New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-04
CHAPTER V.

|
CHAPTER "
Evelyn looked at her watch and found that
| she had no time to indulge in melancholy
thoughts; besides. she did not really feel half SO
melancholy as she wished to feel. The evening
had been exciting. end excitement was always
| Interestingly this was all she woud acknowledge
to herself. She tried to believe that she was
much abused and that Harold Seymour had be-
haved indecately. not to say abominably; in the
first place, in coming to see her at all. and then
in presuming to act with her. She turned pet
ulantly away from the thought that it would
have been selfish of him to refuse to help Dudley
OCT of a tight place.
II took her only short time TO finish dress
ing and TO pack her stage outfit IN her trunk;
long experience Of one-night performances in
small towns had made her expeditions, and her
salary too small to enable her to enjoy the
luxury OF maid. She tried to deceive herself
as she put on her black jacket-she always wore
dark clothes on the street AZ n kind of protest
against the loud dressing OF actresses-into
thinking that Seymour had probably left the
theatre by this time; could dress so much
more quickly than a woman. But in her inner
consciousness she knew that he would wait for
her He probably lounging in front Of Mrs.
Bartons room now, knowing that she would go
| there
As she passed out into the dark corridor
| lighted only in a remote corner by flaming
| gas-amp. her heart beat fast She pro-
| voked with herself for being agitated: but sup
| pose this should be all. suppose he should go
away now and she should never see him again.
| The thought was sckenng. She would relapse
into the despairing Indifference Of the past few
months.
When she reached Mrs. Bartons door she could
just distinguish the outlines Of mans figure
leaning against pile of scenery near by. She
| raped softly and then opened the door quickly.
| There was no light in the room.
| Just then voice spoke out Of the darkness
| Mrs Barton asked mo to tell you she couldn't
wait. She had to stop at the hotel moment
to leave a pin for Miss Guernsey that she had
forgotten to give back. l told her I'd look after
you"
'She might have waited" Evelyn said codly.
land sent the PIN OF course 1t was all a hoax;
Madge Guernsey too sharp TO leave any Of
| her property behind her.
| She hurried If she were alone with shor.
| pattering steps. to the stage door; Seymour
| with his long slow strides. kept close behind
| her When they reached the sidewalk small
group OF people, most Of them girls and youths
were standing there They peered into her face.
and when they distinguished her features be-
hind her veil they cried
There she is"
"Ant she SWEET"
That's the man that played the part OF her
| beau
Hes handsome off the stage"
| "She amt, though"
| There's fame for you" said Seymour with
a laugh as they walked up the street together.
| hat
have made an impression"
She was glad that he didn't offer her his arm
He walked along with the familiar swinging
stride; he used TO make fun of her pattering.
You were great tonight" he said at last.
unconscOusy repeating Madge's words.
Thank you"
Il think l did pretty well, too" he said pay
Ing himself the compliment that he had hoped
she would offer him.
| II didn't notice"
Il see.' he replied with laugh You were so
absorbed in your own work. I'm afraid you're
growing conceited"
She pressed her lips together and assumed an
| Injured air.
Oh I say now" he said. Lets drop this.
Can't we be decent"
Il hope that am a least decent" she said.
| lie burst INTO his provoking laugh again.
wei. you good women are devilish queer"
| She had intended to maintain a dignifed ~.
| lence but she could not resist this oppor,unitv
| You're not used to them" she said
| WELL know who is so good that she
| thinks no one else is fit to come near her"
She did not reply. She wondered If manv
! women were treated by men as she had been
| treated by this They were under the
| electric light and he looked down into her face
and saw that tears OF vexation were in her eves
Il say he cried, Il didn't mean to hurt Won"
"Oh go on. A little more doesn't count. You'vs
| hurt me so much already"
They were in dark corner now. He sudden
| ly seized both her hands.
Evelyn" he cried, you must listen "a me
You aren't fair you aren't fair to yourself or TO
me. Just listen. won't you?"
II he had not put his last remark in the
interrogative form she might have been beaten
down by strength. by a command. but che couId
always resist pleading. She wrenched her hands
away.
Il thought you at least pretended TO be = gem
tleman," she cried.
She walked on in fine Indignation. and he fol-
lowed beside her in suen silence He said n
himself that she was rubbing it in" but he
really respected her for 1t. To him she had al
ways seemed mysterious. invested with a kind
of sacredness that held him in awe She was
different from most women: that was why he
had been FIRST attracted to her. When they