Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-03-22


with himself for not having called upon
her again, as she had asked him to do
The first act was all that could have
been hoped for. The passion of the theme
the heavy, scented air, the music, all COM
bined to move the man as he had rarely
been moved before. The woman beside
him chatted cheerfully away, telling him
who was this one, who that-it was the
box to the left, in which sat the beautiful
dark haired woman with the diamond
coronet, and who looked so sad. She
thought the occupants of the Goelet box
must be strangers, as she had not seen
them before, and wondered why the Van
derbilt box was empty.
"You know, l rarely miss an opera
night, she prattled on. There is moth
ing like opera I'll admit that the orches.
ira at the grand opera in Paris is better
but nothing else. 1t wouldn't be if we
had ours the same all the time, as they
do"
Then she gave Jack her glass with
which to look about the house and the
next moment said:
''Do look to the right There's young
Mr.. Shirley. He is so talented. OF course
you have read Freckles, his great charac-
ter sketch, and then those dainty love
stories. 1 do so admire him. He sent me
his autograph last week and told me such
beautiful things about himself do wish
he would come down"
Warburton looked at his little cousin
comically and thought how alike women
were. Then he caught sight of Mr.. Shirley
in Banker Blew's box. He was really
radiant, his hair parted exactly in the
middle, his high standup collar, his square,
flushed face and seraphic smile, all max
Ing him the most conspicuous man in the
opera house.
The second act fulfilled the promise of
the first The DE Reszkes had never sung
better, Melba's voice was like bird S and
De Lussan's acting exquisite. Flowers
raincd upon the stage. 1t was truly the
success of the season.
why, Warburton, how do you do and
you, Miss GraftonY Delighted to see you,
I'm sure. Just came down to take War
burtons place while he goes to Mrs Glenn
entry's box-she sent me to tell him to
come.
Now, do go, Jack, " said the little lady,
seeing him hesitate, and herself all in a
hutter of delight at the very presence of
the radiant Mr.. Shirley, land mind you
don't come back until the orchestra be
gins.
Mr.. Shirley smiled complacently The
homage pleased him, although he was
used to it. He sat down in Warburton s
place.
DO you know, you are very queer
man, Mr.. Warburton, said Mrs. Glenn
entry three or four evenings after the per.
- n
you abandoned me SO cavalierly. But for
the accident of your being at the opera l
don't suppose l should ever have seen you
again"
Yes, said Warburton slowly. ut was
my intention not to see you again"
THAT was unkind," said the lady.
MY other friends don't treat me as badly
as that But tell me why"
Warburton thought awhile, and then,
looking his questioner full in the face,
said:
MY conduct was based on purely self
ish motives. You affect me strangely.
| When l am with you, am, as it were,
under n spell. 1 have the feeling such as
| / imagine to be of mesmerist's subject.
| AlltT lbuNlllR NOu IL tAlSlS III u lGSStT Nt-
| gree and finally wears off. 1 know that
| if l should see you often it would be at
the expense Of mypeace of mind. l would
amuse you perhaps, but that amusement
eventually might prove disastrous to me.
l have come today to bid you goodby.
have determined to go back to South
America.
Mrs. Clementry did not reply at once.
| She felt regret that he was going away.
She believed that if she told him so-madC
him believe it-that be would not go. A
feeling that she did not exactly under.
stand herself kept her silent. She realized
that it was better for him to go.
Perhaps, she said slowly, "if you fee
this way it is better that you should go
but l am sorry"
Those glorious eyes of hers were turned
upon him softer, deeper, more tender thar
he thought they could be. A feeling OF
helplessness came over him.
"Have you read Mr.. Shirley sketch OF
downtrodden womenP" Mrs. ClementrJ
asked, for the silence had become painful
Warburton pulled himself together.
HYes, - he said 1T is CLEVER
81 think it is delightful" said Mrs
Clementry. II think he has great flu
ture."
THAT 1 doubt" said Warburtor
thoughtfully. "In five Years no will have
been forgotten. He is, l think, of tina
class of writers who call cleverly dress al
incident that they have seen, but the mer
of whose productions are more the Incl
dent than the telling. We see this no
only in the novelist, but also in the play
wright the dramatist. 'Freckles' was TIN
most catchy thing that Shirley has writ
ten. 1t was the story, though not tn,
writing, which carried it, His later pro
auctions have never been as good. He i
liable, however, if he picks up another in
Cident as interesting as that in 'Frockles,
to do as good piece of work. But tn
writer who does not depend largely upCl
his own Imagination can never be great
His good stories set precedent; his medi
OGRE ones, which must be in the majority
put him down. Take Stevenson, VIII
was, think, the greatest sketch writer
and you are impressed by the uniform ex
cellence of his work. OF course there ar
degrees of excellence in Imagination, an
some things please us more than Others
yet it is the writer of Imagination VIII
lives. The average newspaper man tell
story well. He can't evolve anythin
great, because he lacks that touch whic
comes so close to genius and which is til
element of permanent success. Sara
Grand, whose Heavenly Twins is S
muCh talked nbout to-day and 'Inta Xvh