Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1903-03-07

spending the winter here with fortietA
cousin. Some call her handsome, and I
believe her mother thinks her beautiful;
but II Anna paid as much attention to
her toilet and dressed as elegantly as
Ada Montrose, she would, in my opin.
lon. look far better"
Twas the first compliment he had paid
Anna since our arrival, and 1t brought a
bright flush to her usually marble cheek;
for Herbert Langley possessed a strange
power over my sister. fancied that my
aunt was not quite pleased with Her
berts comparing Miss Montrose to Anna,
but ere she could frame any answer he
asked us IL we would like to attend the
theater that evening. Notwithstanding
my fathers hostility to circuses, I did
not remember having heard him say
much against theaters, and SO I answer
cd, quickly, "Oh. yes, Anna, let's 20.
l want to see what they do"
And so, with my nunt's permission, Il
was settled that we should 60. and at the
usual hour l found myself In the thea
ter, which was densely crowded. for
celebrated actress appeared that night
Tor the last time In Boston. Perfectly
bewildered. I followed Herbert and
Anna to my uncle's box, which command
ed a fine view of the stage. and then,
when l became little accustomed to
the glare of lights and the hum of voices.
| which In some degree reminded me Of
that never.to-bc-forgotten circus of Cous-
in Wits memory, I vcnturcd to look
over the sea of faces, half starting from
my seat as | recognized among the crowd
Dr. Clayton and his wife. the latter mp
bearing to be looking at us through what
l thought resembled the dice-boxcs Of a
backgammon board tied together. but
which l soon learned was an opera glass.
The doctor was palcr and thinner than
when l last saw him. and 1t was with
more than one pang that l watched him
ms. from time to time, he cast a glance
OF pride at the splendid-looking woman
at his side.
from them to n tall, dark and rather ne.
| culiar looking gentleman who entered the
box at our right. Sinking into a seat, he
abandoned himself apparently to his own
thoughts, which could not have been very
pleasant; for his forehead. which was
high and white. seemed at times to be
one mass of wrinkles, while his eyes,
large, black and deep.set In his head,
|
alton. l am not much of physioyi0-
mist. hut there was In the face of the
stranger something which ut once ut.
tracted and riveted my attention. He
was not handsome, like DR.. Clayton, but,
somehow, felt certain that no girl Of
fourteen had ever wept over his tickle.
ness, for he looked the soul Of honor and
integrity. Gradually. too. ms the play
proceeded. the expression which had
at first observed passed away; his dark
eyes lighted up: and when. ut last, a
bright smile broke over his face. I pro.
nounccd him far better looking than the
doctor. who was fast losing ground In
my good opinion.
The play was the "Lpdy Of Lyons"
and though I was familiar with the story,
I seemed now to hear Il for the first
time; 40 fully did enter into the feel.
ings Of the heroine. Pauline. whose dis.
tress I could not believe was feigned. All
was real to me: and I can now scarcely
repress smile ns ] recall to mind how
I must have looked, standing there with
| flushed cheeks, clasped hands, staring
eyes and lips slightly apart, drinking
Ia every word Of the actress. Once Anna
pulled my dress, whispering to me. do
cit down. ROSA; they are all looking at
You. and Mrs. Clayton IL laughing and
pointing you out TO her husband"
didn't care for Dell Thompson. or
the doctor either, and so said, while at
the same time l glanced toward the
| stranger whose eyes were fixed upon me
with an expression I could not fathom.
He was not making fun Of me. was
sure OF that; but as IL there were mag
netic influence In his look, which I could
not resist, / dropped into my seat. and
remained motionlcss until the closing
scene. where. with a piercing shrek,
Pauline rushed into the arms OF her hus.
band. Then there came over mo tho
same sensation which I had experienced
years before In the old school house ut
Sunny Bank. Everything grew dark
around me, and with faint cry fell
| across Annals lap. ! have q dim re-
membrancc Of being led from the heated
room, the close atmosphere Of which had
probably helped to bring on my faint
ness. The cool air outside revived Inc In
q measure, but Il was the mesmcric touch
Of two large. warm hands which fully re-.
stored to me my faculties, and, looking
up, l saw bending over me the gentleman
In whom had been NO much interested.
DR.. Clayton, too, was there. looking wor-
ricd and anxious, but instinctiveiy leav.
Ing me to the care Of the stranger. who
seemed to know exactly what to do.
"You are better now. think" said
he, gazing down upon me with his deep
black eyes. and adding. with the same 20.
culiar smile had before observed: Act
Ing seldom receives 80 genuine compli-
ment as this"
At this moment q loud stamping and
hallOOing came to my ears, and, pulling
Annals shawl. Herbert exclaimed,
"COme; let's 10 In again; they are calling
back the dancing girl. and wouldn't
miss It for anything. Come. Rosa; you
want to see 1t all. and we'll stand right
by the door,"
felt perfectly well. and started to
follow him. when something In the stran.
gers face arrested me. for It seemed to
say, II wouldn't GO" But he did not
speak. and bowling to me very politely.
he walked away, while went after Her.
bert and Anna. reaching them just In
time to witness a part Of Mademoiselle
I.isette's dance, which seemed to me 4
good deal like the performance of the
circus girl, only "a little more So" When
ut last II was over, and we were again
leaving the room. DR., Clayton. as II see-
ing me for the first time, offered me his
hand, and In a low tone expressed to me
his pleasure that | was to be In the city
during the winter. adding, ms he cast n