The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1893-12-20


awful, despairing feeling Of conclusionf
Her life was not ended because Mark Lor-
ance was about to disappear from It. This
opera, with its exotic, oriental charm, was
not the end of everything. She had always
been 80 defantly proud, had kept herself SO
spotless among temptations In the moral
murkiness enveloping her, had breathed a
pure ether that might have been exhaled
from her own soul, and to think that she
had given her love, deeper, more passion
ate than she had dreamed she could ever
feel, to a man who was not of her world, and
whose life hereafter would be as far re-
moved from hers as IL they lived upon diff
ferent planets. What possible affinity
could there be between Mark Torrance,
English gentleman and famous singer, and
Nance Pattison, No. 10 In the chorusf
AS she sauntered on her eyes lowered.
She was not aware until quite close that
somebody stood outside the stars dressing
room. 1t was as If her thoughts had sum-
moned him, for Nanki Poo, now in shaggy
gray overcoat, was drawing on his gloves
and smiling at her.
GOOD morning, for it's after l2" and he
flung away his cigar. "A merry Christmas
to you, Nance"
There was long, interested scrutiny In
bis eyes. 1t almost seemed that he could
command the secret of her love from her
for he seemed looking into her heart. In
reality he was only wondering again, as he
had wondered before, what 1t was that had
always singled her SO siRnally from her
companions. Pretty though she was, there
were half dozen others in line with her
night after night who as far as positive
beauty of feature went, far outshone her
1t was her vital individuality that reached
out and appealed to him. She was little,
far from robust, yet SO independent. so re-
served, but with subtle, swiftly fading
flashes of diablerie in her hazel eyes. There
was an alert, intelligent mind under the
silver-gold tangles of hair. She was hon
est. She was loyal He knew It,
1--WE been waiting for YOU" he said as II
this unheard of occurrence were the most
natural thing. "You staid longer tonight
than usual"
A tremulous Joy futtered In the girls
heart, 30 new that it terrified her. She tried
to quell it in vain. He had waited for her.
Whyf
In few moments they were on the street.
1t was a white night. Snow had fallen all
day, had ceased but an hour or 80 previous,
and now the sky was swept clear of clouds,
the moon hung in the pure blue-a sphere
of radiant pearl.
To Nance the moments held shAdowy
ecstasy shot with pain. A sense of unre-
atty seized her. It was more than mar
velous that she should be walking by the
side OF the man she loved in the bright, en-
wrapping calm.
Her steps grew lighter, her touch insen-
sibly deepened on Mark Is arm, the MINDLESS
frost stung her cheek to clear, faint rosi-
ness. What words were those he spokeS
II couldn't let you go, Nance, without
some sort OF goodby."
Goodbya The gayety fed, affrighted by
that word. She could not answer. 1t was
as II her heart would burst.
II want to know something more about
you" the earnest voice continued.
why should you care at alli" she dared
to say.
The words that followed were irresistibly
tender. but Nance listened in vain for some
thing ip them to echo the riot Of feeling in
her own heart: