The Ravalli Republican., 1898-02-16

insist You come here-what did
you fear? What is his nameS"
"Lorrimer! she must have whis-
pered
"Lorrim er-ah!" I shall not for
get soon the way he turned round,
his finger to his lips, as if intensely
struck Why, that's the man
he turned back to her" and you
thought he was-herel Why
He was interrupted by choking
gasp She had seen me-seen my
face pressing close against the glass
and stood with dilated eyes.
There was no time to run, or even
to realize. Tho window was thrown
up, and Hyde had me-yes, by the
throat Into the light he dragged
mo like thief, had his stare, and
then his grip relaxed.
"Ohi" he breathed, with half a
sneer so this is how you under.
study me, is it2 You-what were
you doing there2 Shall send for
the police2'' ..> ....
l neither spoke nor moved l
could not. He stepped back. sup
pose that the turn Of my whole life,
for better or worse, hung in the
balance at that moment, and it was
Maggie who turned the scale. Her
woman's quickness saved me for
this moment. There were two out
stretched arms between him and
that door. Maggiel
'Oh, Mr.. Hyde, if you knew but
the half, you would weep for him! !"
She said that, and he, who had seen
SO many women play part to him,
seemed held to listen in spite Of
himself. "Thinkl he was to have
played the part. It seemed that his
ambition was to be suddenly crown
ed-he believed he could idealize it.
And then all his hopes to be crushed
in q momentl Yes, think! Go back
to your own struggling days; stand
where he stands now. Night and
day he has been tortured by the
thought Of what he might be today
by the foolish hope that he might
be able to take your place for one
night. Oh, no, it was not profess
sional spite It was only human
longing to do himself justice. If
that is not to be, at least you will
let him go as he came, and ! will
answer for the rest. One day-one
day my husband will succeed /
know it-and then he will thank
your
And Hyde, stupefied, looked from
one to the other Of US, hesitated and
closed his eyes as if to shut out the
sight Of ner close, imploring face.
Then, drawing a breath, he turned
to me, without the sneer, but in
credulously.
And SO you think that you could
play Jullan-such Julian, mean,
as would stir that crowd hurrying
west at this moment?'
TRY him'' she put in in thrill
ing whisper. Unconsciously she
had said the cleverest thing she
could have done, if only because it
spurred his curiosity
"Quickl' he said suddenly, glanc-
ing at his watch. II have barely
half an hour For the moment you
shall be Julian, with an audience OF
two. Now, without pause, the
lines at the mine. Enter Sabrof,
cracking his whip: His wife Is
he mad2 Tell him sentiment dies
natural death here in Siberia!'
AS if it had been a challenge-as
if my personality had been trans
formed while the words were on his
ips-1 took him up 1t was the tell
ing speech of the play-the part in
which Hyde obtained his greatest
triumph night by night.
How delivered it l cannot say.
I only know that my whole soul
seemed to go out in the words, and
that when had finished my wife
stood there like a statue, and Hyde's
own lips were parted. There was
queer silence in the room for what
seemed minutes. Then-then look
ed and saw his hand put out.
Mr.. Lorrimer,' he said, II take
back that word. You have not un-
derstudied me-you have created
your own conception"
He stood awhile, his hand to his
forehead. Then he sat down, tore
slip of paper from his notebook
and wrote something off impetu-
ously.
There, !" he said, I'm not going
to ask why you came here-I know.
And Pm doing something for you
that not many men would do in the
circumstances. Take that note to
my dresser and play Julian. It's
quite right, Mr.. Lorrimer, or will
be, I hope. You want your chance.
You shall have it, l am indisposed
for this one night. You-it lies in
your hands to give the public their
moneys worth. Take my brougham
and be off, and I'll telegraph to the
manager. You will find all you re-
quire in my room there, and, one
word If Qva7, Won l1ant vn11,, boo1