Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-09-06

counrably depressed her. Eho tried
to throw this depression on by tell.
ing her father about the theatre. The
play was called "a Woman's Love. y
Stern had carried the boards that
advertised its first night. To Kate 8
great astonishment, her father sc.
fused to 60. She pressed him why.
II can't co." said Stern, gravely.
Don't look SO grieved, Kate. Let
me tell you why; then perhaps you
will understand me. A long time
ago l wrote play"
"You wrote playl" interrupted
Kate, breathlessly. N"I knew, you
dear, old father, you were clever.
Talbot said you were clever. He said
you had clever face"
Stern smiled sadly at this innocent
tribute. S"Writing a play, Kate, and
getting 1t acted are two very different
things. Iwrote this play in want,
in misery, and with an ailing wife by
my side. / wrote 1t in the odd mo-
ments snatched from my work. I
built high hopes upon it, my dear !;
/ put my whole heart into it, and
fondly dreamt it would lift from me
. burden Of debt and give me home.
! signed it with nom de plume, and
sent it to q dramatist called Fielding
Clark. ! called upon him afterward
and asked his opinion of the play.
He told me he had lost it. Then,
Kate, / lost heart. Poverty drove
me from pillar to post, and of the
many things | grew to hate, the thea
tire was one."
Kate threw her arms round him
and kissed him. "And to think but for
that accident" she cried, ''you might
have been great man Never mind 4"
mo-" said Stern, YEARLY passing
his hand over his forehead, never
mind. But what have you got in
your hand?"
They are the press notices of the
new play. They came with the tick
ets."
''Well, my dear, Pm just going to
have pipe at the back of the house
I'll look over them. Perhaps I'll 60,
after all. You are entering soon on
new life, and it's about time l
should throw aside such prejudices.
He fondly kissed her, and took
down his pipe. When her father was
gone Kate drew in thought to the
window. To think how narrowly she
escaped being dramatist's daugh-
ter! While her mind was thus exalt-
ed, she observed gentleman of mid
die age attentively scanning the
houses. He was not prepossessing
gentleman. He was dark, slimly
built, and of a sarcastic aspect. At
last he fixed his eye on No. 5 and
opened the gate. With vague mis-
giving, Kate ran to the door.
Pardon me-" said the visitor,
blandly, ''but is this Mr.. Stern's."
Eyes" answered Kate, feeling cold,
"this is Mr.. Stern's.''
"And il judge Alright" said the
stranger still more blandly, you are
Miss Kate Stern. May have the
honor of few minutes conversation
with you? My name is Barry Viii
liers."
Talbot father! The ominous dad
in the background! With very pale
face. Kate ushered him into the house.
He politely waited for her to seat
herself, then sat down.
Il fear" he began, Il have called
on a rather unpleasant errand. My
visit concerns Irritation between
you and my son."
Kate caught her breath. '"Ehere
has been no Irritation, Mr.. Vi.liers.
Your son has told me that he loved
me, and am not ashamed of return
ing his love-
Villiers bowed. "a boy-and-girl
attachment" he said, airily. Il
heard of it from my sons lips to-
day. OF course, it cannot proceed.
1t is folly; but then, when were
lovers wise? can assure you, Miss
Stern, though fully approaching
your affection for my son, tha3 you
must give up all thoughts Of this
marriage" He smiled.
"Give up all thoughts of it," cried
Kate, with pale lips. us that your
sons messenger"
''No-of course. l am here to rea-
son with you. You are mere child
1 am man Of the world. We look
at different standpoints. But mar
riage is impossible. Your posi-
tom"
''You mean" interrupted Kate,
THAT you are rich and / ann poor"
Exactly. In all other respects
you are, no doubt, my sons equal
but this unfortunate circumstance is
sufficient to restrain me from giving
my consent. cannot see my sons
prospects blighted. 1 am Willing to
pay any price"
Kate's eyes blazed. The suave, in
manner of Talbot's dad"
reused her. His way of putting a
price on the affections brought back
her color. MY price," she said
scornfully, ''for what? The love
bear him?"
Villiers coolly changed his tactics.
Pardon me; was wrong. ought
not to have made such suggestion.
But you say you love my son. Well,
his career is in your hands. Will
you blight it? 1t rests with YOU"
You are putting the whole re-
sponsibility of his future on my
shoulders" she answered bitt rly.