Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1903-08-18

| Viola Markham. He was shocked at
the squalor of the third rate hotel.
He did not attempt to approach the
divinity herself, but learned from the,
clerk the name of her physician. To
him Paul went and stated that some
of Miss Markham's friends had raised
a purse to send her to the country
and had arranged with his sister,
Mrs. Bingham, at Podgers Corners, to
keep her as long as might be neces-
sary. He left a. ticket for Podgers
Corners and sum of money with the
physician and asked him to send the
patient, explaining that the friends
preferred to remain unknown.
Then Paul went home and arranged
it with his sister, explaining that he
had accidentally met a person desir-,
ing to send an invalid to the country
and he had agreed for Mrs. Bingham
to take her for. weekly stipend
of SIS. #.s-
So it happened that Viola Mark,
ham, pale, thin and haggard from
disease and dissipation, came to
Podgers Corners, wondering who the
S'angeP' could be, but exceedingly
glad for "any port in a storm"
Paul met her with a carriage, all in,
Q hutter and, while cognizant of the
great difference between this hollow
eyed, anaemic creature and the lady
of his dreams, attributed it all to her
| illness. Week after week Paul hand
ed his sister the board money for the
| actress, telling her it was sent him
from New York, and week after week
the invalid improved. The roundness
came back to her face and her enact
ated body and the-coler began to play
again in the wan cheeks. She never
had known life like that before-so
quiet, so peaceful, so restful. Paul
reveled in her presence and the
power of his own ideaIity invested
her with all the attributes Of the
lady of his dreams. He taught her
many ways to enjoy the country and
she told him many wonderful stories
of stageland.
One day when she felt nearly we'll
enough to return to her svork she.
pressed him to know from whence
came the funds for her outing. He
evaded her and, being a transparent
simpaeton, and she ultra worldly.
| wise, she guessed the truth and mar
veied greatly. She had had many adj
mirers not at all 10th to pay well for
her smiles, but the motives of this
simple-hearted country lad, who had
asked nothing, presumed nothing,
mystified her. Curious to know, she
charged him with the truth and
sought the reason.
With flaming cheeks he suffered
forth an evasion and, being caught in
| lie, told her in honest, manly fash
ion the story of his heart of hearts.
It was a new story to her and he was
a new type. From the hot-house life
of sordidness she had known to the
rugged honesty and self-sacrifcing
| ideality Of this simple farmer was far
reach When he had finished he added
in manly fashion:
| 81 know I amt fit mate for you,
Miss Markham, but if you would let
me care for you always it would be
my only chance of happiness in the
| world"
She turned very pale and grave.
'tYou do not realize what my life
has been-what the stage life isl she
said. ~.
s'I do not care he said eagerly, eff
you can give it up
She gazed long and thoughtfully
over the peaceful meadows to the
woody hills among which ran the
sparkling creek she knew so well. She
drew in her lungs fiji of the crisp
air laden with the scent of new-mown
hay. She looked into the clear, gray
eyes, SO full of admiration and awe
and then thought of the squalid, i'll
smelling hotels, the stuffy dressing
rooms, the paints and powder and
pads, the glarish lights, the feverish
excitement, the coarse jests, the leer-
ing faces, the feverish pleasures from
cocktails to headaches, and great
desire came over her to stay there,
where it was all SO peaceful, but she
must be honest with this honest man.
'sBut you must know that my life
has not been as these country girls, -
she said.
''I only know that you are good and
beautiful he burst in. eff I did not
believe that should die"
Then she knew that to disabuse his
mind would be to rob him of his own
dreams She pondered for a long
time; then smiling family into his
eager face, said:
eff you want me just as ] am, take
me-"
Then great joy filed Paul's breast
and a great wonder filed his mind.
Later on great excitement filed
Podgers Corners, for Paul Comstock
had sheen and gone and married an
actress woman"
And to Paul she was always tho