Daily camera., 1901-10-22

last Towering of my life. How CRATE
full l ami Your portrait is always
there" she broke OF. inconsequently,
indicating with her finger q portrait
with glowing dedication.
How have changed" exclaimed
M. Delisls.
"But not to me-" sighed Nine. de
Miramoy.
"CAn you come to tho theater to-
morrow At two?"
"Yes. indeed. Oh, the thought Of
seeing all tAat have loved so much!"
"Good-by, then. until tomorrow"
II am your servant. as always" said
the little old woman. with . low bow.
as she accompanied the manager to
the stair; and she stood there looking
after him for long, long time. But
her emotion made her forget that
the house wa7 still asleep and that It
was not yet eight O'Clock, for she
slammed the door noisily after her,
and, stretching herself on the sofa,
began to hum love-song. Then she
oAH hSu. AhhhA oouv shOAV - osAAA
some good in life"
They were exciting days that pre-
ceded the great night. Under the In
fuence Of her jealous emotion Nine.
de Miramoy seemed TO be no more
than 80. She foated as II In .
dream. and, calling up all the warmth
and youth there was in her heart, she
was not idle a minute. Visits, re-
hearsals, nothing tired her. She had
insisted that large and striking post
ers, bearing her name in flaming let
ters. should be displayed in her street
and In her room; there she recited
her lines over and over again before
the mirror. until she obtained the de-
sired effect, studying her poses and
expressions, scolding, even striking
herself, or approving, smiling amiably
at herself with eyes and lips.
The longed-for evening arrived. The
little old woman seemed like one
awakening from a long sleep as she
entered her brightly lighted dressing
room, with its mirrors all about the
walls. Nine. de Miramoy ran from
one armchair to another, trying them
all.
Suddenly she stopped still IN the
center of the room.
"Why, l have forgotten to eat my
dinner! But then I have my mask OF
port"
Then. hearing the thousand noises
Of the theater, she went out, thread
ed her way through the throng OF
costumed personages who stood
about in groups or wandered alone,
mumbling their parts: passed open
doorways where men and women
chat;ed as they dressed; avoided the
machlnists. who were manipulating a
tangled mass Of pulleys and scenery
in q bewildering confusion Of orders,
calls, cries, laughter and muffied clat-
ter; and, more and more intoxicated,
found her way to the front OF the
immense stage and looked through
the peep-hole at the audience.
Under the lights moved q sea OF
blonde boards and bald pa'es, shining
shirt-fronts and barred shoulders un-
willingly veiled behind waving
cloud Of sof, feathers. Scarcely IA
miliar face among them. and how
changed,-only the nerst vestiges
of the old days.
Nine de Miramoy. feeling a sudden
chill at her heart. hurried back to
her dressing-room. Paksively she let
herself. be dressed and made ready
for her part.
"why is It all so changed. and so
quickly?" she wondered.
But at last she stood arrayed in all
the glory Of her peplum. looking as
young A. in her pnlmieSt days. When
she stood before the glass, she could
scarcely believe her eyes. She stepped
back and then went close up to the
mirror, which seemed to have ae-
CURED magical properties; she smiled,
she showed her teeth, she examined
herself closely. Heavens! Was 1t pos
sihle? was she dreaming? No. She
.hiyers like q wet little bird in a
raw of sunshine. Her heart is beat
ing wildly. She asks to be left alone
for a moment, and once alone, she
casts q swift glance around. hurries
to her poor. everyday gown. searches
hurriedly in the pockets. takes out
little fask. turns to q corner. and
stoops down the better TO conceal her
self-and drinks. 1t IL the port,
which she has not forgotten, and
which will give her strength. She
stands up and waite. She tries her
great scene:
Rome. who has sees your birth"
Alas! her voice Is no longer sure.
Nine. de Airamoy shivsrs and sinks
into . chair to think.
"Mms. de Miramoy." they call.
presently. 'it is your turn to 60 on"
But she does not move. There is
knock. She decides. rises. opens
the door.
"Oh, NJ. Delisle. what . night" she
murmurs a little hnkily, and, tax
ing his arm. she allows herself to be
led forth. Those who watch her as
she passe think from her manner
that she 10 frightened and darss not
confess it. Her knees even seem to
be weak under her as she walks. They
all encourage her. and she is forced
gently on the stage. As she appears,
the entire house bursts into q great
salvo Of applause. Nine. de Airamoy
advances, with one hand on her heart.
Suddenly she stops and casts an un-
certain glance about. Then, smiling
weakly, she starts slowly to advance
again, makes false step. and tum-
bles prone and helpless on the stage.
Translated for the San Francisco
Argonaut from the French of Beppo
de Casimi, by L. 8. Vassault.