The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1896-08-29
THE
PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY.
ny OSCAR WILDE.

"vvcll he seemed to think they were be-
yond his means. BY this time the lights
were being put out in the theater. and / had
to go. He wanted me to try some cigars
which he strongly recommended. 1 de-
clined. The next night, of course, l arrived
at the theater again. When he saw me he
made me a low bow, and assured me that I
was n patron Of art. He was II most offcn-
sive brute, though he lad an extraordinary
passion for Shakespeare. He told me once,
with an air Of pride, that his three bank
ruptcics were entirely due to the poet, whom
he insisted on calling THE Bard He
seemed to think it a distinction"
ut was n distinction, my lear Dorian-a
great distinction. But when did you first
speak to Miss Sibyl Vance,
''rhe third night. She had been play
ing Rosalind. Icould not help going round.
/ had thrown her some flowers. and she had
looked at me; ut least | iancied that she had.
The old jew was persistent. IIe seemed
determined to bring, me behind, so l con-
sented. 1t was curious my not wanting to
know her, wasn't it!"
mo; I don't think So"
My dear Harry, why"
II Will tell you some other time. Now i
want to know about the girl"
"Sibyls Oh, she was so shy. and so gen.
tie. There is something of a child abouther.
Her eyes opened wide in exquisite wonder
when 1 told her what | thought of her per-
Torrance, and she seemed quite unconscious
of her power. l think we were both rather
nervous. The old Jew stood g%rinning at the
doorway of tho dusty grcon-room, making
elaborate speeches about us both, while we
Rtp03 loplyipp nj aarl ptbar 1ityo ,hii5pny
Hc would insist on calling me My Lord
SO l had to assure Sibyl that l was not any
thing of the kind. She said, quite simply
to me, You look more like a prince"
ION my word, Dorian, Mss Sibyl knows
how to pay compliments"
"You don't understand her, Harry. She
regarded me merely as Il person in a play.
She knows nothing of life. She lives with
her mother, a faded, tired woman, who
played Lady Capulet in a sort of magenta
dressing-wrapper on the first night, and who
looks as if she had seen better days"
II know that look. 1t always depresses
me.n
"The jew wanted to tell me her history,
but l said it did not interest me-"
"You are quite right. There is always
something infinitely mean about other peo-
pies tragedies
"Sibyi is the only thing I caro- about.
What is 1t to mo where she came froml
From her little head to her little feet, she is
absolutely and entirely divine. 1 go to see
her act every night of my life, and every
night she is more marvellous"
"Tha is tho reason, l suppose, that you
will never dine with me now. l thought
you must have some curious romance on
hand. You have; but it is not quite what !
expected"
MY dear Harry, we either lunch or sup
together every day, and l lave been to the
opera with You several times"
'You always come dreadfully late"
swell l can't help going to see Sibyl play,
oven if it is only for one act. I get hungry
for her presence; and when l think of the
wonderful soul that is hidden away in that
little ivory body, l am filed with ave-"
"You can dine with me tonight, Dorian,
can't youln
He shook his head. s'To-night she is
Imogen," he answered, sand tomorrow
night she will be Juliet"
"Whcn is she Sibyl Vance" a
"Never."
81 congratulate you"
elbow horrid you are! She is all the
great heroines of tho world in enc. She is
more than one individual. You laugh, but
I tell you she has genius. Hove her, and l
must make hor love me. You, who know
all the secrets of life. tell me how to charm
Sibyl Vane to love me! I want to make
Romeo jealous. | want tho dead lovers of
the world to hear our laughter, and grow
sad. want a breath of our passion to stir
their dust into consciousness, to wake their
ashes into pain. My God, how l worship
her!" He was walking up and down the
room as he spoke. Hectic spots of red
burned On his checks. He was terribly ex-
cited.
Lord Henry watched him with q subtle
sense of pleasure. How different he was
now from the shy, frightened boy he had
met in Basil Hallward's studio! His nature
had developed like a flower. had borne
blossoms of scarlet fame. Out of its secret
hiding-place had crept his Soul, and Desire
had come to meet it on tho way.
and what do you propose to doa" said
Lord Henry, at last.
81 want you and Basil to come with me
some night and see her act. have not the
slightest fear Of the result. You won't be
able to refuse to recognize her genius. Then
&c bound 70 him for threc voa,.s two
naars ara o;aht ,nontbsNfrn,n 4ha $500
&C. Vii horo 10 nov him son,a,hiar ~
oo,,reo When all That is satt,oa Iii "
n Wcst, End tleatcr and hrine ho,. nn,
nronerlv She will make tho world no mad
US she has made me-"
uImooss;h,o NJ, doo,. how,
nnt",n @a
YES, she VIII. ehc mas not merely art,
consummate artinstlnct III her, but she has
personality also' ana you nave often told
me that 1t is personalities, not principles,
that move the age"
swell what night shall we goln
Let me see. To-day is Tuesday. Let US
fix tomorrow. She plays Juliet tomorrow"
All right. The Bristol at eight O'clock;
and l will get Basil"
Not eight, Harry, please. Half past six.
we must DO there before tho curtain rises.
you must SOC her in the first act, where
sne meets Romeo"
aaii-past ski What an hour! It will
oe llke having a meat-tea. However, Just
as you WISH. Sinai you see Basil between
'nis ana men! or shall write to hima"
Dear basili l havo not laid eyes on him
LOT q week.. II IS rather hOrrld OF me. as no