Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1899-03-03

Oh, assure you, no. She was al
ways as white as milk
Then she's organically unsound,
bloodloss, and she hasn't the stuff in
her to last. They say she has Mysteries
like insanity, and her temper's fright
full. know for positive fact she boxed
her coachman's ears in Melbourne"
Really! And she always seemed so
amiable! l cant fancy her even dis
turbcd.''
disappointment, my dear lady. is
like blistering sun on the sweetest
| milk-sure to turn it sour, eh:''
"Sho appeared i'll London last month.
The reports say she made q failure
! there"
Zone hasn't much go playing a los
ing game. 1t will be good thing for
the society woman who talks and thinks
nothing but stage, stage, stage, to re-
member one thing-the vast difference
between playing to the big, cold heart
ed public whose eyes are all strabismus,
and playing to Tom, Dick and Harry,
with whom she has dined, firted or
had o'clock tea. The public is a bull
dog. II it doesn't get what it wants or
expects, it bites.
During her drive home the words she
had heard staid with Anne, but in
sisted on remaining beyond her belief.
Olga pitied, ridiculed, faded-she who
had been SO secure, SO envied! And but
little more than year had gone!
She sat with wide, speculative eyes,
watching the sentinellike lamps flash
past, and tried to picture Olga as she
had been described. Failure had come
and bitterness had followed. Exhaust
ing travel, nervous days and nights and
the pains Of wounded vanity had done
the rest. Prosperity and confidence in
herself had been the qualities forming
a foundation for Olga's winning uncon-
Germ and amiability. With defeat, with
struggle, the real nature had peered
like an ugly face from behind a mask
and left her bitter, turbulent woman,
a logical development of the peevish
child who scratched.
The house was wrapped in slumber
when she reached 1t. But she knew by
the light left burning in the library
that David had not yet returned. For
several days she had only seen him in
the mornings.
| She went to her aunt's room to see il
she slept or needed anything. The light
burned low and made big shadows
among the bed curtains, the air was
sweet with the odor Of lilacs. and cool
wind swept like sigh through the
place.
| Anne tiptoed to the bed and looked at
the small, huddled figure, the hands ly-
ing palms upward on the Counterpart,
the face turned sideways, resting on the
shoulder in the attitude Of watching,
which had become habitual. She brush
ed lock of hair from the wet brow,
placed the big fan which had fallen
within reach of her hand and crept out,
Olga's face haunting her.
A few nights later letter came to
| Anne by the last post. 1t was from Lon
don, and she recognized Olga's hand
writing. 1t was the first she had receiv-
ed since her departure. She carried it
up to her own room, and even after the
door was closed she hesitated with it in
her hand, fearing what was written
within it.
| When she drew it from its cover, she
read these words:
MY DEAR ANNE-You've had very hard
thoughts Of me, know. You never wrote to
| me yourself, and in the brief notes received
from father there was no message from you.
| Howevpr I'm, 0ntuo 10 tn at bIf-
initiation brush all these thoughts from your
mind, for am Inundated, and it is bitter to
| say it, can tell you. I've failed. There's nc
use mincing words or beating around the bush.
I've failed and I'm i'll. very i'll. Nobody seems
to know just what's the matter with me, and
| don't much care. I'm probably dying. end
that doesn't matter either. But just now I've
got longing to 60 home. have heart enough
| for that know mamma is all broken up, but
still keep thinking how pleasant 1t would be
to lie in my COOL green room and have her fuss
| around me as she used to do when had a cold
| in feeling that no matter what I've done dc
belong to mamma and she'd never give me
| the cold shoulder.
But then, as said, hear she's not as she
| was, and perhaps no one else would care tC
see me at home. Do you think David would
take me backi don't expect his forgiveness
| nor that he could the least bit regard me as he
1
let me go back to my home, which Is his now
want to 60 home and rest, and this is all
| care about. Will you ask him, Anne, and write
to me? I'm SO tired Of myself. You never car
know just how utterly sick and weary am
My face in the glass frightens me. it is so lear
and bloOdless. long SO to rest, to fall ASLEEP
in q safe place and not think or care what the
end may be. You won't believe 1t maybe, but
| I'm not bit pretty any more. I've gone of
horribly. At first minded, but don't now
Nothing seems to matter. I've had my cake
and eaten it. 1t disappointed me, and there's
no one to blame but myself. Cable me here q,
Langham's, and II may return Ill 20 home
at once. wish now I'd never gone on thu
STAGE But what's the use Of crying when thu
harms donef Do try and think kindly Of me
and welcome me back OLGA.
Anne read the letter twice, and the
picture her fancy conjured of Olga made
pain rise in her throat. OF course she
would speak to David as soon as he
came in, and Of course Olga would re-
turn. The pity in David's heart would
let him receive back this wasted, disap
pointed woman and she would scarcely
remind him Of the splendid beauty who
had failed him when he needed hel
most. Soon Olga would be home, creep.
ing like the ghost Of herself through the
familiar rooms. Her soft step would be
heard ON the stairs. She might b.
changed in soul and heart, and in hel
weakness and defeat be to David what
he had longed to make her.
As Anne stood with the letter in hel
hand she heard the street door close
softly. Without giving herself time te
think what she should say she went
down to the study. The full gaslight
poured on David as he stood by the Ia.
BILE, his chin lowered. His face wal
more than fatigued. It was pinched, and
she could see q moisture on his fore.
head. He looked up, but did not greet
her or move.
David" she said uncertainty,
"don't be angry. but must speak tc
you Of Olga
He drew in his breath and closed his
eyes.
"Ah, you know then, you know" he
murmured.
1--WE q letter from her." And she held
it out to him. "She's very i'll and wants