the sacred sign, because it was a
gesture. The stories of tho book we're to
me exquisite plays-truo plays. Have
you never felt such things?"
Father Lavarre rose slowly from his
chair and walked up and down the room
once or twice. Then he laid his slender
hand on the boys shoulder Francois,
l have known tho world and all its num-
ming and its enhancing mummers. The
theater, and one whose trade it was, filled
year of my life. After twill be over with
you, where will you go, francois"
Francois eyes flashed. For q moment
he was bitterly angry; but the sight of
the sad face and the gray old head caused
him to choke back his words. SIT will
never be over,' he said. "She has made
the best of life and work possible to me.
When saw her play in LA Matin de la
Noce,' saw what must be. Alicia and
the dramatic drama and Alicia! that
WAS my thought; and this"-laying his
hand on the play---"is the frat fruits. And
you say it is admirable, even you'll"
The old man turned over the leaves of
the play slowly. "My son, there is fame
in it, believe, if you long for that
II long to do great work. Believe me,
can not do it here. 1t must be in En-
GLAND, where she goes. 1 can sec her in
this scene"-he turned the leaves and
paused-'her eyes burning, her face shin
ing with grand light, all her noble heart"
the priest sighed "springing to her
lips to make tho words afire"
The poor boy!" said the priest under
his breath. ,.,
-"the thing all nature, all sincerity and
beauty"
And she loves you, this notable woman,
Francois! You, the unknown-genius7"
MY father" said the other solemnly,
Hwhere one loves absolutely one knows
absolute love"-the priest turned away his
head-"there is no inquisition like it,"
''She is great actress you say?" The
voice was very soft and keen. The young
man only heard tho question; he saw
nothing behind it.
"Ah, if you would but SEQ her! You
would know then the wonderful beauty Of
art"
II knew Rachel"
and of nature and sincerity"
my son, know you"
"But Alicia Seaburn."
i; X &
Alicia Seaburns American tour was
over. She finished it in the old city of