Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1894-06-08

office. Mrs. Gray was usually busy
and the two young people would sit In
| the duslly little parlor before coal fire.
Ferris did most of the talking, Mar.
guerite listening with sort of awe to
the man who knew so much and who
had read all those great books that one
heard about.
To please him, she tried to read
Dickens, beginning with the Tale OF
Two Cities" and though hopelessly
confused by the interminable line of
characters and English humor, had I'M
derstood enough to cry heartily over
Sydney Cartons brave death and DR..
Manette's sufferings.
She told him the story of her life one
afternoon, upon confession that the
late Mr.. Gray had not taken him into
confidence concerning home matters.
She told him of her fathers business
difficulties and death, her mothers eff
forts to support herself, and then her
own happy discovery that, she could
made living on the stage OF the
trials hardships and repu lslveness of
chorus girls existence, she spoke little.
Whenever he had night off he went
to the opera with her, and knew she
sang better for his being there, After
the show he sometimes invited her
mother and herself to supper; but to
these suppers the widow could never
be induced to consent. Even Ferris
friendship for Gray pere, did not make
it proper.
So life went on for three months
Winter passed, and the coal fire was no
longer needed, Marguerite and Ferris
began to plan Sunday excursions for
the summer months.
About this time capital and labor re.
vived their long standing feud, and the
famous Homestead riots" began.
Ferris was sent by the Planet to the
{ seat of the disturbance, in company
with special artist. He was to leave
New York on Monday morning, and
Sunday evening he called on the Grays
to say good-by,
r Mrs. Gray was out, but he found
Marguerite sitting before the open fire.
He spoke to Marguerite of his graft
t tude for her friendship to him during
the past months, and said more than
he had meant to. But the look in her
, eyes did not tend to make him regret
what he had said.
The Planet for the next few days
contained graphic, cleverly-written ac-
counts of the strike; then another and
less facile style became apparent, as
e though some one else had been detailed
in place of the first writer. This was
il the case, for Ferris was in Pittsburgh
t hospital, his wrist shattered by spent
ball. Inflammation set in, and he did
s not leave the hospital for six weeks.
On his return to New York he
= learned that "Semiramis' had gone on
e the road and Marguerite with it. A
presidents wife lay dying at an Adj
rondack summer resort, and the Planet
sent Ferris to write it up Shortly
$ after his return from the Adirondacks
he was sent to report congress, and
consequently saw little of New York
that winter.
Before going he called at the Grays'
fat, only to learn that they had given
it up the month before, The young
lady, the janitor said, had left her new
address in case anyone asked for them,
4 but that had been lost. Marguerite
was in town at the time of this call,
but was singing in another company.
After Ferris went to Homestead she
had written to the address he gave her;
but as he was in hospital at the time
the letter did not reach him. Then the
y company went on the road, and the flat
was given up. After the careful direc-
Il tions left with the janitor she thought
II it odd that Ferris never wrote, but sup,
posed he was busy; and invariably
Il ended such reflections by falling into
{ day dreams based on his words of that
!, last evening Even if they did not see
u each other for few months, he should
l. find how true she could be, and how
II she would try to make herself worthy
e to be the wife of so brilliant man.
u Accordingly all her spare salary went
toward tie purchase of books she haC
< heard him praise. Dickens, Swinburne
Thackeray, Balzac, Emerson and 6
e host more authors were religiously
" studied regardless of any connection
&c Late into the night she would read
&c after a hot days dusty travel and {
n long evenings singing at some one
night stand.
l. There was a French girl in the choru!
% whom she paid to give her French les
g. sons, This new teacher lost her tenn
$ per at the many blunders, and laughed
Y at the ridiculous accent of her Amer