The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-06-25

| his dying father-dying In q foreign
land, and bidding him make no delay,
| IL he would receive a blessing.
But neither gayety nor pleasure had
enticed him. He had come hither to
meet the woman whom three days ago
he had no. known-who to-day was
the object of his most passionate ado
| ration. Would she permit him TO
sup with her tonight? Could she re-
fuse him when she had promised him
her answer? oh, for some assurance
Of her royal will.
The first and second acts were over
and she made no sign. He could re-
strain his Impotence no longer. Draw
ing slip OF paper from his pocket, he
wrote:
Have you forgotten your promise?
have something of the utmost i'm
portance to communicate to you. May
sup with you alone? T. NJ"
Dispatching it by a page, in a few
moments he received the response:
will you not give me little longer
time? appeal to your generosity"
She smiled ere she opened the note
her messenger returned:
''You should not plead In vain, but
that tonight may be the last for many
weeks l may spend with you. | will
not hold you to your promise, be II IN
welcomed ut oh, in kindness, let me
comet"
What can he mean?" she muir.
INJURED, as she read it. "He almost
"a \, a..
Meredith, little do you know what this
night holds in store for you'll"
/ Come. You will be welcome"
These were the words which he
thought opened the gates of heaven.
They were, in fact. the open sesame"
to purgatory!
AS the curtain descended on the
third act bunch of pure white roses
fell at her feet. These alone, Of oil
which the stage was covered, she
stopped and pressed for one moment
to her lips, as again the azure-tinted
eyes swept their glance of delirium
into the passionate, eager face of tho
donor.
1t was the last scene. In all her fad
ing loneliness Camille came forth to
die. Never had her acting been more
wonderful. So pale, so frail she looked
that those who watched her held their
very breath. They little rocked that
they were looking their last upon the
goddess OF the hour; that in the next
few minutes was to be simulated
piece of acting which was the begin
- IL, IN, ND NH
they should dream was nature.
Never again should she appear upon
the stage. This she had determined.
Some excuse must then be made for
her withdrawal.
AS the impulse lin the play seizes
her to rise, look in the glass, and sea
the change weakness and disease has
made in the once beautiful face, she
staggers to her feet, and, clutching at
the various articles in the room, at
last reaches the mirror.
Long and earnestly she looked into
its depths--so long, so earneAtly. that
| the audience grew conscious some
| thing was wrong-so long, so earnest
| ly, that the prompter repeats her cue
so loudly that those sitting in the
| front row catch the words-so long so
earnestly, that Travis Meredith's eyes,
watching her every movement, grow
| wild with terror; then, as the silence
grows until it presses on each heart,
she totters, and with moan, faint
scream (not in the play), sinks where
| she stands. In a moment the curtain
is rung down, and from mouth to
mouth the whisper flies that never
again will be seen so superb piece OF
acting, since true illness was its in
! spiration. In an instant maid was
| by the senseless form, but almost as
| quickly a man had leaped upon tho
stage.
II was the young surgeon, DR.. Rich
! ard Hayes. lie it was who, lifting her
in his strong arms, bore her to her
dressing 70 om and laid her on couch.
| Then he held the beautiful bare wrist
| for full minute in his professional
touch, while perplexed frown crossed
| his brow.
Was he drunk with her loneliness?
| Another minute be counted the health
| full, regular pulse, which all his expe-
| rience could not reconcile to that long,
! death-likc swoon.
The theater was lang deserted ere
the violet eyes opened bewilderingly;
the rcd lips quivered, low sigh trem.
bled on the air, and Barbara Breton
| awoke once more to consciousness. A
shade OF disappointment crossed her
face, not unnoticed by the man watch
| ing.
He is not herei Can he have lone
with the rest?"
mol Confidence crept back as the
long lasnes YEARLY swept the lily
cheeks, and she heard q low knock
upon the door without.
Reckoning Marie, she whispered one
| word In the maids ear. Ere Marie
answered, a dark look grew in the
eyes Of the man bent on her face, as
something of that whispered colloQuy
| In the hall without reached him, and
| the disengaged hand clinched itself as
he recognized one speakers tone. He
| oo,Jd ccarcaly have keDt hack uut