The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-02-04

where she is nOw-dOeS she ever think OF me
- does she feel any pangs of regret? Possibly
she thinks me dead, perhaps it would he bet
ter if were So She would not recognize
me now,' and he carelessly stroked his
beard
He put the photo hack in the cabinet and
threw himself into his chair again. But the
gates of memory had been opened, and in
that night he lived again the life of years
ago. He revelled in the self-t0rture, and
whipped with unsparing hand the cruel
sores which time could never heal, and the
deep groans which occasionally burst from
his compressed lips revealed the agony of the
soul within.
When he rose from his chair and went to
bed it was q. m.
"a lady wishes to see You, SIR"
Hardinge was seated at his table with q
pile of .dailies" before him, studying with
immovable face the press notices of his play.
Lifting his eyes for a moment he briefly ex-
claimed, "Ah; what name!"
He took the piece of pasteboard handed to
him, and the color rose to his pale face as he
read the old familiar name.
Every well, tell the lady Tll see her.
Show her up''
Curious" he soliloquized, none Of
these criticisms can raise the slightest emo
ton, but that name ''-and he stopped.
A few moments later the lady entered, and
as he turned to greet her he caught sight o.
her face.
"Good heavens!' he gasped "'tis An
ME ~ and then he became cool again.
| He offered her chair, and seeing that she
was at q loss as to how she should commence
| opened the conversation.
So, Miss Raleigh, you wish to interview
| me?"
81 am afraid cannot adequately express
| my sense of gratitude" she replied, with q
! sweet smile, which caused his heart to bound
/! again; "you are, indeed, too kind"
WE'LL / am afraid you have chosen rather
| poor subject" said Hardinge: you see,
| am hardly yet celebrity, but if / can assist
you in any way l shall only be too pleased.
| Cross sexamine me as you like, for, as you
know, it will be quite novel experience, as
| far as am concerned.
Thank you. But, Mr.. Hardinge, l really
| don't know how to commence. suppose
had better jot down few particulars about
your surroundings, ETC."
| She took out note book and pencil, and,
as she bent forward to write, Hardinge care
| fully scrutinized her. She was still the same
sweet girl he had loved. True, she looked
Older, anu Sfcat zeal more serious, giving
him the impression that her life had not al
| together been cast in pleasant places.
8 wonder how she came to this" he
| thought. g Her husband must either be a
wastrel, or he must be dead, and, in taking
up literature, she has gone back to her maiden
name. Alb, well; suppose l ought to feel
highly delighted to see one who scorned me
brought to this state; but upon my word
don't My heart goes out to her again. How
/ should like to know what has happened
during the last eight or nine years, and, as
providence has placed the opportunity in my
power, will make bold effort to fathom
all before she leaves"
The interviewer looked up, and in rather a
beseeching tone said:
Mr.. Hardinge, have very crude ideas as
to how / should go about this interview.
wish you would give me a few details about
yourself, your work and methods, and then,
| perhaps, l could jot down few particulars
which could weave together afterward.
He smiled sadly, and then gave her the in
| formation required. She made some notes
and then at the conclusion put away he1
book, and, after thanking him again, made {