The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-08-11


ly, than ! thought. will say nc
more. II you take my friendly visit
in this spirit, i can do nothing. But
you may tafe it as my last word that
II my son marries you he does so a
beggar; / cast him off; l utterly dis
own him."
"And yet" cried Kate, "you say
you love him -
Villiers took up his hat; he fixed
her with keen, cold glance. II do.
And here is my check book TO prove
1t. i will pay any sum 70 release him
from a degrading marriage"
Degrading The girl staggered.
II will prove to you" she said, in a
quavering tone, (which love is the
strongest. / will give him up; / will
tell him so from my own lips. And
il ever you tell your son OF this in
terview, you may say that ] refused
TO marry him because / loved him.
That is my answer" She sank into
the chair from which she had risen,
and covered her face with her hands.
Barry Villiers' face heightened.
'My dear young lady, | have
wronged you. Pray, make some al
! lowance for a fathers affection, Let
me reward you for this act Of self
sacrifice" He pulled out his check
book and stood beside her, apparently
considering the sum, when the door
that led TO the back opened and Stern
walked in. He looked first at his
daughter, then at Villiers. AS their
eyes met, something like an electric
shock seemed to pass from one to the
other.
Fielding Clark !" cried Stern.
Kate gave start. Barry Villiers
was Fielding Clark, the dramatist.
Talbot's father was the author OF the
play for which they had received the
tickets. She turned an amazed look
upon her father. His face frightened
her. II was exultant and denuncia-
tory. For moment Stern's face
seemed TO have the same effect upon
Barry Villiers. He seemed discon-
certed, i'll at ease. In Stern's hands
were the press notices crumpled into
"A ball. Villiers was the first TO regain
his composure.
"Sinclairl" he cried, John Sim
clair, this is n surprise"
Stern turned to his daughter.
Leave US for moment, Kate, he
said II have a few words to say to
this-this gentleman"
Kate rose, and with n wondering
look at her father quilted the room.
When she was gone he fixed "A search
ing look on Barry Villiers. That
gentleman promptly held out his
hand. Stern contemptuously disre-
garded it.
II don't know why you are in my
house" he said slowly. But no doubt
you can explain it. / should say you
are man who could explain anything.
Perhaps you can explain thisT He
held up the crumpled ball OF paper.
These are press notices OF play
produced last night. That play was
mine. You stole it. You are liar
and villain -
Villiers put down his hat. Sin
clair" he said, and his tones were al
most plaintive, you will regret those
words. Yet, they were spoken in the
heat of the moment, and | forgive
you"
His retort was SO staggering that
! Stern gazed at him dazed. lie nearly
apologized.
"No doubt" pursued Villiers, 'you
think the worst Of me. it is not un-
natural. But there are eXtenuating
circumstances. | own the play was
yours. own | used it. But at the
time you came to me it was really
! lost. | had mislaid il. | had no
knowledge Of your real name-I take
it that the agreeable young lady who
has just left us is your daughter-l
had no means of reaching you. |
sought for you; | advertised for you
under the name of Sinclair; in the
tide OF London life you were swept
away. Then, Sinclair-l mean Stern
Il was tempted. There came to me
the great temptation of my life. |
was worked out; n manager stood at
my elbow and | took your play. 1t
was culpable, very culpuble; but
the question is; What are you going
to do?' He paused and looked, not
altogether without anxiety, at the
man he had wronged,
Stern stood before him detected.
To third party he might easily have
been mistaken for the one who was
most to blame. What was he going
to do? The hot fire Of vengeance had
died from him. He stood now with
only the cold ashes of lost hopes.
"Of course" said Nilliers, you
could harm me, prosecute me; but it
would be unchristian Stern thought
of the sandwich boards and glnred at
him. Give me the opportunity, "
he went on, hastily, "of making atone
ment. We are both middle-aged men.
Why live in the past Why should
we cloud the happiness of others?"
The happiness of others? What
do you mean?'
"I'll explain, said Nilliers. You
know me as Clark. Nilliers is my
name, and Talbot Nillers is my son.