Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1894-09-07

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claimed her sh:.lne aid the happiness
from loving action was denied hel
even at her mothers grave.
| The beautiful actress grew more
beautiful day by day until both art ant
talent We're forced to lend their aid
! in her ambitious labors. Such ardoi
| must succeed at last and one night. q
never to be forgotten one, the zenith
| Of her fame was reached.
/ From pit to dome the theater was
closely packed, and at the climax of d
scene she advanced to the front be-
meath a perfect shower of roses
Men shouted and flung her costly
gems, while the women waved their
handkerchiefs and deluged her with
loving missives.
1t was Daisy Donaldson's greatest
conquest, but as she stood modestly
| before her admirers, the eyes that
shone like liquid stars were actually
alight with horror.
1t seemed to Daisy at this triumph,
| ant hour that the dead face of hel
| mother lay before her, and for the
first time since that awful night she
| turned and caught again that dying
glance of love and trust and honor.
For moment, even in that tumult
of applause, the very air grew black
and still.
Horror and remorse consumed hel
soul, and only the cold, repulsive
voice of man standing just inside
the wings brought back the present
with its obligations.
She bowed gracefully and kissed
her hand over and over to the impetu.
Gus throng. To them it was but the
expression of her gratitude, bus tc
her, the gesture meant, farewell.
She had only to appear once more
but when she reached her dressing
room the necessity of this appearance
seemed lost to her, for her mind
was busy with another matter.
That night her fortune had been
made secure. She drew check from
her bosom when she was alone, and
bent and kissed it tenderly. ut will
keep the children from all want" she
whispered, and in another moment
she had locked her door and was buoy
with some hasty writing.
The last act was called, but she did
not stir, but just before the cue foa
her appearance she sent a sealed noss
by a boy to post, and then wrapping
mantle about her head crept down
the narrow stairs and let the stage
door close behind her.
One, two, three minutes they
waited, but she did not come. An
understudy took her place and the
scene ended mid a murmur of dissatis-
faction, but long after the people had
gained their homes they were still
talking Of her wondrous art and the
almost heart breaking pathos of her
lovely voice and features.
While they were searching for her
in luxurious places, Daisy Donaldson,
again struggling chorus girl was
hurrying through the narrow streets
to the room that had held her dying
mother. All was over now, the sacri-
fee, the honor and the evil. The chill
dren were provided for now and her
laurels were as fresh and green as she,
with her broken heart, could ever
hope to make them.
BY her mothers bed she would soon
kneel down, and after she had told
her all, she hoped to feel her heart
grow lighter.
1t had been a great temptation-her
mother must know that-but some
way, whenever she tried to justify
herself in such a thought, the dear
dead face came back again and
rnournfully rebuked her.
1t was no surprise to her to find the
place the same, and in her happiness
she neglected to read the sign that
was stretched conspicuously across
the humble entrance. Up she went
to the well-known room, the stairs
creaking ominously at every step,
and the walls giving back a hollow
sound that should have warned her
not to trust them.
Yes, the room was there with it's
few dingy bits of furniture and, quite
ignoring her lovely dress she entered
the dirty, moldering place with a
sigh of almost perfect pleasure and
threw herself down, like penitent
child, upon the cot that had held her
mother.
a groan echoed her sudden move
ment, as though the very walls them
selves partooll of her wretchedness of
spirit Another second and the floor
shook visibly beneath her feet, the
window ranted its few dusty panes,
and then with horrid crash and
vicious snap, roof and floor gave way
at once and shrouded her in wreck
and ruin.