The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-08-11
cascly tr,oh and try tho odso Of tho in

cateiy t,lch and try tho cdgo OF tho in
etrument-
But sho wos q bravo women, and sweet
as lifo is to most of Us It is doubly dear
when anosher's depends upon it. Must
that bright, curly headed boy learn that
hs mother had suffered death ut tho hands
of u mailman?
"Yours must have been n most uncer-
tain life sho continued, In the hopo of
divcrting his thoughts while she partially
screened her face from the freight and
furtivcly followed his every expression.
Again the glittering eyes flashed as he
spoke.
"The life of knowledge condemned by
tho ignorant; shrinking and hiding away
by day, wandering solitary, starving and
haunted by night, because ] would en-
lighton tho world. But they ever pursue
me. Hark, did you not hear n step?''
He started, half rose and listened, ono
hand tightly grasping the glitterihg knife,
tho hungry, haunted eyes 1xod on tho
calm, fair woman before him.
ut is no ono. l shall not be interrupted
for some time" sho returned rs composed
ly rs ever. Recovering himself, his face
assumed u look of cunning that had been
stranger to II hitherto
Often and often had her incompatible
acting md presence of mind favorably de-
cidod the fato of n play trembling in the
balance of tho first night decision. Her
very life was at stake now; sho would
make ono effort to save 1t. a glorious idea
thrilled hor bowildercd brain and stcadicd
her shaking nerves. Her art, tho goddess
she had served and worshipcd, should not
desert her now. With nm inward prayer
To that higher power which each one of Us
acknowledges i'll moments of extreme peril,
she thought Of her rolo in tho new drama.
1t might answer her very need.
She turned with tho bcwitching smile
that was known half over Europe and
said: Monsieur, ono moment, if you
please. have to rchearse new part for the
first time tomorrow, and as it will natu-
rally bc too Int to do SO after my operation
with your permission 1 will 20 through it
once again before wo begin. Please take
my chair near the fire 1t may perhaps in
tcrest you to hear me" With her whito
Jcwclcd hand she shook up tho cushions
and gracefully waved him toward it.
She stood before him, this beautiful re-
nowncd woman, in her trailing cleaning
drapcrics and her matchlcss grace, as She
had stood before kings III tho zenith of
her success and began to act for Is higher
wage than she had ever received yct-hcr
own life
Still She was gaining time. At any mo
mont now tho guests might pass her door
on their way to their rooms to dress for the
evening.
How opprcssivcly the exotics scented the
air! Surely the atmosphere was becoming
thicker. How difficult it was to breathe!
Tho lights were burning DINNER now
nay, the lights in tho room were pair of
dark, glittcring cycs-onc 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
forest flag i'll her part. She sees the only
thing that is loft her to lovo-her boy
and hears him ask for his mother She
secs tho child in the play, md stands be-
fore her mcrcilcss husband, who now looks
SO like her silent guest. She bcgs, she i'm
plores 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 sees what
she sees; he feels rs she feels. There is a
desperate cry for her own life-onc long.
rcverbcrating cry for her childs. Thcn-
hark-a step! Two, three dozens of hur-
rying feet rushing along the corridor and
bursting into the room With starting
cycballs and ashcn lips she points to her
tormcntor and yclls: Seize him! He is
madn'
Not tomorrow nor for many tomorrows
did Nine. Matilda rchcarSc the play in
which she subsequently rose to the height
OF her genius, for u critical attack of brain
fever and u weary convalescencc followed
the visit of her lunatic guest. who on the
night of that cventful day YVES safely re-
lodged in n maison dc santo under the
superintendent of the doctor whose naino
he had borrowcd.-B. f. Stone in New
York Advertiser.