Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1901-05-17
az will try to work." he unused.

the painful reality. All night he
worked upon his work of life and
emotion.
up already, Pierre?" exclaimed
Martha when she opened her pretty
eyes in the morning. AT what are
you working, my early bird?"
what difference does it make?"
said he, coldly. you know well that
| am capable of nothing"
So each evening while Martha slept
Pierre worked. He arose stealthily
like a robber to write without arous-
ing suspicion. He felt that it was
his last chance to write something
worth while.
Several days later Pierre and his
wife went back TO the city. He was
loath to leave, but Martha was hap
DIV in anticipation of new triumphs.
Her devoted count had promised to
open new. and yet more Fashionable,
houses to her.
1--WE will push your husband" he
said. in a protecting tone.
"Work, Pierre" added Martha.
"The Endorsement of the count is VAL
liable. Don't throw away the chance
Pierre Dubreuil did not answer
Nowadays he appeared to be indif-
ferent to all that went on around him.
One day at the end Of melan-
choly dinner tete-a-tete with Martha
he said:
by the way the Gymnase will pre-
sent a play of mine in few weeks.
The newspapers made the announce
ment this morning.
What" exclaimed his wife, curl
ously. "lou have said nothing of it
to mel"
"What was the use? have always
had such bad luck with my work that
| have not mentioned this one even to
you"
Martha was satisfied and the
thought of play by her husband
pleased her vanity. She liked to i'm
agine herself in box on the opening
night
She kissed her husband on both
cheeks.
"Are you content?" he asked, anx-
iously.
"Yes indeed, my husband she
answered.
When the time approached for the
representation Martha was happy.
For the newspapers contained many
advance notices and most of them
spoke of the play as excellent.
The play presented at the Gymnase
was not comedy, but drama OF
great depth and emotional strength
representing drama of the strong.
est human emotions. The blase pub
lie was delighted. 1t was a triumph
with few presidents in the enthusi
asms it aroused. 1t was masters
work that people said would place
the author among the rank OF the
worlds foremost dramatists.
Martha, charmingly dressed in
mauve, was in box with crowd
of friends. among who was the per
sistent count. From the first words
: of the play she was surprised. Tic
story acted on the stage was familiar
to her. 1t seemed as if she had hat
the same experiences in the days OF
her courtship. She clapped her little
hands in applause, proud to listen tC
the clever words and charmed to SCI
the dead days revived. She sought tC
glance in the eyes of her husband hid
den behind a curtain of the box.
In the second act the action grew
quicker. A crisis came between the
man and wife. The words they spoke
were those that had passed between
Martha and Pierre. Evidently he hat
: put his own experience into the play
1t was interesting, but what would
come next? Martha had been so in
different to Pierre that she could MOI
guess.
The third act was admirable. II
the drama the suffering of her hus
band was analysed with a masters
hand cruel in his resignation, tor
ture and tenderness. The role of the
woman was studied with a psycholo
gy delicate and mocking. 1t was {
masterpiece.
E Martha listened with beating heart
Each phrase spoken by the comedi
ans was for her like the stab of {
: dagger. Was it possible that she hat
made Pierre suffer like that? For by
this time she knew that her true his
tory was being told on the stage.
Bravo" shouted the count, who die
not understand the real meaning o
the play. my friend, your husband
is clever fellow, and we will make
something Of him"
But Martha did not answer. Shc
stifled her emotion.
"Take my arm" said the count, a
the end.
"Not to-day" she answered. "
shall be proud to go on the arm Of my
, husband"
Pierre followed her with difficulty
making a passage through the admir-
ing crowd. When in the street hi
friends crowded to congratulate them
They wished to give them supper