The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-10-29
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2o& RS. DELMAR's voice broke
Il wr abruptly in the middle OF a
6 MI 6 sentence, for the play
Z AVN seemed suddenly trans.
HoE formed from jest to earnest
and every word Of it rose and struck
sinely at her heart. The curtain had
risen OIL the second act when couple
passed her. a woman whose flashing
sumptuous beauty attracted the eye IT.
resistibly, in company with the man
whom she had loved and honored lcr
FIVE years. So it was true what thes
said of him, so true that he fiaunteo
his infatuation openly, in fragrant olS-
regard of the worlds opinion. she SAT
very still, trying to st:fle the furious
beating Of her heart, which threatened
ia rise up and choke her. Then Mrs:
Downing leaned toward her and sald
sweetly: "Isn't that Mr.. Delmar! he
is lucky to be able to get OF when ne
likes. Few men can indulge IN matln-
ees. Nv poor Fred never has an hour
Of daylight to himself"
eyes, Ned is rather fortunate an
swered Mrs. Delmar in a CHASTITY voice.
.sHe enjoys the leisure, too"
$50 it seems. Isn't that girl magnln-
cent? You know her, Of course"
At that instant some malevoIent 1ate
prompted Mr.. Delmar to turn ana
g.ance over the audience, which con-
sisted largely Of handsomely gowned
women, with few very young men
scattered here and there, like sombre
moths among flock of gayly winged
BUTTERFLIES. He met his wife's gaze d.
rect with a look of cool surprise, then
bowed gravely and Immediately re.
sumed his conversation with the sifi
beside him, at whose beautiful face
many classes were leveled.
Billy Norman, who had strayed IN
FIVE minutes before the curtain rose on
the second act, took in the situation ~
one comprehensive glance; then lie
changed his seat to the vacant one be-
side Mrs. Delmar.
"Who is the GIRL? Mrs. Downing
asked eagerly.
.Isn't.she magnifcentw Billy sex-
claimed warmly, unconsciously repeat
ing Mrs. Downing's previous remark
which had reused him to action. "She
is as clever as she looks, too, isn't she'
Mrs. Delmar? But for all sthaf sne
couldn't have hit it of as great II II
hadn't been for Ned. He put himself
out a lotto get her the part that started
her upward, all because he happened
to know her father. Just like Deimar'
He always finds time and means TO
boost some other fellow along. That Is
a mighty rare trait nowadays lie
sighed.
"You are model wife to permit that
| sort Of thing. Mrs. Delmar." said Mrs
Downing, with hint Of incredulity
sIt isn't every wife~who would be viii
ing to allow her husband to exploit the
affairs Of such an extraordi dinaraly iove'
| " woman" = 81 s%
ssThat goes to prove how entirely she
! knows her husband" said Billy airHy
s.By the way, Ned brought Miss 81
bridge here to-day for the express pur
/ nose Of introducing her to the English
4 playwright who wants. to find a star
for his new play. Ned happens to have
some sort of a pull with the English
man. When met Miss Eldridge a.
/ your house the other evening. Mrs. Del
mar. he'went on ,jauntily, entirely sat
isfed. according to his lights. in lyins
to save a friend from the venom o'
| sIanderous tongues, '.she told Inc tina
Burke wouldn't have taken her II
hadn't been for Ned. Both she and ne
fiance swear by Delmar."
Mrs. Delmar heard not q word OF tn
nlay after that. Billy filed the con
\yersational pauses with airy remark q
TN required no answer, and wh1c
satishe> Mrs. Dowaing's insistent cur
osity conce~aing the beautiful actres
: in whom Edward Delmar had evince
} such a substantial interest.
81 am going home with you. if
: may" said Billy, as he handed Mr.
!. Delmar into her cab and seated hir
self beside her. "We will drive throue
the park. whefe tharei iere is less aesse, nesss i
tnat we cal cfa.l talk" 49,.
uon't feel equal to talking, Billy
. sne answered miserably. "For no pa
y " ticular reason am dreadfully tired.
q suppose I take too little exercise"
'Then don't say a word. but list
ID to- me, will you? I want to talk abo
Ned. Please don't feel as though y
~ ought to resent my attitude" be add
gently, ''for it isn't the least bit d
loyal to him. I simply want to ne
you BOTH"
"Billy, yeu can't. No one can. Y
= are too young to understand, de
:. boy"
81 Yes, I'm young" he sdmitted chez
fully. .sbut I've managed to pack {
ol awful lot Of living into my twenty-s
o years. Out West liSe is different, yo
# know. Thinss>fappen so thick th;
Sov'qe got tekeep well braced to me-
NCRVer foI0CS, anu Ill toaI way "
ieartp to Keep a stiff front. 1t is liE
siugdhg. When you're in good tril
~ you can knock out a man twice yor
Strength, but if you're in poor shap
you're certain to go down. Both 70
j, and Ned are out Of good running. Yo
lack vitality" ->-~z z.: .
I lack everything that makes lif
worth While" she exclaimed bitterly.
What should like to know is this
Are you willing to do the one thin
that will pull Ned out of the nightmar
state he's in?"
Billy, that very question shows tha
you don't understand in the least"
"Oh," said Billy in a relieved voice
7 IF you feel that way you'll win al
right. know that Ned has let himsel
50 OF inexcusably, but 1 am very SUR
ne is still worth saving at a big cost
have watche.. you both pretty closely
and know just how the case stands
Ned Is unbearahly tired Of the hollow
life hos 1oa1SDo Fo,. 4,,,xb 4.