The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1896-01-04
cHApTER NNNIU.-lContinu

CHAPTER NNEIu-(Contin
But Valentine Graeme would not hear
If any COMPROMISES He was stage-man-
uger. and was especially bent upon these
1heatricaiS being Il success. Nor had he
ROW al.y fear for the result. Colonel
I'riuScu was one Of the best amateur
actors in India. and particularly good at
the love-usakiug, which was the principal
part Of Ihc small comedietta they had
chosen while Jane. too, had considerable
talent as she had shown 1t Slmla.
The first rehearsal she had with Col
ono PrinScp was decided failure. she
Lad gone through the piec" with Val
Grarmr several times and had been pro-
bounced by him ter-perfcct. Now she
missed her cues. stumbled over the sim
plest sentences. and by her general awk-
varducSs and stupidity sent down the en-
thuSiasm of the Stage-manager to zero.
Nor was the next rehearsal more prom
ieing. Jane spoke her words correctly.
hut infused no spirit INTO the part And
this time Colonel pr,nscp was also I'M
practicabc, repeating his lover-like
speeches with parrot-Iikc precision, but
avoiding carefully any sentimental in
fiction.
Barry Iarron. who was generally pres
cat when they rehcarsed, guessed the rea-
son of The stiffness which was mutually
assumed whenever any tenderness was
required He knew that they loved each
other still. and therefore dared not trust
themselves to pretend what they really
felt. Yet he did not give up hope.
And 50 the evening arrived. The time
had been 50 short that they had no full
dress rehearsal: and the station, being Il
small one. would scarcely furnish an audi
rnce for two performances.
1T will lee only for this once. SO we
can make supreme effort" said Colonel
Prinscp To her as they stood alone in one
81 the wings waiting for the rising of the
curtain.
She was trembling yisibly; but as he
spoke enCouragingly she tried 10 smile.
You must not be nervous" he went
on. after all, it is only acting, and no
one will misunderstood if You throw YOU
self into your part, as | know you could"
The bell rang: and minute later she
was called to 20 on the stage.
I storm of applause broke from tho
audience as She stood before them in her
o!d-fashioned, short-waiStcd frock and
sandal shoes, her white arms almost hid
den by her long mittcnS and her brown
hair gathered on TO the top Of her head
,.,aa.,i ,,6a, CnInoI t,.;o,
I,nvishIv innrIsivc and hntrorinr tba
love he felt in every glance and gesture.
And Jane vas SO daintiIy coquettish, 50
hewitchiug even in her declared heart
lessncss. and again so pathetic in her
despair when he left her; and the curtain
fell as She laid her head on the table and
sObbed aloud.
They were encored yociferouSly. lane
responding to the call led on by Colonel
PrisScD. her cheeks crimson from excite
mpnt. and her ewes still red from the
tears that had really fallen.
Then the band played during the TWEEN
~ minutes interval, which was supposed
10 b" equivalent to thirty years.
Jan" was now sweet old lady. Quak-
"rishly robed in plain gray satin, prema-
tur"ly silver haired. and leaning for sup
port on gold-headed stick. Her voice,
which before had been so joyous, was
subdued into habtual pathos. and man
ncr and appearance both spoke of the
sadness which had pervaded her life.
The years had dealt very differently
with her lover The romantic bow had
grown into Il crotchcty. matter-of-fact.
midde-aged man. Yet her LOYALTY never
faltered. though it was keenest pain to
see how entirely he had forgotten the
events Of the past which by her had been
so treasured.
Jano v.,s octi,., almost I,o,-,,,,s 1,.,u-.,e
Il ,,.,s al =, IN -, ~, ~ 81 !
,,o,nnnt sLa hoI;a,.o1 - ,r';l,h to 10, me
trrn tLat sbo nnd s+a,,I,a-, -. 1'ii'.iy
mot in tho ,ft.rtir,o If +ba;n Ia ii('.'
sL., ln,,I IVA. ,,at,,,.c n :. ~
90 49, ia .l WIS, ne opIlylous
ti,,,, ~ - 'i'' ii''' % uetaiIs OF
T., i ~ -
,,ar,I ~, h,'l go "o.>ISloIo way he de-
80 1!i' i,'u i!5' 81 IoEeu nln' ana as
,;.ie,,i ~ 80 '"t ""upt' IN accent
.I. G u '''i' ,,nu'' T"Ile mo her voice
:. o0l'.''i 'iilSe!' hlilISeIl forgot ttat
II "IS atlIH@' ana ana lh'"inhtaruy glanced
lH'" Il'f Ia''' lh're ne saw the whole
- Jun MII''tn :" FI"ihlF that he was on
I'"ih' - answering very inherently
o''' '''e "'TN; i'e'"Iitc!lhs himself, he
= ~ - I'o'lI MS part out LOT moment
l",Ito.
Inc pr"hplcr came TO their rescue, and
10 most II had appeared only momen-
l"rE IorSciiuIheSS OF their parts; but to
seemed Gear enough. MAJOR Larron bit
i'l y, mp N4'h rage,