New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-19
A DAUGHTER OF THESPIS
BY JOHN d. BARRY.
fCopyyfght; 1904: Bu The Tribune Assocfdton.'
CHAPTER LII.

CHAPTER LII
n was a rainy Sunday night when the COM
pany arrived in Boston. Evelyn had asked MRS.
Cohn TO engage rooms Cor herself and Madge al
the Mt Vernon-st boarding house. and she knew
that she could not reach the place by car 30
she decided TO be extravagant, and she toio
Madge that In honor Of her return TO boston
they would drive up in a cab Mrs Conn., VINO
was in her annual mourning for her absent NUS
band-he had left for Europe three weeks peiofe-
was eagerly waiting for them. and hurried them
I'D 10 their rooms, which she had had prepared
a receive them. On the table. in the front room
that looked out on the street. and gave a vie" vi
part Of the Common, Evelyn noticed a bunch or
roses.
ooh how good Of YOU" she cried to Mrs Conn.,
E,be bent over TO smell the flowers and discovered
a card nesting In the leaves She glanced at IT,
flushed and thrust 1t into her pocket.
eyes. wasn't II good of me-" said Mrs. Cohn
with a queer little infection Of her voice. Evelyn
kept her head turned away from her friends.
but she knew they were smiling at each o'her'
She knew, too how Mrs. Cohn and Madge would
talk her over when they got a chance to ex-
change condolences.
She did not see Oswald Webb until the follow
ing Tuesday. The play had been well received
the night before and the audience and the crit
course they all spoke Of her Improvement she
was growing tired of hearing about 1t.
.T thought l wouldn't come till 1t was over.
thought I'd let you have your triumph hrst
he said with a smile. He seemed large and more
vigorous than ever, possibly because he was so
we'll dressed; his eyes were bright and his cheeks
had a healthy tinge Of brown on them
''You didn't send the novel; she cried re-
proachfuly. Have you brought III?
= He burst out laughing and shook his head. I've
DESTROYED IT," he replied. with a curious light in
his eyes,
DESTROYED itr' She looked at him in consterna-
tion. Afterward. she wondered IL she had turned
pale.
He bowed "rm sure did the right thing
he replied with smile
But why did you do It? Were you discour-
eged?"
"No but I had an awakening" ne replied.
laughing at his own mysteriousness Then as
abe continued looking at him with bewiderment
in her face he went on: Il wonder II you no.
ticed It,"
Noticed It? That you had an awakening?
"Oh. no." he cried laughing again. Il mean
the story / wonder IL you noticed In those nrst
chapters what discovered the other day
CLEAN Of intelligence appeared in her race.
"Ah, you did notice" he exclaimed.
%" "Pm not sure that you mean what mean.
she said. Won't you tell me what you mean"
He hes,tated a moment. That's what came
for" he replied more seriously. Then he looked
down at his hands. Il had nearly finished It,,
he went after little pause.
ooh, how wish could have seen It. What
q shame. what a shame!" she cried.
I'm sure it's all right, and I'm glad I've done
st."
Iact N
\ well. 1 didn't moan that. But am glad that
I destroyed II. too 1 bound TO do that.
meant that glad I'd written IT,
why should you be glad to have so much
labor thrown sway?"
Because don't think 1t vas thrown away.
1t was a preparation. a relief. a lesson, dis
covery-a great many things, he said. payfuly
II don't understand, she cried. mystiied again.
"Oh, I'm you will understand he said.
with a nervous laugh. Some people wouldn't,
but you will
'Tm wild to know" she said with smile.
.clasping her hands and flushing.
He looked at her and laughed the nervous
laugh again. Didn't you suspect that the story
was all about myself: he asked sd suddenly ons
breath. "Oh is that it, she cried.
Didn't your
IL think half suspected"
"And didn't suspect I'LL Ia nearly reached
the end. I found that was pluckng out my
hearts secrets and putting them into my novel.
! suppose it's natural for man 10 DO mat Iney
and that novel was like first book after my
my emancipe ton.
'Your emancipation" she repeated. blankiy.
Eyes, my literary emancipation. he explained
as II II were a kind Of jest
"You mean that In those twelve years when
you weren't writing stories you'd stored up ex-
periences and they came out unconsclously
Exactly. l knew you'd understand
'"I should think that would be natural" she
said thoughtfully. Then strange look appeared
in her face.
what is IT." he asked.
Something thought Of something"
won't you tell me what II was?
1T was about that-about the husband In the
story-about his undermining his wife's faith:
Eyes You are wondering If l tried 10 under
mine my wife's faith. aren't your
. Il can't say that" she stanmered But
couldn't help thinking ,,
quietly. II did"
She looked at him with look that said she
thought ne was Judging himself harshly.
II don't know how much you've heard about ,c
"a II speaking under excitement. But even II
YOU haven't heard things know how people
talk-you must have Inferred l want 10 ten
YOU something about it-as much as ought 70
tell 1t wasn't the happiest OF lives; OF course
You know that; perhaps 1t was my iauit; some
times think it was su wa ,sd dazz Me thought
n would be fine thing TO marry into one OF the
old Boston families. and all that ferhaps ~
wrong for me to tell you this But az TN, sne ' I'm.
I resolved never to let her know that Ia peeh
mistaken / gave myself up to her. ] gave ev-
erything I could give. even my ambition. the
most precious of ALL ard the hardest to give up
And she gave me her love and her faith IN Coo
in return" he added. with bitter smile i mad
concealed my lack Of faith from her ike COW.
ard was afraid II would shock her: wasn't
afraid she'd give me ur. But the first two years
of my life-while was waking up to what had
done-oh they maddened me. hadn't learned
natience then wrote my second book: you
think it's morbid; don't see how it could help
being morbid. But she was Jealous of even my
II
her. hut I had to do something: so I stepped
myself in philosophical works. and argued and
argued with her till her faith was gone. and to
her dying day she never forgave me for It,.
.sWhy-why do you tell ths?" she asked.
putting her hands her face. She had half
suspected It before: but now that 1t was pre-