The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-06

say something appropriate when I give
them a cue VIII be heavily fined All
ready ladies and gentlemen. Kindly
clear the stage and sit on the ratings
of the terrace
The maid, properly instructed by
Tommy, walked around the table and
bewa1led because it was o'clock and
no one had arrived. The footman APP
peared and announced that gentleman
mad called to see Miss De Vancy. Then
Tommy walked in as the maid and foot
man disappeared. Tommy told the lamp
now desperately he loved the beauteous
lmogene and how he would have won
her for his wife had not that hynocrir-
zeal Huntington with his sanctimonious
face appeared. Course him., but Thomas
pulled hard at his cigarette and de-
clared that with the power he had of
reducing ImOgene to beggary he would
yet tame the proud beauty" The
herolnes mother came in and said moth
ing in particular. and then Miss Minott
was given her cue and made her en-
trance dOubtfully. She sat down on the
maid showed Mr.. Boothroyd as Harold
huntington on the stage. Mr. Booth
royd was nervous. He took the chair
offered him and fumbled the scraps of
paper that Tommy had forced into his
hands. Then he read the first one.
Miss De Vancy," began Harold
Huntington, my regiment has been OF
dered back to the Philippines and--
Send me a bolo knife or tame ma
tive" said Miss Minott.
"Sh! sh!"- sternly commanded the
stage manager. Read your lines
Miss Minott obediently turned to her
oh. am so sorry. Mr. Huntington.
1t has been such a delightful summer.
The happiest 1 have ever known III
all my life," read Mr. Boothroyd,
stumbling blindly along in his nervous
ness to the pit that Tommy had digged.
I want to tell you something before L
go, and l hope you will not be angry.
L want to tell you that / love you
Boothroyds voice broke he tried TO read
on, but he could not speak. Miss Minott
sat as still as a statue, looking only
straight ahead at the shiny sea of mist IN
the distance The silence was absolutely
oppressive. BOothroyd with mighty eff
fort, found his voice and Numbered on
1t ism much L can say L should have
spoken before, but oh, my darling, my
queen, loved you so I dared not pat my
tate to the test. But now that I am go
ing away tomorrow to New York, and the
opportunity may not come again, I must
tell you that 1 love YOU Boothroyd' S
voice broke again, but he managed TO go
on. i love you, Julia. Won't you be my
wife? Oh, if you only
floor. He heard a giggling in the hall,
and, looking a round, saw that everybody
except himself and Miss Minott had van
ished. He looked at Miss Minott. sitting
still and pale in the moonlight. He arose
and took his hat.
it was trick until too late. have made
you ridiculous. 1 am sorry. Forgive me
and good night and good by"
Miss Minott leaned forward and spoke
in voice so low he could hardly hear her
Il have dropped my lines" she said. Il
shall have to improvise. I am glad you
have spoken, because-I-love you"
please, please" said Boothroyd, don't
carry. the joke any further 1t can never
be a joke to me. 1t is tragedy
Those lines I spoke last" breathed
Miss Minott were not from Tonrny's
notes. They were-from-ny-heart
When the house party came rushing
back on the terrace the two were stand
ing in the center of the stage, with Mr.
Boothroyd holding Miss Minott's hands
and looking fondly down into her eyes.
That" said the jubilant Tommy, sis
what comes of having the moon for a
linelight- George Brooks, in Chicago
Tribune