Daily inter mountain., 1900-12-28

them to be philosophical. If it had not
been for your little sister she would have
died. Bessie is good g1rl-a true girl.
There are not many SUCH"
She stretched out a helpless hand to-
ward him.
Don't Dave!" she gasped. "You don't
understand. l failed in New York;
went hungry and cold-I came very near
starving. How could 1 sit down and
write to my mother-when had boasted
that was going to lift all her burdens?
l thought l would wait-and if 1 died.
then it wouldn't matter. When did get
an engagement l was only in the chorus
I could hardly live. 1t was only a
little while ago that l made a success
and last week l sent her money-oh, the
dream of my life has been to send her
money! What else am I working for?
Do you think 1 like this? And it's all
money before this. I can make her rich
now. You didn't mean to be cruel, Dave
and it's all right now, isn't it?"
She had laid pleading, timid, trem-
bling little hand on his arm. He felt the
light touch of it through his sleeve and
7 turned away his head.
It'll do her good if she's heard he
said formally. 1T will relieve her anx-
iety. suppose, to know that her daugh-
ter is alive and well. 1t has relieved me.
l felt that nothing less than positive
helplessness could make you silent SO
long-and, then, / did not see why you
could not get some one to write for you.
Country people do not understand these
things until they are explained to them,
you see''
Her hand fell away from his arm. He
took up the bouquet from the table and
saw what was concealed in the deptns
of the roses.
several moments passed before he
spoke again. He was turned from her
and She could not have seen his face if
She had been looking.
You would he surprised to see how
unchanged everything is The said. 'The
same vines you planted are running over
the porch. You know that bench under
the oak at the corner of the house where
we used to sit and sing? Bessie and r
sat there the night before 1 came
away
She took step further away from
him.
Il will see her again when I go back
they did not know l was coming to
find you. 1 never showed them the no.
tices of you 1 had seen in newspapers
and magazines. Well, it will be very
pleasant to go and assure them that you
are well-and happy-and famous-with
great career before you-and prosper
ouS-I must not leave that out
She came up close behind him, and
stood there, With her hands hanging
clasped before her.
Dave she said, With wistful little
smile, as of a tired child, my success
has come at the close of the season, al
| most. l will be free in a few more
weeks. Will you tell mother that I am
| coming home then as fast as the train
can carry me?'
He looked down at her, but did not
speak.
"Will you tell her that I am so tired
SO tired of it all; that 1 want to Just go
home, and be a good woman-and a
happy woman-there at home?"
She will not believe it," he said after
awhile; then he could not command his
voice. She will say you have forgotten
how near | live. and that you went away
in a fit of anger against me because you
said that you had grown up with my
love thrust upon you at every turn, and
you had grown tired of it. While | am
supposed to have no concern in it,
HfuSl REMIND you OF the same thing. You
We're going out into the world to accom-
pllsh fame and fortune, and you have
done 1T. You were going out because
you were tired of me and my love-
swift light shot up from benea tn
the long lashes.
Il was tired of 1t, Dave she whis-
pered; 'but-1-I have had good, long
rest"
Her manager was not to he consoled
and the musical public was Wild over
rhe news for year and a day, after
which, as is well known, all news grows
Old In course of time other singers arose
who lived the life and loved it; and this
one who turned back was left secure in
her happy little sheltered nook at the
old home.