Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-03-28
nruad 1Yke dnr old nov =.


Ted Brabazon started. Lottie's good
luck" had never touched point beyond
three pounds week.
"Of course I wrote and tod her all
about it, and she sent me word that she
was playing in London with better
salary than ever expected. But that's
old news to you, isn't it, Ted?"
Brabazon began to understand the
reticence and the poverty that had puz-
zled him so long.
Somehow 1 got to Kimberley" con-
tinued Gordon. Everybody drifts to
Kimberley Then Lottie sent another
budget of good news. What a splendid
production that World of Woe must
have beenl could hardly believe that
nv wife was playing the chief partl
Well, turned my hand to anything that
came along. At last, on lucky day.
Bickerstaff's company struck Kimoer-
lev. One of his men broke down-there
was my chance. He gave me trial.
and I've been with him ever since; he
brought me over. What do you say
Ted?"
HAS your wife been sending you
money from the frst?"
"Yee-ridiculou little doles!" ex-
claimed Gordon. 81 don't want to COM
plain, old boy; it's quite right that she
and the child should be saved from my
hard luck. But, still, to send afellow
o-uinea at a time-once 1t was Is shil-
lings. upon my soul! She was earn
ing so much-she wrote me such
CHEEKY letters-Ted, can't understand
i'll"
Slowly, in his own quiet way, Braba-
ION began to tell Gordon Hyde the
truth. He drew the picture of the lone
" girl, with her child in her arms; he
shattered the lie that her love had
prompted her to tell; there had been
no London engagement, no success, no
stroke of luck. He described the
wretched rooms where she had lived,
and those long, weary walks through
the streets at night to save few pence.
As the story of her loyal silence and
daun tess courage went on Gordon put
up his hand suddenly to shield his eyes
from the light, and his head dropped
forward.
There was a long silence; then Braba-
zon spoke again:
81 must go down; shall I tell herT
"Yes!" Gordon clapped his friends
hand as they looked at each other.
"But leave me here for minute, Ted;
I'll followl"
As Lottie rang through the wings to
take her place behind an enormous
dark fan in the center of the transfor-
nation scene she felt hand catch at
hers, and, looking hastily around, she
saw that it was Ted Brabazon. He
stopped and spoke few words. Lottie
gave cry of joy, and clasped her hands
together over her breast, as Ted sup
ported her for minute on his arm.
Hurry up, you girlsl" said the stage
manager. "Places! Lights! Clear!
Right you are!"
Lottie sprang into position. She for
OOt nPT SURROUNDING diiO oN y NN ~
tie on her narrow platform, waiting,
waiting!
As the transformation scene dis
PLAYED its wonders, the big black fan
began to move. Slowly it slipped down.
ward. inch by inch. A soft, rosy circle
of light fell on the figure of Lottie
HYDE. Her arms were outstretched; all
her pale. yellow hair fell over her shout
ders. Her face had lost its drawn look
of trouble, but her parted lips trembled,
and her eyes were brimming over with
happy tears.
Color and brilliance flooded the stage,
and then, one by one. soft lights faded
into darkness. The music died away.
The curtain slowly fell, and Gordon
HYDE, breaking away from his friend,
rushred into the middle of the stage
and lifted his wife from her narrow
platform, in passion of love and re-
morse.
Ted Brabazon watched them for a
minute. and then. without a word, he
slowly walked away.-Mainly About
People.