Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-07-11


Pierre worked. He arose stealthill
like robber to write without arous
ing suspicion. He felt that il Wa
his last chance TO write something
worth while.
Several days later Pierre and hi
wife went back 10 the city. He was
ioath to leave. but Martha was hap
lpy in anticipation of new triumphs
Her devoted count had promised Il
open new, and yet more Fashionable
houses to her.
1--WE viii 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. p
Pierre Dubreuil did not answer.
Nowadays he appeared TO be indif-
.erent TO al that went on around him.
One day at the end Of melar-
tholy dinner tete-a-tete with Martha
he said:
by the way, the Gymnase win pre-
sent a play Of mine in a few weeks.
The newspapers made the announce
ment this morning"
WHAT" exclaimed his wife, Curl
ously. "lou have said nothing of it
to me!''
"What was the use? l 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 a play by her husband
pleased her vanity. She liked to i'm
agine herself in a box on the opening
night
She kissed her husband on both
cheeks.
are you content?" he asked, anx,
lousy.
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 a comedy, but a drama Of
great depth and emotional strength
representing a drama Of the strong
est human emotions. The blase pub
lie was delighted, 1t was a triumph
with few presidents in the enthusi-
asms il aroused It was masters
work that people said would place
the author among the rank of the
worlds foremost dramatists.
hoV4ha II 1-ua.gI f-
mauve, was in a box with a crowd |
of friends, among who was the per-
sisteut count. From the first words |
of the play she was surprised TIE |
story acted on the stage was familiar |
TO her. 1t seemed as If she had had |
the same experiences in the days Of /
her courtship. She clapped her little
hands in applause, proud TO listen TO
the clever words and charmed TO see /
the dead days revived. She sought to
glance in the eyes Of her husband hid
den behind a curtain Of the box.
In the second act the action grew 1
quicker. \ crisis came between the
man and wife. The words they spoke
were those that had passed between
Martha and Pierre. Evidently he had /
put his own experience into the play
II was interesting but what would
come next? Martha had been SO in
different TO Pierre that she could not
guess.
The third act was admirable. In I
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
womaif was studied with a psychoio.
CIV delicate and mocking 1t was a
Martha listened with beating heart.
Each phrase spoken by the ccmedi-
ans was for her like the stab Of
dagger. Was it possible that she had /
made Pierre suffer ike that? For BY
this time she knew that her true his
tory was being told on the stage
Bravo shouted the count, who did
not understand the real meaning Of
the play. "My friend. your husband,
is a clever fellow, and we will make
Of him."
But Martha did net answer She
stifed her emotion.
Take my arm" said the count. at
the end.
"Not to-day" she answered. 81
shall be proud to 60 on the arm Of my
husband"
Pierre followed her with difficulty,
making a passage through the admir-.
ing crowd. When in the street his
friends crowded to congratulate them.
They wished to give them a supper.
When the supper had ended and they
reached home in that house where
Pierre had experienced so much hap
piuess and grief, Martha fer on her
knees before him and broke into tears,
Shirtaen Not a Hoodoo.
"Weih Miss Bingham isn't super,
~4.E4t..-