The Van Buren press., 1895-12-07


is not to let me be disappointed
"Her exuberant joy almost fright
ened Der husband. The news seemed
10 put fresh life into her, and for the
first time for many weeks she insisted
upon getting up and sitting in the arm
chair to hear all the details about the
comedy.
Her happiness made him reckless.
To satisfy her inquiries he invented
long story about Mr.. Thespis sending
for him and congratulating him ON his
work. and Offering to stage it almost
Immediately.
For a whole month he carried on
this deception. The temptation to see
that beloved face brighten at his inyen-
tions, and to watch the large eyes fill
with joyful tears was too great to with
stand. The comedy. alasi had been re-
jected and returned to him, but he had
embarked on his career of dllnlicity, y,
and II was too late now to draw back.
ITO please her he had concocted
story that the play was to be brought
out in six weeks. He had fixed date
for its appearance. and night after
night he would tell her some fresh de-
tails about the imaginary rehearsals
and the doings of the actors.
"Only ono thing disturbed her happi-
ness. She herself would be unable to
be present on the opening night of the
play. But he was to go, and to wear
the pink rose she had always imagined
pinning In his coat, and she would lie
awake, dreaming of the applause that
would fill the theater when the author
was called ON after the curtain had
dropped.
az shall die happy she said, strok-
ing her husbands hands with her fin
gers. My darling, you don't know
what comfort it is to think that |
shall leave you famous and successful
"At length the night came that he
had fixed as the date of the opening.
All day his wife had been in state of
happy excitement, and, unknown to
him, had sent the landlady out to buy
pink rose for his coat.
awe can't afford to be extravagant,'
she said, kissing the pink rose softly
and laying 1t against her pale cheek.
But l am disappointed you have not
bought dress suit. / didn't want you
to appear before the curtain in your
morning Clothes
However, he paeitied her by saying
1t was the correct thing for an author
to wear morning dress, and when she
pinned the pink rose in his buttonhole
her face was radiantly happy.
"'You will be home by half past
eleven. and then we will have nice sup
per together. Ihave ordered something
you like, and the landlady has prom
ised to prepare 1t. And now you must
60, darling. You will be late for the
theater. and don't wish you to miss
moment of your play
'She kissed him passionately and
bade him go. With heart breaking
with anguish the husband left her, not
TO seat himself in brilliantly lit thea
ter. as she fondly imagined, but to pace
the streets, tortured and racked with
despair, until 1t was time to return TO
his wife.
"At 1850 he entered the house again.
He ran gayly up the stairs, and opened
the door with smile on his face. The
lamp was lit, and for once CHEEKY fire
glowed in the CRATE. A table spread
with a white cloth, and set out with
fruit and wine, was arranged cozily by
the fireside.
sitting up in bed, and wearing a
pretty new dressing jacket, was his
wife. her face lit with excitement and
Joy.
at has gone splendidlyl' he cried,
rushing to the bedside. and kissing her
rapturously. The house cheered and
oheered again, and l was called before
the curtain
"He felt her heart throb violently.
"'My God, l thank Thee he heard her
say in low accents of triumph. How
happy l am. have nothing left to
wish for
And before he could turn or speak,
faint sigh escaped her, and she fell
back in his arms-deadl
THE smile that transfgured her face
at the last moment OF speaking was still
there when the coffin lid was fastened
down. She had died happy, believing
that the world had recognized her hus-
bands genius, and the JOY still fingered
on her countenance as her husband
her cold lips for the last time"
Hartley Bishops voice Quivered as he
ended the story.
''Travers," he said. looking at his
hosts face, now softened with emotion,
condemn that man as you like. l
knew his suffering and his anguish, and
IL he sinned, il was but 10 ease the bur
den Of the one he loved most on earth,
For. Travers, l was that grief-strick-
ened husband and. judge me as you viii,
1 have never repented OF my duplieity."
-Tit-Rits.
MARRIED THEIR JUNIOR.