The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-09-06

"They say the piece is likely to catch
on, said gentleman who, In truth, was
a hacker of a west end theater. He was
one of q group Of men In the smoking
room of q rather bohemian club, and his
remark was in continuation Of desultory
chat between himself and well known
actor manager.
Eyes" answered the other carelessly as
he knocked the ashes off his cigar. "They
say that of so many of these matinee
shows, and they re generally such rotr"
\ "What play Is that, IL l may askf" IN
quired a man who caught the last words.
| The speaker was an uncommonly hand
some man, apparently about 80 or 81. but
he had reckless look, not pleasant to see.
! A cautious man would think twice before
introducing this gentleman into his home,
for besides his personal good looks he had
a sweet toned voice and an attractive adj
dress, and with these weapons Of attack
he could easily conquer women's hearts,
breaking them afterward at his leisure.
The 'backer" answered him: "A piece
written by Mrs. Clavering, the novelist.
She's not prentice hand. Some one act
plays of hers have been done already"
~ remember reading one Of her novels;
IT was clever" said Mr.. Leslie. "What's
the play about" You noticed, when he
spoke, that his English was slightly tinged
with foreign accent. That was natural
lIenough, for his life since his youth had
been passed abroad, and he had only come
to England about month ago.
~ can't tell you-story out of the beat
Zen track, they say, again. shall be able
to send you stall II you care to go. You
needn't sit 1t out II YOU'RE too much
bored"
Wilmot Leslie was already favorite
with the men who knew him. In this top
sy turvy world 1t often happens that the
least worthy people are the most attract
i've.
"Thanks," Leslie answered, az shall be
very pleased to go. A trial matinee is
something of a novelty to me, you know.
One doesn't have them abroad"
mo, thank heavenl" groaned the actor
manager, and Leslie laughed, but his
laugh was not mirtbful. 1t would not
strike you that he was happy man. Per
haps, like good many, he was trying to
live down his conscience. Some one sug-
gested cards, and move was made to the
csrdroom. There Leslie proved "plun-
GER" but he generally won, and keen oh
server of human nature might havs.noticed
that there was something fictitious in his
excitement-as If he were keeping up the
steam, rs 1t were, TO prevent his "inner
SELF asserting itself At a. m. he walk
ed through the growing dawn to his cham
bers, but the ghosts that fitted along by
his side all the way followed him in and
kept their silent watch--ghosts Of evil
deeds and misspent hours There was one
lghost that came nearer to him than the
lothers and looked at him with eyes full of
unutterable pain and sorrow. He covered
This face, but he saw these eyes all the
same. He called himself fool and cursed
his nervous mood, but the specters new
err stirred, and the sad eyes grew sadder-
that was all.
"I'll have done with 1t allr he cried,
with reckless laugh. "I'm getting SEN
timental. Poufl I'll settle accounts with
a six shooter if can't get rid OF these fan
cies any other way. It's too late to bark
back"
The day of the matinee came. The play
was called "Opal, - from the legend Of that
beautiful stone that it CLOVIS bright while
the love Of the wearer for the StyeF burns
love falters and fails. Leslie's stall was
In the last row, and be knew none Of the
people near him. His acquaintances in
England were at present, not many. He
looked carelessly over his programme and
bit his lips for a moment, with a quick
drawn breath; his tongue ALMOST whisper
ed the name Of the heroine, Margaret. But
the name is common enough. He listened
to the chatter of the people about hip-
mostly professionalism because 1t had
any interest for him, but because he hail
ed anything that took bis attention away
from MISUNDERSTANDING that drove
the ghosts a little farther away.
| Tbs GpEtaip ToAei the play begap. Les
lie listened Of first with alanguid indiffer-
ence Of the blase playgoer. BY and by he
became interested, be watched and listen
4 ed intently; he held his breath when thu
hero flung his wife from him aid went
out. 1t was the close of the act, and th'
people In front applauded, all except vii
mot Leslie. He did pot stir.
i In the second act the interest deepened
the men In the stalls with the handsome
reckless face was inthralled. The fellow
In the play was haunted; SO was he-Wil
mot Leslie. He scarcely heard the ap
plause. Henever lifted a hand-how coult
her For this was not q play, 1t was reali
ty. Margaret loves her husband through
all his piled up sins against her. Bah! 1
Is play, a woman's sentimental notions
Let the author be tried. She would no
keep the opal bright. The man WASH
worth one tear Of hers. Let him DO cas-
out and forgotten, as he deserved
And now came the third and last act
where the husband is prevented from com
hitting the crime he meditates, and ii
the end, in beautifully written scene
which alone, said the critics afterward
ought to make the fortune of the play
Margaret forgives the man who has so bit
terly wronged her, Wilmot Leslie, whit
as death-yet otherwise masking, TO
pride's sake, the agony In his heart-lis
tened to the words every one of which
| stabbed him with mortal blows. A pla.
. yes, only play-but, oh, that ther
could be for his wasted, sinful life such
; last act as thisl
: The curtain was down and the hous
!. applauding and calling for the author
| Wilmot Leslie, eager to see the womal
q who could write like this, fingered, an
presently Mrs. Clavering appeared at til
: wing to bow her thanks. The face fashe'
; for second upon Leslie's startled gage
! the next his eyes were blinded BY scarle
s mlst-he saw nothing, heard nothing
, know nothing. He CROPPED his way out t
the lobby. Some one spoke to him. H
: gave no answer. He had not heard. II
l reached his own rooms-going on throug
1 the streets In the same dazed way--an
there he flung himself down, with a grea
n aud exceeding bitter cry, Margaret, MAJ
= garetl'
:
{ IA gentleman, ma am, asks to see you.
= "What name, Janetin said Aliy Cla,
n ering, putting aside pile of morning pa
:, pers, all of which more or less praised tn
J new play, though some said that Margf
ret's love was too nearly divine to be pc.
sfble in real life.
"He said you would not know Il
ma'am. He would not detain you long
: "Still, suppose he has name. Wei
4. show him up"
q The servant retired, aud In minut
3 opened the door again. A toll man cam
Z In, Just step beyond the threshold, an
: paused there, the door closing behind hin
Mrs. Clavering rose to her feet, tren