The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1904-02-17
1 THE STROLLERS
8 By FREDERIC S. ISHAM.
q Author of "Under the Rose"
8 sss
copyright. 1902. by THE BowEN.MERRILL COMPANY

seen with her"
mo, but you have" returned the
manager, suddenly pausing and look
gng down at the other.
The silence between them lasted for
some moments. Barnes stood with his
hands in his pockets, his face down
cast and moody. He felt that events
were happening over which he had no
control, but which were shaping the
destiny of all he loved best. In the
dim light the rugged lines of his coun-
tenance were strongly, decisively out
lined. Turning to the trunk with a
quick, nervous step, he filed a pipe
himself. After he had lighted 1t he
once more contemplated the soldier,
thinking deeply. reviewing the past.
1--WE have been together for some
time Mr.. Saint-Prosper," he said at
length. "We have gone through fair
and rough weather and"-he paused
moment before continuing-"should I'M
derstand each other. You asked me
when you came in If you were inter
rupting me, and l told you that You
were not. AS a matter Of fact, you
were"
And, walking to a table, Barnes took
up the notebook.
"a garrulous single man must tell
his little secrets somewhere" he con-
tinued. "Will you look at the pages
was writing when you came imp
Saint-Prosper took the book, and
while he was turning the leaves that
were hardly dry the manager renghted
his pipe, over which he glanced nerv-
ously from time to time at his COM
panion. Finally, when the soldier had
finished the perusal of the diary
Barnes turned to him expectantly, but
the other silently laid down the little
volume, and, after waiting some mo-
ments for him to speak, the manager,
as though disappointed by his reticence,
breathed a sigh. Then, clearing his
throat, in a voice somewhat husky he
went on sulkily:
"You will understand now why she
is so much to me. l have always
wanted to keep her from the world as
much as pOssible; TO have her world,
her art have tried to keep the
shadow Of the past from her. An
actress has a pretty face, and there's
hue and cry. 1t is not notoriety she
seeks, but fame-fame, bright and pure
as sunlight!'
"The land baron will not cry abroad
the cause Of the meeting" said the sol
der gravely. "These fashionable af-
fairs need but fllmsy preteXts."
"Flimsy pretextsv cried Barnes. "A
woman's reputation-her good name
"Hush!" said Saint Prosper.
From the door at the far end Of the
balcony Constance had again emerged
and now approached their room. A
flowing gown of an early period sur
rounded her like cloud as she paused
before Barnes apartment. At the
throat a deep falling collar was closely
fastened the sleeves were gathered in
at elbow and wrist, and from a "cov-
erchief," set upon the dusky hair, fell
long veil Of ample proportions.
With the light shimmering on the
folds of her raiment she stood looking
through the open door, regarding the
manager and Saint-Prosper.
"Oh, you are not alone" she said to
the former. "You look as though you
were talking together very seriously, y
she added, turning to Saint-PrOsper.
Nothing of consequence, Miss Ca
reww he replied, flushing beneath her
clear eyes.
"Only about some scenery" inter
posed the manager so hastily that she
glanced, slightly surprised, from the
one to the other. "Some sets that
are
"'Fllmsy pretextsv 1 caught that
much / only wanted to ask you about
think, for the part we were talking
about" turning around slowly, with
arms half raised.
Charming, my dear; charmingr' he
answered enthusiastically.
"If | only thought that an unbiased
criticism Her dark lashes lowered
she looked toward the soldier half shy
ly, half mockingly. "What do you
think, Mr.. Salnt-Prosper" .
At that moment her girlish grace
was irresistible.
II think 1t is not only appropriate
but'-looking at her and not at the
costume-"beautiful"
a CLEAN like laughter came into her
eyes, nor did she shun his kindline
: gaze.
Thank YOU" she said and courtesied
low.