The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-07-30
straight in the eyes. In her heart the
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straight in the eyes. In her heart the
name of Carl rang insistently.
This man beside her, mentally &C.
complishcd, good to look upon, and
with the dignity of high thought, was
asking her to be his wife; and yet with
the perverseness Of fate, she knew that
all the joy of living had gone with her
farewell to the other man. She com.
pared the two as she sat there in The
theatre. Carl Saunders, the idler, IN.
disciplined and spoiled. Extravagant
by his aver ready sympathy, he
swung through life easily, needless of
deeper problems of living. When
difficulties confronted HIM he was
frankly andhelplessly puzzled. 1t was
this boyish incompetency which APP
peaied to the maternal instinct of wo-
men. Halle Doyle realized his limita-
tione end loved him for them, at the
same time growing over them.
The curtain had swung back on the
battlefield scene. a soft haze hung
over the stage.
Yes, it is smoke, / was right" her
companion was saying. "By iove,
that is peculiarl"
There was al uneasy stir through
the house. Mademoiselle Secard paus-
ed and looked about her uncertainty.
What is the NATTER" asked Halle,
alarmed. lis there a tire?"
AS she spoke the curtain was sudden
ly rung down, and an immaculate man
in evening dress was addressing the
audience assuringly. There was a
slight contlagration back of the stage.
The speaker was scarcely heard. Wo.
men screamed and some tainted.
There was a rush for the exits. The
smoke began pouring from the heavy
drop curtain. Halle and Rheicard were
standing on their chairs.
cit Is nothing Serious" he said,
raising his voice to be heard above the
din. "Don't be alarmed. We will
wait until these cattle regain their
Senses"
Halle was coughing with the smoke,
but she was unperturbed by it.
Halle, L must go behind the
scenes. An interview with Secard at
such a time would be invaluable. You
will not be afraid2 Just stand quietly
where you are" All this he was com
PEELED to shout, for the confusion had
increased.
For a moment the girl looked after
her escort bewildered. She could
scarcely realize that he meant to leave
her alone at such a time. The aloof.
ness of the mans mentality appalled,
her. Then some one from behind hcr
jostled against her char, and she fell
forward, catching the back of the seat
in front. She crouched there between
, The chairs to keep from being trampled
on, and lay very quietly while the
: place became black with smoke.
Presently the noise subsidized some
what. Her head felt dizzy. She
y straighten ned up with difficulty and
. peered through the smoke.
, The place was quite deserted. Pres
y emily she saw two men talking excited
. ly midway up the aisle. Halle stag
y gered toward them. Simultaneous,
! they saw her, and both uttered he
= name and sprang toward her. One o
them was Carl, She saw him only an
reached out her hand TO him, calm.
his name as she had done that day a
the car. For a moment they chung I,
each other like children; and igronin.
the other man, ihe danger of their sit
, uation-everything, their lips met
which sealed the sudden reconciliation
The fireman was calling to them rough
@ ly. The other a had disappeared
u AS they stepped into a carriage som,
distance from the line of engines sur
rounding the theatre, Halle broke tn
silence for the first time.
He was Rheicard; you were talk
with Ernest Rheicard."
q found HIM searching for you as
q was doing" said Carl. In heaven
u name how came him to leave your"
u How came you to know L was il
the theatre?" .
81 had been watching you from tn
back of our box all the evening. Halle
a you were going to marry hal man.
saw 1T in his face and in yours. TeI
. me, were yon-could you be guilty o
u that?"
She did not answer. Carl put hi
head out of the window and CAV
= some directions to the driver.
/, Where are we golng2" she aske,
l helplessly. He drew her toward hin
tenderly. "To a priest, Halle. L al
ways meant it so, only l didn't quit
u know it. You see 1 was so satisfies
u just to have you with me in the oil
u days that did not think it possibl
u that L could lose you. Are you salts
u fled to go, dear2"
Z He reached out and turned her fac
. to the light, dropping his hands limpl,
= as he did so, with an exclamation hal
OF awe, half alteration; for in tina
moment the woman came to o full re
= alization of the greatness of her love
her face had caught something OF tn
supernal, and the man fell bac'
3 abashed at it.