Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1904-04-06


a lesson in humility not lightly TO be
forgotten. Where now were the magic
Of his art, the exhilaration, the absorp-
ton, that had never failed him before?
The house seemed empty and void. the
friendly audience cold and pulseless,
the play moved with leaden feet; and all
because a girls face was missing from
Its accustomed place.
Then realization came home to him
with sudden force; he knew now that for
many weeks this girl had been his sole
audience. his gentlest critic. warmest
admirer. most innocent devotee.
To her he had looked for inspiration,
response, sympathy, End she had never
failed him. When the thunder Of ap-
plause rang in his ears. and he came
before the curtain again and again to
bow his Acknowledgements. he was ever
conscious of more delicate homage
coming from that box so close to his
hand, like the fragrance from flower.
Only a girl unknown to fame, yet for
! the time she had ruled him, man Of the
ne could not escape her subtle spell, the
silken meshes of the net she had not
the coquetry to throw. 1t was passing
strange; yet the humiliating fact was
revealed to him in the sense OF loss her
absence brought, which could not be rea-
soned away or dispelled by his most
| heroic resolves
When next she came with gay, girl
ish throng. he could have taxed her
warmly for her absence. but his own
buoyancy and spirit returned, and he
had never portrayed his gallant role bet
ter. so they said.
By this time he had become aequaint-
ed with all the habitues of that box;
the youthful, vivacious mother, the
scholarly father, the girl companions,
and an occasional admirer who seeks in
vain to divert her attention from the
stage. Were she an aspirant for his
| trionic honors she could not give the
mimic life passing before her more
absorbed and undivided attention; could
not show more subtle recognition of
| the beautiful art unfolding like flow
| er before her vision.
The handsome young actor had never
played better. so they told him; with
more grace. spirit and magnetic fire. a
more delicate art, than now at the close
Of a long. wearisome season. when all
others longed to be freed from the fet-
ters Of a profession that taxed more than
the strength and endurance of man.
One night on an impulse not to be
resisted. she dropped him rose as he
passed her box in the brave attire of
Romeo. and for leeting moment the
great dreamy eyes, now alight with en- o.
ton, met his Own. Dared he interpret
! the meaning lying in their modest
depths? And was this feeling awakened
by the Inflated Romeo, the subtle art of
| the actor. or the man himself, who stood
| behind it all? Sweeter homage the art
| list had never known.
So the brief season waxed ard waneG
and hurried to its close; spring bios
somed about the little city by the sea
but. caught in the current of an over
mastering desire. he heeds nothing. and
lives for the hour, for the night. when
like a star in the heavens she rises be-
fore his longing sight.
He no longer taxes himself with the
folly. the madness. the indulgence OF z
hopeless passion. romance that mus
ever remain unfinished. He deems hel
divinity worthy his worship. beauti'
full dream that has been revealed 10 hin
for a feeting moment in his meteori'
career. He can love as Ruy Bias loved
with tenderness. exaitation, and deli
cate homage that asks no return. ant
dies happy so that it be in her cause.
But one night a change came DER thu
spirit of his dream; during the secont
act a stranger, a man of fine command
ing presence. enters the box. and seat
: himself beside her. with an air OF cain
possessiveness which at once attract
his attention; the girl turns smllIngl,
and gives her hand. allows herself to 3
diverted from the play for moment
The blood burns hot in his veins.
S wave of jealousy surges over him; b
} is not so distinterested after all. his ex
: allied sentiment receives sudden checf
He watches him covertly all the even
:. ing. the affectiCnate familiarity OF ri
u manner, his exasperating air OF owner
ship. or so it seems TO his excited sense:
Who is this man. by what right does
|, usurp her attention when it should b
u centered on the play; he resents a
: presence with all lovers inconsequer
passion yet what claim has he upon he
thoughts, her sentiments. her favor?
Z Once he meets the eye Of the strange
G. fercely. haUght;ly, questioningly. an
q a puzzled look fits over the face of tt
re man; then he turns TO his companio
ie and laughingly whispers in her ear tt
le actor. stung by passion he cannot col
le trol. gives it free rein, and for the tin