The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-06-27


feeling strongly DESTROYS of learning
more about her and the cause of her
singular little outcry.
The woman first addressed her. turn
ing to contemplate her with a look on
her brazen. face that made the man who
watched her long to reply to her in the
girls stead. 1t was malignant and vi
cious, and Richard told me that he
could feel his fist clenching as he saw
It,
"Well2' she said, in a voice full Of
provocat1on. How dyou like it %
There was an instant's pause; then
the poor little victim said:
Who is that-person in mans
clothes?"
How should known" the other an
swered. Look at your programme.
Let's see-oh, Madame Cleo, of course.
the great dancer. Do you know herr"
The girl shook her head
NO" she returned in a low tone,
which Richard could scarcely catch.
The woman smiled with sinister enjoy
ment, which still further angered the
listener, it gave such evidence Of mali
cious intent
Fine, isn't she? Wonderful shape
ana great actress; don't YOU think
so?' Richard could not see the girls
race, he said, though he almost made
do so, but he heard her reply:
mo; thought her dreadful-horribIe
1 had not believed that any woman
could so lower herself"
Here the other girl broke In She an
parently was likewise shocked by tie
freedom and license of the latter-dav
stage, but there had been no personal
rear and foreboding to give emphasis
to her denunciation. Her criticism was
wholly general and ahctroof
1t is awful!' she agreed. ''It is
strange that so ref1ned-looking a. won-
an could bring herself to wear such a
costume. But, Lisa, 1t Is fascinating.
don't you think SO? And, after all. her
dancing is wonderful, and, from an ar
t1st1c point, very beautiful. She re-
minds me Of someone, 1 can't think
who"
She knit her pretty brows, and her
friend came to her assistance in a
tone that was almost a whisper.
She is like my mother" she said:
you saw her once, don't you remem-
ber?'
ooh, yes! I believe it is shelf one
| could imagine your mother, your love
| ~, dlgnlf1ed mother, in such a position -
She laughed, but the other remained
grave and Thoughtful, and then Richard
forgot them in remembering me- He
spent the rest of the entr'acte in the
foyer, despatching his message to nv
dressing room, and awaiting an answer.
He returned to his place just as the
curtain was rising upon the next act,
ana discovered that a seat which had
hitherto been unoccupied beside the
two girls, was now filled. Imagine his
surprise upon discovering that the new
conner, who was plainly a member of
the party he had been watching with
so much interest, was no less a person
than his former servant and my faith
er, the man who styled himself Leon
Picot.
He had scant time for reflection upon
this strange coincidence, for scarcely
had the curtain risen upon me- posed
effectively in my crimson robes beneath
a strong limelight which threw me
into strong relief against a dark back
ground, than his attention was again
drawn from the stage to rest upon the
girl before him. Now there was no
further attempt made to conceal her
agitation. The instant her eyes fell
upon me she turned upon the woman
beside her, whose bold eyes made no
further pretence Of evading her chal-
lenge, and a panied cry burst from her
trembling lips, which must have been
noted by the rest of her near neigh
bors but for the noisy applause which
was being bestowed upon me-
1T is my mother!'' she cried. at Is.
it ISL -0'
Nita Conquest smiled relentlessIv
back at her and nodded.
well, and what them" she asked
cruelty. Are you not proud of her?
See how they admire her. Hear what
applause she gains Is she not beauti-
full, captivating, entrancing?"
Poor little Lisa shuddered Richard
declared he could have strangIed her
tormentor with his own fingers for the
misery she had brought upon so tender
creature. Nita Conquest leant across
ner, and across her own daughter, un-
til she could gain my miserable fathers
ear
Our kindly Intentions have miscar
rleo, she said, still with that vicious
leeI. MISS Mavls does not enjoy her
motners acting as we had expected she
would" SIC
Then the silence which fell unon tho
I,ouse, as my singing began, permitted
no further opportunity for batting their
innocent prey, and stiffness settled
upon the group, until, of a sudden irs+
DIS was finishing my most celebrated
uance, nasty and ungovernahIe in,
pulse appeared to seize hold of nv noor
little child. Richard saw her start
aioll1 her seat, as If she had formed a
quick resolve. u
Let me pass! he heard her whisner
lmperlously to the woman.
Slt down, you little fooIr' she whis-
pered back. DO you want to WIS
a scene? Where are you going?'' ''''>e
10 lind my mother. Let me nass
will go!'' INC pass.
MIA conquest paused a moment ho-
IGee complying; Then she nodded sig
hi nGy and imperatively to Picot,
Come, she said 1--WE will all o,o
nerhaps 1t will be as well. after az ;;
They at once passed out, and Ricb or1,
ssu1aenly realizing what had hapnened
tolloWed them up the aisle. It was TO-,
enat perceived the stir in the audi
Go be continue0.