New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-05
A DAUGHTER OF THESPlS
(Copy,1ght: IS3. BY The Tribune A''o0anonJ
CHAPTER XLN1Ir.
BY JOHN p. BARRY.

did not believe in platonic friendships between
women and men, and her only explanation oil
the correspondence Of her friend with the hos
ION editor was that Oswald Webb wanted TO
marry Evelyn: the only possible cause OF E'e
lyn's agitation that she could think or was MS
delay in proposing; the interval OF expectancy
she knew was always trying time for some
women who were in owe. Madge had seen Eve
lyr when she was in love with Harolu HeEi"oui
there had been doubt about 1t that uh'e'
Now. however. Evelyn had the air of being a
"free woman" and .ladge had theory that
love was kind Of slavery. Altogether 'he si'-
uation was unaccountable.
As for Evelyn herself. she speedily felt
ashamed Of her outburst She had left the
table shut herself up in her room. and INDUCED
IN 2 fir Of weeping for which she could give no
ADEQUATE reason When 1t was over she went
hack 10 the dining-room and secured the pack
age she had left there; Madge had already gone
out in order to give her time to recover anu
10 spare her the modification OF an apology
while her remorse was still fresh
"you amt teched your coffee honey" said
Charity reproachfully, as Evelyn started 10 re-
turn to her room
.I don't believe I want any this morning
Yes I think | will take cup Of coffee Get me
a fresh cup. Charity. won't you please?
he I
only to sip the coffee But she found that her
tears had had the effect Of giving her an ap
ne,ite She not only drained the cup. but she
also ate roll and little of the omelette CHAR
ity had silAntly put on her plate. Charl'y h'e"
that something was the matter; she wondered
a. tho voung misses had been having spat'
she wanted to express sympathy, but she held
EVELYN in TOO much to allow herseii the
liberty.
Instead Of going back to her room, Evelyn
sat down at the wrting-desk in the parlor. IN
the tumult of feelings which her crying Mt had
caused she had decided to return the manu-
script TO Oswald Webb unopened. ana 10 say
that she did not feel competent to pass JUG
ment on it. and so had not dared aIio" he'-
calf n read if; she was only an actress and
couldn't be expected 10 pose as literary au-
thonty. She would not give him any reason
10 think that she was leading him on trying 10
nrv into his life 10 have part in II. OF course
that was what Madge had meant that she was
flirting with man whose position IN ne was
SO much above her own whose wlle hdd uIeu
a. seemed TO her only few weeks before. But
the coffee and omelette Strengthened OUT her
logic made her perceive her injustice 10 Mause,
and TO Oswald Webb and 10 herself II she
sent back that manuscript after expressing
!. desire to read it, he would think That she elther
didn't care TO take the trouble 10 examine II OF
that she was n person Of luixotic impulses; be
sides. he would probably abandon the undertake
ing; she had assumed responsibility ana she
was bound in conscience 10 meet all Oh i'S "o-
II Madge could have followed this reasoning
she would have extracted a great deal OF anuse-
Inent from it; TO Madge life was very simple;
EVELYN made il complex Indeed, Evelyns ethl-
cal meditations served as sancufying prepdra-
ton for her perusal OF Oswald MepD n9t ,be
she opened the package with something OF me
feeling of the high priest Approaching the sacrl,
fee She had never read an unpublished mover
hefore-indeed the only MSS. Of professional writ
hot cha had q
and the Harvard College libraries and she felt
a thrill OF awe when she looked at the type,
written pages with pen corrections mere ana
there in Oswald Webb's handwriting. There
were eight chapters in all each separate. the
pages held together with clasp In the upper
ieft-hand corner; no name had as yet peeh
given to the story Evelyn glanced rapdly
from sheet TO sheet and saw that Webp hdd
made many verbal corrections and transposi-
fions and elminatons to improve the style
He was evidently a great stickler for form; IN
a few places he had changed names in every
instance supplying names full OF character
men she began at the first page and without
rising from her seat read the MS. throughout,
1t a strange story. 1t dealt win me IRE
of young literary man who had marrled a
woman of intense religious feeling; ne was
himself an agnostic and the discussions OF re-
Ngion and philosophy which the TWO had To-
Esther we're AT the close Of the eighth chapter
lust beginning 10 undermine the wfes ialth'
the climax OF the chapter consisted o. the
won1an's passionate prayer 70 God 10 save ner
from the darkness OF unbelef which she felt
was closing around her; IL was intensely ora
matte and after reading II Evelyn SAT lor sew,
oral moments waiting for the agitation II nad
caused TO pass away II had been conceived ana
executed on the ultra-realistc plan; this sur
prised her for oswald Webbs first Two movers
were distinctly romantic; he seemed 10 nave
abandoned poetry Tor the actuaties OF lie me
character studies wonderfully keen, ana
here and there were flashes OF VIII ana on ep
gram and delightful paradoXes that rehe W.,
the melancholy burden Of the narrative ne
undertone Of sadness that Evelyn had discoV-
cred in his other stories seemed intenslled IN
tbis one. II was as # he had become wrung
by the misery Of the world as If ne mad come
10 regard the world as desert OF pain win Only
occasional GASES Of happiness The matuIer
work was OF course far stronger than the
others: she wondered how Oswald WEBB couid
have doubted this; but she really hKed the
When she finished her reading it was nearly
time for luncheon, and she decided not to begll
TO write her opinion Of the story unuI she hau
rested At tabie-she ate alone Madge was evil
IDENTIFY lunching with one Of her soubrette 1flehus
at a downtown restaurant-she thought over
what she should say. and after luncneOn she
began TO write the first literary criticism on her
life. She thought she could write all she had 10
saw In two or three pages; but In the heat OF
composition she found herself spinning theories
and opinions that she had never before sus-
pected herself Of entertaining She began by tell
Ing Of her interest in the story and OF her eager
ness 10 know It's development and denouemeht
IL would be great pity, great shame. not 10
go on with it; then she went INTO an ahaiy
pardon her II she said that in her opinion the
wife wouldn't have shown how shocked she had
been at discovering her husbands lack or faith
in God-that place in the fourth chapter a
woman Of her sort. Of her strong faith ana
character would have concealed her horror and
trusted in her own faith TO help her bring back
her husband to the truth; this deep trust would
have Gained her. would have given her a spir-
itual exal.ation. which. with Mr. Webb's skill,
might be very effectively described. Then, too,
she doubted If man like the husband would
have been so eager to undermine his wife s
faith most men, even those with no religion
themselves liked their wives TO be religious;
they regarded religion as almost part OF
womans nature. But perhaps she was wrong
about these things since he had asked for A
frank criticism. however. she couldn't help
speaking OF them Then. too, there was one
thing she wanted particularly to mention. apd
vet she hated TO speak of II; she feared II would
scam Ike an impertnence. That was, the tone