Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-06-25


which at any other time would have
forbidden his appearance on such
scene-a telegram summoning him to
his dying father-dying In foreign
land. an5 bidding him make no delay,
If he would receive q blessing.
But neither gayety nor pleasure had
enticed BIN. He lad 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 10
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 fist and second acts were over
and she made no sign. He could re-
strain his Impotence no longer. Draw
ing slip OK 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 page, In 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 may spend with you. / will
not hold you to your promise, be 1t IN
welcomed ut oh, in kindness. let me
GOMEZ"
What can he mean?" she muir
INJURED, as she read it. "He almost
took me at my word. All, Travis
Meredith, little do you know what this
night holds in store for you,"
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 the
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
ming of that real part in life, and which
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 Tin the play) seizes
her to rise, look in the glass, and see
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, OF
last reaches the mirror.
Long and earnestly she looked into
its depths-so long, so earnestly, 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 a moan, a faint
scream (not in the play, sinks where
she stands. In a moment the curtain
is rung down, and from mouth to
mouth athe 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.
1t was the young surgeon, DR.. Rich
ard Hayes. He it was who, lifting her
In his strong arms, bore her to her
dressing TO I'm and laid her on a couch.
Then he held the beautiful bare wrist
for a full minute In his professional
touch, while perplexed frown crossed
his brow.
Was he drunk with her loneliness?
Another minute he 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 red 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 here! Can he have lone
with the rest?"
Mol Confidence crept back as the
long lasnes YEARLY swept the lily
cheeks, and she heard low knock
upon the door without.