Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1894-05-18

anything but the dainty bit OF pink
and-white, the sweet, fair face with
its melting dark eyes and wealth of
golden hair; the lovely Miss Vavasor.
Queen of her select circle, rich, So
cial success-how dared he aspire to
such as she? 1t was madness, folly,
suicide. All the same, it was true,
and for her he had toiled-for her, al
though he knew not that she would
smile upon his suit. Maude Vavasor
was a soulless Mammon worshiper,
as unlike this poet, as dross is unlike
gold, yet the glitter is there. She
had met him at certain receptions, and
had chosen to smile upon him, just to
pique 1.-THE other one" For there was
another sutton, another Richmond in
the field, before whose wealth and POI
sition Cyril Keith paled into insignif-
canoe. Only he did not know of this
sutton, and no one had the heart to
refer to him in the presence of the
young dramatist.
1t was cruel and mistaken kindness,
for Cyril was slave to the siren and
believed her slightest word. He had
determined TO write a play and appear
in the leading role, and by putting his
whole heart and soul, and strength of
brain and will, and talent into it, he
hoped TO touch her, and to win from
her ruby lips hope that in the future
she would be his. So he had toiled
early and late, and as he wrote,
the part he intended playing became
so familiar to him that tonight, with
the play finally completed, he knew
that he was letter-perfect and could
go upon the boards tomorrow if need
be in his new role.
He stood before the fireless CRATE,
with n hectic flush burning upon his
checks, and feverish sparkle in his
eyes, and felt neither cold nor hunger.
There were feclIs of blood upon his
lips but he knew it not.
my darling, he mumured tenderly,
my beautiful darling! Am l worthy
Of her?"
And Satan laughed as he listened.
The night for which he lon9ed SC
eagerly, fcvcrishly, came at last. rs
was to mako his FIRST appearance be-
! fore the public in real theater,"
and he was in a nervous tremor. Miss
Vavasor was to appear in proscenium
| box with several of her fashionable
friends, among them Lord Clarence
Montford, the English nobleman, 1.-THE
other one" He was Miss Navasor's
favored sutton, and 20 pique him shc
had been kind to Cyril Keith. He was
really titled nobleman. To win n
title, Miss Vavasor would have borne
any sorrow. descended to any humil-
ity. To that one glittering aim her
| heart was anchored; to become Lady
Montford she would have sold her best
friend into bondage. She had lured
Cyril Keith on, with the hope of in
citing the nobleman 60 proposal.
She had done her best VIII she sue
coed?
Tonight she was fair as n dream
woman, in her robe of snowy silk
trimmed with gold, and white plush
opera-cloak. Her beautiful hair was
sparkling with diamonds; she was the
loveliest woman in the great theater,
which was literally packed until there
was not even standing room. The
story of the young writer had gotten
abroad in some way, and public inter
est was excited, public curiosity
aroused. The play began and pro-
crossed. Cyril Keith proved q reve-
lation TO even those who knew him
best. lie was grand. Even the crit
les who came to condemn, could not
refrain from admiration. The cur
tain was about to arise upon the last
act-the act in which the young poet
in the play was to be rewarded by the
hand of the woman he loved so madly,
and for whose sake he had toiled and
striven. Just before the curtain rose,
note was handed to Cyril Keith. lie
tore it open ana read these words:
Dear Friend Cyril know you Will be
| pleased Mt my good fortune We have been
| good friends, have we notg so 1 make bold
TO tell you that tonight 1 have promised "a
| become the wife OF Lord Clarence Montford
| Only think OF it-Lady Montford 1 am sc
elated must tell some one. and so tell you
Congratulate me Your friend, MAUpE"
Once, twice, three times the pale
lips read it over, the perspiratior
standing in drops upon his white
brow, his hands clinching the brutal
letter until he lost all power to feel.
The call to the stage sounded in his
ears; the audience must not be kept
waiting. Some one touched his arm
"Good heavens! man, you are illw q
voice said, which sounded far off like
distant thunder But he drew away
from his interlocutor and passed out
upon the stage.
Slowly and falteringly he went
through the part, until he came tC
where the hero tells the heroine of his
mighty love.
II would have lain my life down for
you," so ran the words of the play.
Just then his eyes met the flashing
triumphant orbs of Miss Vavasor il
the stage-box, and at her side, the
portly form of the English noblcman
Lord Clarence Montford.
Slowly the great blue eyes of the
actor dilatcd; he caught his breath
with a gasp; reelei unsteadily toward
the box where she sat in all her glow
ing beauty gazing cruelty down upon
/ b;r,, lilo Mas,Lipfo.,bo1oc 81 oo ;,cr ,,,.a,