Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-02-28
The Setting of a Star
BY SARA BEAUMONT KENNEDY.

Out. one prayed only the role OF leadlnS
lady to a great star" but her beauty
won her unstinted praise. Among the
flowers sent up to her was an armful of
rOOses bearing Lewis card; but when
she came again before the curtain she
wore on her dress only the pink prim
roses which David had brought from the
widow garden of her far-off home. That
night was tumult of emotions; She had
reached her goal, success was hers but
even as she stood bowling her acknowl
ments to the applauding crowd a curious
loneliness was upon her, dismaying
sense of disappointment. After all, She
had made mistake; this was not the
life for which she longed: it's applause
frightened her, she wanted instead quiet
rest and love. But she told herself it was
too late to turn back.
Out in the audience sat man who
smiled and said to herself: $50 she did
not forget and marry the other fellow
she loved me better than I thought. I
wonder what she said about the roses
The play had a fine run, and many
times during the next month great
punches of those red roses came to Dora.
with now and then a note tucked into
the ribbon. But she neither wore the
rooses nor answered the notes. little
feeling CT contempt came to her that he
could write to her thus and be married.
And besides this feeling she was asa
afraid of herself; the old fascination
might return
At the end of the month. when the
play was to go on the road, many people
came behind the scenes to congratulate
the "star" on his new success. and at
this informal reception Dora found her.
self shaking hands with some of the
fashionable women who had before been
but atoms in the crowded audiences.
Among these was one of most polished
manner and brunette beauty.
II am Mrs. Lorton, and / have often
heard my husband speak of you.'' she
said smiling. And Dora almost forgot
the worldly ways she had been learn
ing all these two years as she gazed
into the brilliant face. So this was the
kind of woman Lewis had loved and
during the next half hour she followed
the splendid figure with her eyes in a
sort of fascination. At last there was a
general movement toward the door; the
company were leaving, and. with sigh
of relief, Dora turned toward her dress
ing room. But she had taken only few
steps when hand fell on her arm, and
she turned to find Mrs. Lorton. The
woman's whole face had changed: the
lips We're treml,lous and the dark eyes
full Of sadness
You are young and very beautiful
she said. almost in a whisper: land
applause is fine and success is intoxi-
eating: but there is something better
and sweeter than these tings, some
thing that satisfies the heart as they
never can't is love. and true love of a
good man. You have envied mech, I
know your story; yours is one of the
scalps my vain husband wears at his
belt. He thinks it was for unrequited
love of him that you took to the stage.
Do not stare at me that way: l am say
ing these things deliberately. 1t have
always been SO full of sympathy for
you since l came to know of you. When
YOU did not wear his roses-I guessed
he sent them though he thinks l did
I not. I know you We're good and true,
and l wanted to save you from further
mistakes. That is why | am here now
Listen; is there not strong, patient
affection waiting at the door of your
heart? Do not keep il on the outside.
Goodbye. and remember that true love
is sweeter than success and finer than
fame"
She was gone: she had learned her
husbands unstable nature; had she
spoken for her own protection or for
Doras? The girl could not say. but in
her dressing room she said sharply to
her maid: Take those roses out of my
sight
From that day she saw things with
a clear gaze. When the season was
over she wrote for David to come His
manner was friendly and kind but his
eyes told their old tale of love.
Il want to settle my debt to you,'
she began nervousiy. I have not saved
as much as l should but l have a COM
promise to propose. I am two hundred
dollars short: would would l be
worth that much, David?"
Dora
Il mean it, she whispered. Twill
you take me as the compromise? | am
tired, | want to quit the stage and so
home with YOU" Then she knew what
it was to see heaven dawn in a mans
eyes.