The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-08-17
S SOME BODY ELSE


I tue EU0Iur-
And yet these two Of the chorus wert
set far aboye the common lot Of mum
ners and onlookers alike.
They were iovers
When the opera demanded that they
nng the chorus Of a drinking song. the
eyes Of tbese two met and drank 70
/ each other the intoxicating wine q e.
l lent love. When their hands met In
some stately minuet OF maEy peasant
dance. the thrill Of shrinking. fearfuily
sweet pleasure cOursed through both
/ their bodies
Every night be waited until she came
from the big dressing rooms. BE
opened the big gloomy door OF the
stage entrance 10 let her pass out and
with a smile and a tender sdieu she
was gone into a world he knew not.
Several times be had tried when Il bad
been fierce weather 20 accompany her
TO her home. 10 lend her aid. protec-
ton. but no. she had always sweetiy
declined these profers. and 80 they
both came nightly out OF the unknown.
danced awhile in the light Of a love
that never spoke and went out again
into the unknown.
But one night be was waiting for her
sooner than usual Eager and trem.
bling. he waited for her coming. The
Others had nearly all gone. There was
a patter OF feet She was coming.
He held out his hands 20 her. She
hardly knew why. but she took them
In her own and looked into his face
wistfully. WELL she said timidly
-Oh. Pan he said. you know what
I mean. I love you That's all. Long
ago I told you with my deeds, and you
understood. But that Is not enough.
Now. Pan. I must know. VIII you Be
ny wifeY' Strange. Is Il not. that a
member Of the chorus. which f. merely
an entity. should wish to marryf Yet
Pain crept slowly into her face ss she
listened to hlm-pain that struggled
with JOY. Yes" she said. then In her
low. sweet voice. Il knew you lovel
ne knew. and-I loved you. too,
dear-yes. love you now. But marry
you-no, Lob. cannot"
She sank upon bis breast. sobbing a
little. Then she tore herself away and
wiped the tears away quickly. "Do
you hearT' she continued. Il cannot"
An awful thought came 20 him as
she spoke. Could Il Be that she was al
ready anOther'si How should be have
knownf Had she not gone always into
the unknown aud forbidden, him 20 fol-
lowi And there came 70 his lips that
Insane cry OF thousands Ike hlm-thou-
sands Of lovers In whom a sudden zeal
ousy creates a frightful moaomAnia OF
suspicion. "Ah, then-there ls-some-
body elseT' Why Is Il that lovers
must always think that because they
are not chosen some one else must
needs bel Il there no such thing as a
! woman who refuses 10 love simply |
/ from dlsinclinafion instead OF from a |
previous exhaustion OF the sentlmenti
In this case the girl nodded her head
and said. "Ies. there Il somebody else"
Then why" he returned hercely.
siung suddenly out OF his passive grief
into quick anger. ''dld you not tell me
30 before with your eyesl Why did
they always say yes II your lips were
TO say nor Cruel you are. How Is Il
possiblei But he-who Is hei An. well.
what does IL matterl You have turned
my day into night. l will go away into
H." lie turned 20 20.
''Stop!" she cried. Come with me. I
will show you somebody else. And II Is
you who are cruel. Did l not say that
loved your Come"
SO for the FIRST time he accompanied
her into what was TO be no more the
unknown.
The house at last. She opened the
door and beckoned him 10 follow her.
In dim. shabby room he saw figure |
lying on the bed a wasted. shrunken |
figure that breathed heavily. This" |
said she, "is my mother She Is dying |
Inch by inch or wasting disease. Ev-
cry moment that is not spent at the |
theater l must devote TO her. Every
! thought OF mine must be Tor her aud
her comfort. See, she has so little left
of life! Would you have me deprive
her OF the care she needsT'
A big lump came Into his throat and
"f'tANN " WA'A " HAtAA AAfIN forever.
lie choked a little with a hoarse sound.
aHd then his voice came. "And is this
the somebody elseg''
She nodded aud turned to the bed.
but the other member OF the chorus
suddenly picked her in his arms aud
covered her face with kisses. "For..
he said. aud his voice might have been
suspected OF having tears In II. you're
an angel ON the stage and on. But why
dkint you tell mo az tlStT
Because" she said. "you wouldn't
let me"
And | am told that certain member
OF the chorus is daily trying To post
rome his marriage by his self sacrihe
Ing tenderness In nursing the some.
body else. He does IL 90 ease Fans
burden. aud he's not thinking OF him,
self very much, TN afraid.
But poor somebody else has alread,
heard the voice OF the Father OF us ali
and fear there will be wedding An
the chorus after an.
Australian Rabbits.