The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-01-02
Her Last Appearance
Winarove Bnthon

pearanc ;
z~By Winarove Bathon
Fa-.+
shrug of his shoulders. as If 1t were
something he could not help. But he
was tired. He had worked very hard.
He did not think he ought to undertake
the commission with which she wanted
to charge him. What object could he
attain by writing something else? Rep
utation? He had that. Money? He
didn't want it. He could use no more
than he had. But, in the end, he began
to write the play. He said he oun
that people always did the things Miss
Wentworth wanted them to do.
AS in a Kaleidoscope, there flashed
through his mind, as he sat there, pic
ture upon picture of his SO far self
satisfactory career. And If he was
writing her play for her, 1t was not be-
cause she wanted him to do so, as he
had said. b because up to that time
his life had been-what had he called
1t, "unsatisfactory"?-yes, unsatisfac-
tory to himself. And he had at last
come to think tina she was the one who
could make it less SO.
So, after their two months acquaint-
anceship-a period they both used to
prove that his judgment of certain pow
ers was correct, With never a word in
plain language and only their eyes and
their signs to help-he had given her
that night a rose. the rose, the gift. Not
one of his usual homages paid to wom-
en-, but in the manner, of the kind, and
at h time that asks the question that
only a red. red rose, can ask. Did he
dare believe as true the answer he
thought she had given? That was the
decision that Longchamps wanted to
reach.
He went back to Bushnell, who ner-
vously paced the stage.
"Well?" said Longchamps.
THE fact is" Bushnell said, slowly,
II intend to take the lead in the play,
myself"
"Ah!" said Longchamps.
1T will be the first time" Bushnell
continued, as if speaking to himself,
that21 shall ever lave had the oppor-
tunity to hold Miss Wentworth in my
arms. I have looked forward to this for
three yearS!"
"Yes?" said L~ongchamps.
What is the trouble with you two
noW?" Miss Wentworth said, coming up
behind them OIL her way to the stage
for the last scene.
This" Longchamps said to her.
"Mr. Bushnell insists that our actress
heroine shall marry the manage in the
climax Of the new play"
But" he went on, II have now made
up my mind that he shall not! He say
he intends to play the lead with you
himself"
"Mr. BUSHNELL" she said.
"fValerie"@ he commenced again.
And he says" interrupted Long
champs, that he will not produce it
unless the heroine does marry her man
ager!"
That is a difficulty" she said.
Then L~ongchamps took a step nearer
to her.
"You tell me you are tired of the
stage" he said, speaking SO that she
alone could hear. Il have a little place
up here in Louisiana. Will you go up
there with me and let my sister take
a perfect play?"
She met his eager eyes.
TT which characterize you propose,
to give the lead?" Bushnell asked,
breaking in in voice and in person.
T the penniless New Orleans news
paper man." Longchamps blazed out,
whom the heroine asked to write her
new play!"
She was idly kissing the rose II her
hand.
Come into my room," she said, "and
I'll talk 1t over with you"
She placed her hand On his arm and
he started to draw her away.
"The scene! The scene, Miss Went
WORTH" the stage manage cried. II
am holding 1t for you'll" .
Bushnell reused himself.
Ring down the curtain!"' she said.
savagely. Tell them she is sick"
Say something to her!" Clark en-
treated him. Its the last perform
ance, man! 1t spoils the play!"
ooh, yes" Bushnell said, DULY, ut
spoils the play"
He was watching her retreating fig
ure. Smiling, she passed onwar In
sweet, stately silence, the train of her
regal costume, unheeded, sweeping the
dusty stage, and Longchamps stopped
at the door for a ome as she en-
tered the reception room of her dress
ing apartments. You might give to
the audience" he called back over his
shoulder, when you tell them they
can get their money back the real rea-
son of Miss Wentworth's refusal to fin
jsh. because I shall give it to the news
papers later. 1t was her last appear
ance."
His only answer was the sound of the
signal bell and the thud Of the curtain
pole as it struck the stage rather heav-
lily. Outside he could hear Bushnell's
voice beginning:
Ladies and gentlemen"
He did not wait for more, for inside
the threshold before him Miss Went
worth's maid still invitingly held open
the door of the great actress apart
ments, and a little farther on, under the
chandelier, she stood waiting.