The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-06-07

restless and unsatisfed as Gagged beast when
he isn't with her, and when he is, he's quar-
| reling with all the other men that flock
about her. He doesn't eat, so you see it's
serious, and Pm afraid he drinks more than
is good for him. Now, Pm sure, if he could
only be gotten away from her influence he'd
be sane again"
Exactly" said Armstrong; but where
do come in?D
"I'm telling you" went on Honor. She
fancies Ken is rich because he always makes
| her handsome presents. Now, Jack, you
must get to know her. You must make her
ha. dsome presents, and, if necessary, you
must marry her!"
"Oh, no!n said John, decidedly. "I can
not consent to sacrifice you, even to Ken. /
really must decline, for your sake, to marry
| the lady"
"For my sake!" said Honor, with fine
scorn. "What have to do with it?"
Everything said John, equably. L
thought you said you'd marry me if l got
| Ken out of this scrape that he doesn't want
to be out Of; and if Mademoiselle Fanchette
| does, why, you can't, as / said before"
"WelI, never mind me-" said Miss Des-
mond, coolly. dare say when she knows
you as well as do she won't want to marry
you. But you must make her discard Ken.
Can't you?"
"Well, SO be it." said Armstrong. an
| do my best, Honor; but don't be too disap-
pointed if my heavier purse fails to weigh
against Ken's general fascination. There are
women, you know, who prefer man to a
poeket-book."
"Pshaw!" cried Honor, gaily, "but no
this woman"
| 81 hope, for your sake, you may be right"
said Armstrong preparing to take his leave,
and feeling considerably like conspirator,
or the wolf in the fold, when he thought of
unsuspecting Ken and the engagement he
| had made with him.
On reaching his rooms he hastily arrayed
himself in purple and fine linen and sailed
forth in search of the gilded youth whom
he had met, quite confident that some of
| them would be sure to know the dancer, if,
indeed, she were as popular as Honor had
| implied.
| Just as he fancied, the first man he met
was in position to oblige him, though he
smiled peculiarly when Armstrong, in the
course of conversation, casually br0ached
his desire.
| know Fanchette?" said his friend. "But
certainly; who does not? What you, my
| friend? 1t shall be my pleasure to see that
you are no longer ignorant of the most
charming woman on the stage. Dancer !?
No, surely not. Actress, and with no little
talent, though at present she has not the
leading role. But you must know her.
Come! Your only chance is between the
acts After the play is over she disappears
as effectually as if the earth had swallowed
| her. No one ever sees her except at the
theater. By the way, it is reported that she
is to marry compatriOt of yours, one Des-
mond journalist or artist. But hope not.
1t would be q thousand pities to throw her
self away like that"
Armstrong walked along with mixed feel
| ings.
! If his friend were right, the task before
| him was considerably more difficult than
he had foreseen. Honor's description, evil
IDENTITY founded on hearsay, had led him to
expect something entirely different from
what he was evidently to meet. This
way, and wait till the first act is over," said
his friend, leading him, by t0rtuous ways,
through narrow, dark passages till they
reached a badly-lighted, empty-lOoking
room, round which lounged several species
| of green-room frequenters.
| Among them Armstrong recognized Ken.
He seemed not to mingle with the others
and was moodily staring at q note he held
starting in evident surprise when John
| touched him on the shoulder and made him
| known to young Devigne.
"You didn't come to my rooms, as you
agreed to-" began Armstrong, boldly, de-
vouty hoping that the truth was with him,
but feeling mighty doubtful, $50 thought
I'd look you up; concluded, from what I'd
heard, that should find you here sig
nifcantly.
| Ken smiled. "Yes,n he said, easily, "you
| must forgive me; found, after you'd gone,
| that I'd make a subsequent engagement, so
| l was forced to break with you. Sorry, old
| fellow"
"Don't mention it," said John, blandly.
Engagements are brittle things, as hope
to be able to demonstrates"