New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-06


Giles is past. but say it's only beginning"
Mrs. Webb is a great bsen devo.ee,' her hus-
band explained. with apparent irrclcvance.
90 you ever read him. Misc Johnson? No?
Well. don't blame youl He's morbid. But he
fascinates me SO. He makes me brood some
times all day long Oswald says he's bad for
me and | ought To give him up. lie says all
literature ought To be nedithy
80 it ought" Webb reiterated Darwin used
to say that all novelists who made their stories
end unsatisfactory ought 90 b. killed | don't
90 as far as that; believe that pure literature
has higher Office than mere amusement But
confess do think that writers whose
tendencies are vicious or whose influence is I'M
Wholesome ought to be suppressed"
He wants to go back To- the Middle Ages"
cried his wife.
ut would be so hard to decide what was good
and what was bad" Evelyn murmured
All you're right there" cried Webb That's
just the difficulty. Were getting too complex,
too complicated By-and-by We shan't be able
to unrayel things and we shall have to go back
"Oswalds always takat about simplicity"
said Mrs. Webb. II think 1t is all affcctation I
want things to be complex. It's ever SO much
more exciting"
I'VE should get rid Of ever so many OF our
troubles and doubts If hfe were simpler" Webb
replied. we should find that really agreed
about nearly all Of The things We quarrel over.
We spend too much time In pointing out differ
enccs But. my dear am afraid we're boring
Miss Johnson with our thcor. So
with your theories. Oswald" the invalid
laughed Il haven't any; ~ life a 1t Is.
And 1t seems quite good cnousd | only
wish could enjoy it. Now. II We. like Miss
Johnson | should be- perfectly happy"
Without a husband. you mean" said Webb
with a smile
"No. l should keep you. dear But I should
like - have Miss JohnsoD's youth and health ard
talent. II seems wonderful. WONDERFUL"
she went on, gazing at Evelyn with pathetic
envy
But 1t really isn't half 50 fine as It seems"
said Evelyn. "The glamour disappears very
soon"
But the excitement. the excitement! How cx-
hileratng il must be"
Sometimes It's nauseatinG"
"Oh. dear II can't Doe that Won are poseimis-
tic?" cried Mrs. webb with a laugh. oswald
Miss Johnson must Doe In love Who Is he, Miss
Johnson? Some splendid, handsom" actor?"
Evelyn shook her head 81 live FOR my art
alone" she said mockingly.
"Wcll. that's very nice thing 20 1--we for,
said Mrs. webb. Bat one must fall In love in
cdcnially 1t helps one t. Eve for ones art"
you must tell Miss Johnson about your
scheme" Webb nterposed, evidently wishing 10
change the subject
rye been holding back. was afraid she'd
what is it?" Evelyn asked
IT'S a splendid schcme-that Is. splendid for
you must tell me what q is. FIRST.
"Itl spoil your vacation I'm very sellsh
creature"
I'm not afraid" Evelyn laughed.
well. it's this | want YOU 10 come and read
to me"
"But not that way: not The way you think.
want you 10 come professionally.
professionally? Evelyn repeated. as II she
did not understand. webb looked confused.
YES: just as II l were the audience In a thea
tire. So OF course. / shall have t. pay. ! shali
be very appreciative."
Eveyns face assumed a rosy hue. Il see
what you mean" she said; but really should
like to come whit would be pleasure-with-
out pay
"Oh. we've talked that over. Oswald and l."
the invalid cried gayly And we've settled al
the horrid details. only. were not going 10 say
anything about money! hate money-tlll It's
all over I want you - come 10 me two or three
afternoons in the week and read whatever YOU
like ana tell me all about your wonderful HE.
It'll be n charity to poor sick womap.
''Of course ri come" said Evelyn. seeing that
II was useless g. argue about the money. ana
CHANGING invountarily at Webb's eager face
Then It's settled cried the invalid. trlum-
phantly Nov. Oswald You gee I was right
Miss johnson is quite willing
IT'S very kind Of her" webb replied. looking
gratefully at Evelyn.
We must read something that you're inter
ested in. Some play perhaps. love pays.
Oswald and read Moliere and the Iilzabethan
people over and over again. think they're so
splendid-Bcaumont and Fletcher ana all those.
Won't YOU read play 10 me-"
IL am studying the part 81 RosaInd now-for
the out-of-door performance, you know might
mo didn't know" said Mrs Webb
Evelyn explained. and Mrs. Webb clapped her
hands with delight
isn't that splendid. Oswald? Oh how should
Ike to go. Perhaps | can. Mrs. Stevenson
isn't far away. Besides. ! could rest In her
house If got tired"
I'VE know Mrs. Stevenson very we'll" Webb
explained. Perhaps we can g. - the perform
ance" ne added turning - his wife
oh won't It be delightful, And I'm 80 glad
that you are to be the Rosalind. Just think OF II.
Oswald, We have her here. right before ne. In
our house-Rosalind" Mrs. webb seemed like
child I'm her HAPPINESS
ITS great honor" said her husband. smiling
at Evelyn. "Rosalind didn't call on many peo-
pie"
Mrs Webb questioned Evelyn about the de-
tails Of the performance. Who were 10 take
parts? Mr.. Seymour as Orlando? Hadn't she
heard that name before? OH. yes. yes! He was
n friend Of Miss Johnaon's All Miss Johnson
very sly And that brilliant Miss Gordon
was to be the Celia? Did Oswald remember her in
Mary Stuart" with Mrs Edwards? They had
both been thrilled by her performance Of Ella
beth. Perhaps they should meet her. Perhaps
Miss Johnson would bring her to call. what
wonderful people Miss Johnson must know, Os-
wald and she had talked for weeks about Miss
GOrdon's reading Of the great part. He fairly
raved over her! And would they have the re-
hearsals in the open air? What fun Oh. Mrs.
Webb wished that she could be an actress Os-
valid needn't laugh. She was quite I'm earnest.
When she had finished her rhapsody Webb
said jokingly: II should rather like to take
part myself"
you might play the melancholy Jaques," his
wife suggested.
II could play the Wrestler" he laughed. II
should like immensely to have a bout with
Seymour"
"Why don't YOU? cried his wife, catching nj
the idea. 1T would be splendid People would
come from miles around to see you. 1t would
bring money to the fund"
at would be very undignifed" Webb said
with smile.
Nonsense. Oswald. You think too much about
dignity"
"Il speak to Miss Finley about It," said
Evelyn. without generalization Then she would
have given great deal not 10 have said It.
There was a dead silence for moment. Webb
and his wife exchanged Chances
Us she getting IL up"' he asked.
"Yes," Evelyn replied.
"Well. that rules me out
CHAPTER XXI.
Mrs. Conn was eager to learn all about Eve
lyn's visit at the Webbs'. Had Mrs. Webb ear
ried on" again. No? She had seemed perfectly
Oh cha had tb..za