The leader., 1897-03-10
THE Wears DAUGHTER.

Cyril IIardinge entered his West End
chambers about one n. m. ina very self
satisfied frame of mind. Previous to
that evening fortune had treated him
in none too generous fashion, but now
the tickle goddess, seemingly repentant,
had made amends by placing fame and
fortune well within his grasp. His
,hree-act up-to-date society play had
been received by a London audience
in a style never anticipated by the au
thor, and when, in response to the re-
peated calls of the, enthusiastic theater-
goers, he stepped before the curtain and
bowed his acknowledgements, he felt
that the hour of triumph had arrived.
All rccollections of his previous fail
ures faded from his memory, and his
life seemed to date only from that mo-
ment. Being possessed OF a moderate
income, he had never felt the, pinch of
being hard up, and had met his numcr-
Gus reverses with commendable forti-
tude. But now all the, world was at
his feet; his name was made, his flu
lure productions would be eager
" sought after, and, consequently, the
glow of pride which suffused his whole
frame was pardonable. After the play,
he had received the congratulations of
u number of men whose names were
foremost in the literary world; men
not actuated by any feelings of petty
jealousy, but men who resolutely en-
couraged any promising aspirant to i'm
mortal fame.
On entering his room he turned up
the lights, and not feeling any inclina-
tion to retire, he casually took down
large tobacco jar from the mantel.
piece and proceeded to load an old
brier. Throwing himself into an easy
chair, he lit. his pipe, and, with extend
ed limbs, pulled clouds of pale blue
smoke toward the ceiling. He was a
young fellow of about 80, and not af-
fectng the mannerism of others of
his cult, wore dark beard trimmed in
the style immortalzed by the genius
of Van Dyke, fact which made him
look considerably older than he really
was.
y mass of thick black hair accentu-
ated the pallor of his clearly-cut face
a face cold, reserved and dignified, and
one which revealed to the close OBJ
server much of it's possessor's life story.
1t showed that it's owner had seen times
of trouble, times when the very heart
seemed to be knocked out of the man
times when his only companion was
gloomy despair; but the shape of the
mouth revealed the. man who by sheer
force of character had risen superior
TO the trials, which fate had imposed
upon him.
AS he sat there, consoled by the
soothing charms of the goddess Nico-
tina, his thoughts were of decidedly
pleasant nature. He had achieved sue
ccss-achieved it when young.
And yet, look of intense and pas
sionate longing occasionally crept
across his face. Did past memories
trouble him, or did he vainly endeavor
TO look into the dim future? He sat
and smoked for some time, and then his
eye rested on. the table by his side,
on which lay an envelope addressed to
him. He took it up in listless fashion
and lazily scrutinized it. He saw that
it had been written by female hand,
and had not been through the post, and
he therefore concluded that it had been
left by caller. lie broke it open. and
read the following epistle:
Dear sir:-Piease pardon the liberty I
take in writing to you. ! have just wit
messed the great success of your play. You
much sought after. VIII you grant me the
privilege of interviewing you? / am en-
deavoring to set my foot upon the frs.
rung of the literary ladder, but SO far have
not met With success. am not connected
with any paper. but feel confident that the
report of an interview with you would
be accepted ] shall call tomorrow In or
der to learn your decision. Yours very
truly,
ANNIE RALEIGH"
Hardinge read the communication
with much interest, but never looked
at the signature. He put the letter on
one side, pressed down the tobacco in
his pipe and between whiffs NUT
tered:
Poor girl, no success-well, surely
in the hour OF my triumph can do
some one good turn-call tomorrow
.-umph, reserving, too-well, WE'LL
hate to be bored-and by woman,
too-however. think I'll see her-I
wonder who she ISL" and he took up the
letter again.
Annie Raleighl" he cried. "Good
heavens! surely tits not-no, it can
not be-she is married long ago, and
segetating somewhere in the country
long ere this; but what curious CO.
mcidence.''
The name seemed to have wrought a
Hood of "reminiscences, and with dreamy
eyes he conjured up scene Of many
years back when he was the happy
lover of young girl of rs. His mind
rambled for some time among those
Gays of long ago, and at length he rose
aud opened cabinet standing on his
dressing table. He rooted out bundle
o. old letters, and from among them
look out slightly-faded photograph.
- was photo Of . young lady. attired
N pure white dress. II was dainty
ht'le figure. slim and neat, with pair
:, laughing eyes, surmounted by mass
oi beautiful hair.
lie held it in his hand for some time
and gazed on 1t as though spcIIbound.
=. length his lips parted, and in voice
" agony he groaned;
On, Annie, Annie, why were you not
aueY Oh. heaven, how loved you
owed you with love which was my
'efy existence. l thought-fool that ]
"as-yon loved mo. too; but no. no. no,
,ou aid not, ! was simply toy--a toy
- DC played vith--and when tired OF
Mfown ruthlessly ABIDE. Al. well, !
nss loalsh 10 DO sntanglsd BY pretty
"ssi aaa yet-1e--I was not 4 man