The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1896-12-18
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"M hNt "a puppeh Que arose
aud walked the length Of the room
once or twice, aud came back to lean
Der elbow on the chimney-pieco, tow
ering above him.
'Iye heard itall before, you know"
ho said quietly, good-humoredly.
you're a bit tagged from the excite
ment Of last evening, ] fancy. A fret
night Is terribly trying, and then the
supper hat followed with my Lady
Glandon. and her gay oompany-did
YOU enjoy It, Maxima2 Ibelioye you
did, you vain little thing you liked
the adulation Of all those titled
women, knowing there was not one In
the room that could claim q 1.-THE Of
your beauty Of your genius Ali 1
was proud Of you. You looked
queen, head and shoulders above them,
with their tiaras aud their waving
plumes."
~ hated them, she said, intensely.
81 hated them for their superiority
and for their impertinence in giving
a supper and inviting their fashion
able friends TO meet an actress, a
woman OF the day, for example-one
not of themselves aud therefore a
advertisement went I was hattered
by the noble patronage, you thoughts
what was last night in that room,
where every head was titled one, but
u puppet, to be met of the stage in
order that they might observe at close
range how the trick is done?"
She turned suddenly and looked at
him with outstretched hands and a
face all penitence.
Forgive me; it was childish.
Years ago 1 would have broken my
toy into pieces, and screamed my face
purple. Now I keep it bottled up for
you-you generous martyr"
He held her hands in his, still look
ing at the fire.
''Maxima, do not let these people
turn your head from your life work.
There is nothing in the world like hav-
ing a life work; it ennobles you and
lifts you up; it carries you beyond
and above all such feelings as en-
quilted you last night. Little woman, we
were boy and girl together; we began
at the foot of the ladder and we have
risen in the ranks, hand in hand ;
where your name goes in our profess
sion there mine goes too, as its shad-
ow. We have both succeeded. Don't
you be the one to lot this wave of dis
content wash you overheard into the
ocean of fashionable frivolity that
means death to the worker"
He released her hands and regarded
her steadily. Some of the light went
out of his eyes
'Is it possible, Maxima, that it is O
question with you now, which makes
life worth living?"
II am afraid it is" she answered
softly. She smiled as she remembered
the letter lying face downward on the
writing table.
"Sol" said Heathcote. he leaned
forward in his chair with his hand
some head bent down, and his eyes
still on the fire. "While l have been
steadily working upward, growing
more and more interested in my
career, not realizing oil the while il
was because it was keeping my roai
in life running smoothly along beside
yours, you have been drifting ava,
from me day by day. I have atrug
gled with you for the worlds favor
aud now the world has come between
usl You are fascinated by the luxuri
GUS ease of such women as my Lad,
Glandon and the honorable Sibl,
Craven such men as Cavendish ant
my Lord Twyefort, who never CAV
! their lives a serious thought, have
"Wait a moment, Teddy" Sh
/: raised her hand still standing on tn
hearth rug before him, tall and pale
" in her velvet gown. To-day M
n Lord Twyefort has done me the homo
i. to ask me to marry him.
Heathcote rose to mis- feet; the lit
+, table with its burden Of silver te
|, things glittercd and twinkled betwee