The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-01
Miss MaxNeWs Triumph.
BY M. M. COPPER.

gifts TO Gertrude Maxwell, an intoxicating
combination. Markwick was as white as
the flower in his buttonhole: the hand
which held Gertrude's trembsed: he had
not yet raised his eyes above the roses
on her breast.
Lucky beggar.''
He locks pretty seedy.
Success doesn't seem to agree with
him.
'Feeling the strain bit, should
say,
What a lovely woman she Isl
ne applause Numbered in Markwick's
ears like the roaring of the sea. For
years he had dreamt of this night, hun
doomed to stare at those upturned faces
forever?
what cid tell you. my dear fellow7
Your names nade-made. said the ra-
diant manager.
Gertrude and Markwiek had regained
the comparative shelter of the wings, For
the grst tine that night their eyes met.
Gertrude held out her hand.
My best congratulations she said.
1T is a triumph"
For Us bcth,' said Warwick grim!y.
Under The rouge Miss Maxwell's face
had turned a queer gray color. her lips
smiled stiff1y, and the blue eyes which
were responsible for Markwiek's undoing
stared stonily. like the CLASSY orbs OF a
doll.
\ fresh burst of applause rang out.
Courtney Thorpe had stepped before the
curtain and was making one Of. his inirn-:
table little speeches, but the graceful
sentences struck meaninglessly on Mark
wieks cars. "Appreciat on -egratitu1e--i
MIR. Leonard Observation-Disclosures and
with the last words Gertrude Maxwell
tainted away
A note. was brought to Markwick
later in the evening Come and see me
tomorrow afternoon--G. M" said the
faint pencfl-scrawl. The words sang IN
ceasingiy in his brain to the varied ac-
compartment of popping eorks, the buzz
OF CONGRATULATIONS more or less sincere
and Courtney Thorpe's oyerfowfng ge-
nialfty.
When at last Miss Maxwell's door was
opened to him. the scent of 4 thousand
flowers net his nostrils: the hall was
transformed into a yeritable bower. One
great cluster of orchids and lilies stood
out from the rest; the card attached bore
was vaguely aware that the trim maid
east q look of disapproval at his white
face with the black shadows under the
eyes: she had evidentl% detected that he
As a matter of fact, he had preferred to
sit in chair with Gertrude Maxwell s
note in bis hand
After the glare of the streets, the bou-
DOR appeared to be. in seIni-darkness, but
he knew inStinctively that she was MOI
there. On a table stood a huge ulsket
of white roses. the only flowers n the
room. The blood flooded Markwick' 5
face for a moment. and then ebbed. leav-
ing it paler than before. The flowers
were those he had sent himself bat the
words which trem5led on his lips as
Gertrude came in.
q hope you are better?s was all he
said
II am quite well today. thanks
Miss Maxwell seemed i'll at ease. She
pulled a rose from the basket and sat
fingers.
Have you seen the Parag6n?, she
Yes laundering rot! It's the way
that fellow always writes
It's not rot; he's quite right. I'm not
a great actress, and never should be-. I
want to tell you why I made such a hit
last night. I overheard Mr. Thorpe say
something to Gilbert ,Strangeways which
told ME that they both knew. my secret,
and further, that Mr. Thorpe had traded
on his knowledge to procure my services.
l could have struck them both down
where they stood-it was too horrible!
Now, you understand how it was [ acted
as l did. I could have said far more
| than the lines you had written; other
words rushed to my lips-I don't know
how l forced them back. When the
piece was over I felt I could not bear
any more, but | never thought I should
faint =
Il always knew Thorpe. was. a cad. y
said Bfarkwick drSfy, ''but / thought
Strangeways was by way of being
gentleman. I must think how best to
get Eou out of it,
81 knew YOU would help me- It doesn't
| really matter, suppose. and yet it will
be 50 hateful meeting them and feeling
that they know. What fools girls arer'
she laughed mirthlessly. Il thought him
such a paTagon"'
There is one way out of it,'-Mark-.
wick spoke We low and he did not look
in her direction.
Yes, yes?"
IF you bring yourself to marry me,
no one would think it odd if you left the
stage. Many women do. and it need only
be for the present What I said the
never wer ry You with a word of love.
! We would just be friends don't YOU
know, good friends" There was pause.
will your
az VIII" sad Gertie Maxwell
There was chorus of roget and lam
entation when it became known that the
beautiful Miss Gertrude Maxwell was
about to leave the stage. on account OF
her approaching marriage wien Mr..
Leonard Markwick, and one was Loud
er in his ertreaties t. Miss Maxwell to
reconsider her decision than Courtney
you must be madr said the man
ager, who on occasI IN omitted to mince
his wo Is. You have everything ycuta.
is at your feet, you dsi.Jerately give it
up-fos w-hat?'
For something I value more. said
Miss Maxwell Sweetiy. My miad is
quite made up. Mr. Thorpe, so it is no
use wasting your valuable tine in ar
guing with me-" And Courtney Thorpe
recognized that he was defeated.
There's moro II it than meets the
eye " he fumed to Gilbert StranSeways.
StrangeWayS blew a. delicate ing CT
smoke heavfnwardS. ..'Fhere mostly is.
he said cracul NV. Don't excite your.
self. my dear How. It's mad world.
and ALWAYS VIII be while there woman
left inVit.''
HE can't nleke it out and asked me
point blank why was giving I'D my
career " said Gertrude, the next time she
met Markwick
And what did you say?"
81 said ] was gisirg it Up for some
| thing ] val'sed mere
| The rsuscles of TIA kwicl1's face witch
| ed ronGcntar ". 1T was good of YOU
| to rut it like that = Re said.
| Gertrude laughed netvously. Her face
! all at Gree was aflame. Sac stretched
! out her hands to Narkwck, but the blue
! eyes dreoped. MarkwiciS took the hands
| and hell them fast.
What IS it. dear?,' he said.
! Don't YOU know" faltered Miss Max
wei "Oh. why wi you make me say
It? 1t vast was the truth!''-London
| Sketch.