The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-11-11

Ocky Amber had often read of cases
like his own-wtth this important diff
fence: the stories usually ended hap
PLY. whereas he knew thai for himself
1t would be madness to hope for any
thing save disappointment.
He was in love, desperately. madly IN
love with Nelln Renshaw, o clever and
popular actress, the admired of all ad-
mirers.
He enshrined her in his heart the
very first time he saw her, which was
the day on which he commenced his
engagement as ~vtolinist in the orches-
ira of the London theater at which she
was playing a leading part.
He made no effort to check this hope
less love. which grew and grew as he
watched her night after night.
He could only see her when the ac-
ton OF the piece brought her well for
ward upon the stage; but he soon
earned to know wien these places
SO as not to lose a single second of
the time that h was in his view.
once her>eyes met his upturned gaze.
That night he walked to his poor lodg-
ings with his head among the stars.
After that he found her look turned to-
those nights he lay awake for hours
asking himself whether the smile
In those beautiful eyes could possibly
nave been for him; but by morning
he had called himself q fool for i'm
agining for n instant that what was
obviously an accident IN her acting,
could nave any significance for him.
Yet. for all his wise reasonings, those
chances made him absurdly happy.
Then came a blow that hurt him
cruelty. Nella vas to tour in Amer
lea. Even the pleasure OF looking at
her was now to be denied him. He
would not see her for a long time-per-
haps rever again.
a farewell performance was an
nounced, and sad at heart, Dicky took
his accustomed place. Before then he
had always felt a thrill of pleasure
and pride When came the thunders of
applause in acknowledgment Of Nella's
superb art, but on this night it filled his
heart with sadness n a great lump
came to his throat. This was the last
time he would see the triumph of the
woman he loved-the last time.
Then, as the curtain fell. he did a
thing that he had never dared before
70 do. He quickly made his way to the
stase door and waited there to watch
ner departure. AS she passed him the
fragrance of her dainty silks and laces
Seemed to hold his whole soul in bon
dage, and when her rustling skirt
brushed MIN he nearly swooned.
she carried a magnificent bouquet
mat mad been presented to her, and
when h was half way to her car
riage a rose dropped from it to the
pavement. Dicky darted forward and
picked 1t up. Murmuring something,
he knew not what, he stepped to he
side of the carriage and handed it to
her.
AS she took 1t she looked straight
nlto MS eyes. Then, quickly drawing
Inc her hJOCSnn, ~ @.--
fellows, she smilingly thrust it with the
other back into his hands.
Keep them, and-and-thank Won >"
she said. w
AS the carriage drove off Dickey was
staring infwonder at the exquisite flow
ths Beeause 81 this he did not see
mat which would have filled his heart
with an even greater Joy. Her ewes
had filed with tears.
every now and again, during the year
that followed, audacious thoughts filed
Dicky,s mind as he. gated on his most
cnerlshed possessions-two withered
roses. Soon after. however, he casually
read in some newspaper one of The
numerous accounts of Nella's transat-
lantic successes. Then his snlendid
hopes collapsed dismally. Yet thew
We're always there, and though he did
not know 1t. grew stronger and strong-
er until they became part of his life.
At last Nella came back. She was
TO open the autumn. season at her old
theater n once more Dicky could see
her every night. He played first in
stead OF second violin now ana his no
s1uon had been altered to one from
which he had a far better view Of the
stage.
It was not that thought, however,
citement as he went toward the thea1er
that day-the day on which he was to
behold her again. after a year. In his
neart there was q great hope that she
would recognize him In some way or
another. Surely she must. Then he
would wait at the stage door, and per-
maps she would speak to him again.
Bitter and terrible was his disan-
pointment. Not even a glance came his
way. Ai'
The next day he was no at his place
in the orchestra. Instead he sat AZ
home In his room before a table COW
ered with manuscript songs. They
were those which he had written out of
his great love.
f:owiy almost mechanically. he took
them up and scanned every note. Then.
having seen that all We're as perfect as
he could make them, he gathered them
together in a heap. :.
He was going away-where, he did
not know or care. During uae past
years he had SO lived on the almost un-
conscious hope born in him by the Gift |
OF roses that the realization that II had |
been founded on nothing, had dazed his |
every faculty. 1t was as though he had |
fallen from the clouds.
AT first when the wish to leave the |
place Of his sorrow had come to him.
he had determined to burn his songs. |
but they were his children-,he only
children Of his love-and he could not.
Then came a wild desire that she
should know Of his hearts longing. and.
after examining them all to make sure
that they. at least, were worthy of her
attentions. he gathered them together
to SEND taem to her.
He took the withered roses from his
breast. She should have them. too.
Pressing them ~passionately to his lips,
he laid them tenderly on the TOP OF the
pile.
Then the stupor that had dulle, mis-
understanding went, and in Its place an
despair seized him. He laid his
on his arms and sobbed-sobbed
as only can the mar from whom is
taken his only hold on life
For a long while he lay. Then there
came a tap at the door. He did not
hear 1t. The door opened gently, and
a woman entered. 1t was Nella. Out
city h stepped to the table. Her ewes
on the roses. She read her name