The professional world. (Columbia, Mo.) 1901-192?, 1902-08-29
N X


lMzlNnHM ever had seen-back there
II years ago, when she was a girl of is,
with a passion for matineeS and a ten
dency to idealize the heroes of drama.
She remembered the Claude" of that
earlier day, and the havoc he made
matinee afternoons at the old Columbia.
Yet here was a W theater in Ran
dolph street, with a stock company
n the same old music that she had
always remembered. She wondered
what the Claude" of today would be
like. Could she ever forget what that
earlier Claude" had been?
For he had seen her sitting there in
the box day after day, following the for
tunes of the gay romancer He had
made it easy for her to meet him. He
had courted her despite the rich faith
er's prohibition; and after two years
of sorrow as she had never dreamed
possible-such suffering as comes to
few women-she had permitted him to
cast her aside.
He was in the heyday of his fame
then, and he did not need her. She
needed him.. And in the years that fol-
lowed. when her fathers fortune tum-
bled like a house of cards, and she
learned labor and self-support-and
self-respect, by the way-she thought
of those mad. glorious days when Ar
mold Montreville had won her.
1t was curious she should have in
dulgeu herself this afternoon, slipping
into the theater without previous pur-
pose, just for a draught of the old in
toXication-a break in the monotony of
a life long grown prosaic. Yet here she
was. and the hush that precedes the
hero's entrance was upon the house.
IL uyoe k,nA1I Mnn4rari11a
His name was Thomas Barry, and
under that name he had married her.
Yet here he strutted in all the menda-
cious magniicence of a new creation.
He was older. She saw that, after the
first few moments of numb astonish-
ment at what had come of her within.
He was older-and only by flashes the
magnificent Lord of Como.
When her heart had ceased bounding
at this unexpected glimpse of a husband
long lost, at a life well behind her, she
shrunk as far down in the parquet chair
as she could and watched the details of
his passing. He was fat now, and old.
Twelve years had been like half a CEN
tury to him. He struggled visibly to
act the party of a jaunty bridegroom
when he led the splendid Pauline to
her home. He was plainly sick, and
unequal to the demands of the part.
And her heart went out in pity to
him.
She knew the theater, and she knew
the world. And she wondered which of
those women before her would minister
to him.
Lady of Lyons was a tragedy to
Kate Raymond that day. And when the
curtain went down she crept out, her
ewes abrim with tears for sorrow it had
brought her.
At the very door an usher touched
her arm.
BEG pardon-but Mr.. Arnold Mon
treville wishes to see you. Will you
wait for him here?"
He indicated the alcove reserved fol
women, and fitted away-for ushers
were at liberty now.
ITS y~ou-Kate-by Jove, it's you.'
he exclaimed, as he stumbled toward
her. Come out and walk with me
I'm a brute, and I don't deserve it, but
I'm tired. Be good to me-"
All! it was the same old challenge
the same old way to her heart. She
held him at arms length for a moment
Then she surrendered. She tried t.
ask him-sharply-who shared hi'
nome. buI onc COulu hol' ii NHdi II
of the man she had loved was abour
her. And she was steadying her step:
before they had walked a block.
Come into Michigan avenue" HI
said. Its the nearest quiet we cal
get afoot. BY Jove, I'm glad to fine
you"
"You haven't troubled yourself t.
hunt much,' she said, but was sorry be-
fore the words were uttered.
He didn't defend, nor ever reply
When he spoke again it was to repeat
I'm sick. I'm glad l found you"
In front of the Art institute he stag
gered, and she half carried his awful
weight to the stone steps, so he coul,
sit down. He was half unconscious, bu
he reused as the cabman came to hell
him.
Take me to the Lexington" he said
1t would consume a half year of he
savings. She knew that. But she coul,