The Wilmington daily Republican., 1900-03-31
A LITTLE COAEDY
THAT ENDED WELL

ed the boards. The boxes rained fower
and enthusiasm was at its height. Dul
ing temporary lul in the performanc
Robert Winthrop found his way benin
the scenes and secured feeting tete-a
,, tete with the heroine of the hour Th
girl was flushed and radiant, her rar
lovelness heightened by the unwonte
t excitement of the occasion, yet there wa
. moody flash in his eye as lie regarde,
her.
"Ncll, was the promise you made nj
one day a myth or an honest pledge fo
the future? On such night as this
doubt and wonder was dreaming"
Robert Winthrop for an in
slant the laughing blue eyes lightenet
with anger-"do you begrudge me my lit
tie hour of triumph? have earned it
believe me, and what is more teeting thar
fame such as this? Or is it 4 simple at
tack of jealousy?'
"Ncll, l am in earnest. Matters arc
coming to climax at home, and it is on
ly question of time when break loose
from family authority. Though | forfeit
a fortune, l will be my own master, and
for your dear sake what sacrifice would
not make? But first Of all must know
your mind"
"You may know 1t and welcome" and
she turned on him in spirited fashion.
"Once for all do not come to open rup-
ture with your people on my account. l
will enter no home unwelcomed."
"And your promise?" bitterly. "Ah,
Nell, | might have known the end Of it
all-dreams and delusions."
II did not promise to marry you under
the rose, and on no account will l em-
broil you with your family"
'Yet you have led me on from day to
day with fair smiles and fairer promises"
"Rob, Rob"-and she laid her little
hand on his arm an instant-"are you
seeking a quarrel with me tonight, when
/ am SO happy? Wait, wait, and time
! will untangle the coil. Summer is COM
ing. Go on a yachting trip with some
friends and forget it ALL
'Forget!' impetuously. "Nell, you
have never known love il you could sug.
gest such thing"
"NoT and strange smile fitted across
her fowerlike face; then at a burst Of
music from the orchestra she pushed him
from her and ran on to the stage with
laughing goodnight" and moment lat
er he heard the storm of applause that
greeted her entrance.
But his box remained vacant the rest
of the evening.
1t wns the loveliest hour Of the "a, the
meeting of sunset and moonrise. The
lapsing tide still glowed and palpitated
with rose and violet tints, while the
young moon, like drawn scimiter,
cleaned bright above the shimmerng
sea. Mrs. Winthrop sat on the balcony
Of her summer villa and watched the
chain of lights kinding along the dark
ened coast and then turned with sigh to
her girlish companion.
Dear madam, what troubles you?"
"Lucie, l was thinking of Robert, my
son. When will he come back to me
again? Two months he has been sailing
about in his yacht, with never a word or
sign. We parted In anger. but l will not
permit the boy to wreck his life while
any show Of authority is left to me.
Strange child, how l have given my
confidence since first you came to me this
summer, but my heart was full, and you
are sympathetic beyond any one | have
ever known. Lucic, will he ever outlive
this mad infatuation? | know well that
opposition is a perilous element in love
affair, but ! could not countenance mis-
take Of that sort. An actress'-in ac-
cents Of horror. Conceive of it, my
dear. Never has Winthrop so far de-
scended in the social scale"
Have you ever seen the girl?" falter-
ingy.
"Nevcr. do not frequent thcatcrs.
Robert has strange bohemian tastes, and
they have led him into dangerous ways.
No doubt she is siren. as they all are"
"Dear madam, you should not condemn
the poor girl unheard. She probably
plays for livelihood. We cannot all be
born to the purple of idleness."
'Lucie, you mistake. 1t Is not that. |
We're she merely poor as you, my child,
should not feel the same, but an ac-
!ress''-
IAN actress may have heart"
"Lucie," with emphasis, II trust not.
There lies my hope, and I confess it.
with a Winthrop must prove a
emptation to girl Of that class, but
when once she realizes that it means pow
'rty and social ostracism she will throw
lin over without pang. Better few
months of heartbreak for the poor boy
han the mistake of a lifetime"
Silence reigned for few moments;
hen hurrying footsteps came up the
tairs on to the balcony. Mrs Winthrop
prang UP, crying my SOM" Lucie slip
'e1 from the hammock with a startled
ir, and for space oil was confusion.
Roberts moody restlessness of the past
|enr seemed to have slipped from him,
nd his mothers heart beat high with !
ope when he announced his intention Of
taying ut the villa the remainder Of the
eason.
At the earliest opportunity Lucie had
assed into the house, leaving mother
nd son alone. But later on, when Mrs.
had retired for the night, she
topped out for moment in search Of .
Missing shawl, caught the glow Of cigal
q the dusk, hesitated and then yielded
0 the situation.
"Nell, what comedy is this you are
laying here in my house? What does II
Il meanW
Hush, Robert" beseechingly. "You
7ill betray ALL"
II will indeed. Where have you been
idng away all summer? sought fol
ou vainly at the close of the season."
Robert, have been here in your
ONE for the. last two months--youl