Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-10-11
no replied. land so ex.


wore smile, even after the head had been
replaced"
a wilder light lcapcd from his eyes.
But tho world is ignorant. Never as
tct have l been allowed to witness tho re-
ault of my remedy. In your case it shall
lot DO so.
Her breath came and went hurriedly, us
she watched tho nervous dark fingers deli
catcly touch and try tho edge Of the H.
StrumCnt.
But she was brave woman, and sweet
as life is to most of us it is .doubly dear
whom nnother's depends upon it. Must
lhat bright, curly headed boy learn Tint
ha mother had suffered dca,h at the hands
of u mldmanY
"YCurs must have been u n.cst unCcr-
tain lire," sho continued, in tho hope of
diverting his thoughts, wnilo she partially
sCrccncd her face from the freight and
furtivcly followed his every expression.
Again the glittcring eyes flashed as he
spoke
"Tho life Of knowledge condemned by
tho ign0rant; shrinking and hiding away
by day, wandering solitary, starving and
haunted by night, because l would en-
tighten the world. But they over pursue
me. Hark, did you not hear stepY'
He started, half rose and listened, one
hand tightly grasping the glittering knife,
tho hungry, haunted eyes fixed on the
calm, fair woman before him.
at is no one. l shall not be interrupted
for some time" she returned us composed
ly as ever. Recovering himself, his face
assumed look of cunning that had been n
stranger to it hitherto.
Often and often had her Incompatible
acting and presence of mind favorably de-
cided the fate of play trembling in the
balance of tho first nights decision. Her
very life was at stake now; she would
make one effort to save it. A glorious idea
thrilled her bcwildcrcd brain and steadied
her shaking nerves. Her art, the goddess
she had served and wOrshipUd, should not
desert her now. With an inward prayer
to that higher power which each one of us
acknowledges in moments of extreme peril,
she thought of l.er role in the new drama.
1t might answer her very need.
She turned with the bCwitChing smile
that was known half over Europe and
said: Monsieur, one moment, if you
please. have to rChcarsc II new part for he
first time tomorrow, and as it will natu-
rally be too late to do so after my operation
with your permission will ego through it
once again before we begin. Please take
my chair near the fire. 1t may perhaps in
tcrcst you to hear me-" With her whito
jcwclcd hand she shook up the cushions
and gracefully waved him toward it.
She stood before him, this beautiful re-
nOwned woman, in her trailing, cleaning
drarcries and her mutrhlrss grace, as She
I,,1 Il 1,r IN, La, Il r
her success, and began to net for IL higher
WACO than she had ever received yCt-hcr
own life
Still She was gaining time. At any mo-
meat now .Hn guests might pass her door
on their WAY to their rooms to dress for the
evening.
How 0pprcssivcly the cXotics scented the
air! Surely tho atmosphere was becoming
thicker. How difficult it was to breathe!
The lights were burning DINNER now
nay, the lights in Jhc room were IL pair Of
dark, glittcring CvCs-unC pair. Ten thou
sand that were burning into her brain.
But beware! His hand is seeking the pol
ishcd steel blade! SHE must not let her in
tcrcst flag in her Part. She secs the only
thing that is left nGr to lOvc-her boy
and hears him ask for his mother. She
secs the child in the play, and stands be-
fore her mcrClCss husband. who now looks
SO like her silent guest. She bcgS, she inn
plorcs with the passionate tears and
prayers the part demands, hut her voice
grows louder and louder 1t rings through
the room and echoes in the corridor, and
yet the man never moves. He secs what
she sees he feels as she feels. There is u
desperate Cry for her own lifc-onc long,
rcvcrberating cry for her child's. Thcn-
hai "a step! Two, three, dozens of hur
rying feet rushing along the corridor and
bursting into the room. With starting
eyeballs and ashcn lips she points to her
tormcntOr and yclls: "Scizo him! He is
madl'
Not tomOrrow nor for many tOmOrrows
did Mime. Matilda rehearse the play in
which she subsequently rose to the height
Of her genius, for IL critical attack of brain
fever and weary convacsccncc followed
the visit Of her lunatic guest, who on the
night Of that cventful day was safely re-
lodged in II maison dc sante under the
superintendent of tho doctor whose name
he had borrowed. B. f.. Stone in New
York Advertiser.