The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-04-21

He thought that his discovery was her
deception, and the more she was frank
and simple. the more she was her real
self, the less woud he believe in her.
1t was dilemma between intuition and
reason: and, with n man OF the world.
reason. in such cases, is apt to have the
best of it,
1t would have been easy for the piima
donna to have enlightened Inn. and un-
der certain circumstance she might
have been tempted to do 80. But now
it was matter of pride to her. If moth
ing else. to say no word that could lead
him to infer that his sympathy was any
thing to her one way or the other. But
she was ut liberty to resent IN insult.
and she felt that to do so would help her
to pr>scrTe her comp )5u"t.
You probably don't know, SIR" she
said. initiating his phrase. "that to call
even an opera singer the extreme oppo-
site of fresh and innocent is not polite.
| am not so contemplate thing to all
men as seem to be to your
at was brutal thing to say. and |
did not mean it" he replied in IA low
voice. But can't say what wish to
you. There's no middle way" And be
fore she could make up her mind what
this meant he passed by her and walked
heavily away down the corridor.
The prima donna fell into deep and
not altogether painful revery. She seat
ed herself on bench behind the scenes
and followed out her musings with her
chin ON her hand. The rehearsal was
going forward in front, the duets, the
quartets and the choruses, but she was
lost in thought. "There's no middle
way" What was in his mind-in his
heart-when he said that? There had
been something very potent in his eyes,
that she was sure of. What eyes he
had! What n stern, resolute face, with
nothing mean or commonplace i'll 1t! lie
was not like the others, either in aspect
or in manner. His very carelessncss and
roughncss We're more high bred than
their best behavior. Though he might
go among other men, he would always
be apart from them; he was lonely. like
herself, INIT, unlike hers. his was Il vol
untary and noble Loneliness. And he
. despisel her becauSe--beGause some
, other woman was despicablc. That was
unjust, and yet perhaps there was mad
vertent justice in it,. Pe.'haps il he
knew the truth. he would deSpise her no
less. op,other grounds. But again there
was some other feeling beside contempt
at work within him. What could that
bes The girl raised her head slightly.
witha doubtful. musing smile on her
hips.
There was s,eal1hy step behind her
which she did not hear until il was clos.
upon her. Then suddenlya2air of hands
uverepressed over her eyes. sind her he,pi
was Drawn back. For u mnInent she WIS
too much amazed to resist besides. She
Thought it must be--could not but he
some one who had IA right 10 treat her 50
her father. or even her brother Ed; at
stranger wouid dare! Any impoSsibiliiy
waslmore possible than,that. The next
moment she felt Kisses on her cheek ssld
mouth-clumsy, offensive kisses She
was mot screaming woman. but she
gave passionate outcyy of disgust
twisted herself free. and sprang to -ber
feet.
The offender ,stsDd before her. evident.
lylot at all convinced ,of the cnornIty
of his outrage. His visage was wrinkled
intoa waggish iaugh. III which he SEEM
ed Ito expect the Rrima donna to join Ii
had already been made apparent to &er
'that.the man hadlkeen drinking, but the
mist.sf wrath in her eyes kept her Eoi
.an instant from recognizing in him the
newly engaged musical director. Herr
lot faIt hot y a.. 4 4.
u weapon in har hand she could have
killed him ON the spot. Ana he xas
, laughing.
".Ahs my bearTiful man: 'selle.
catch you fair dat timer he exclaimed
jSsially. "Oh. dose beautiful lips. has
often ,lHng to salnte.demr'
IF yen ever come nearrpsze or speak Q,
Ins iigain"-began the prina donna; but
abe checked herself She would nor
c0n5escaad even to threaten such u
wretch. Besides, what power had she
to carry;s threat into execution? Herr
PlOtOwsh had been engaged ut great
expense; he was considered n valuable
acquisition No one could lead an
orchestra more ably than he. If she
complained of him her complaint would
be put off or disregarded; nor could she
bring herself to contide the outrage to a
man like Gen. lingo. He wonld be
sure to laugb, and answer with some
coarse, good humored jest In this new
world she had entered into everybody
seemed to make jest of everything.
There was no one to defend her; she
must submit if she could not defend
herself. But, as her glance fell upon
Herr Plotowski, she told herself she
would rather die than submit TO such
another insult.
Her passionate Indignation must have
made itself perceptible through the
nallous hide of the director. fortified