The Irish standard., 1904-04-09

that worried you. And as friend
feel it my duty to tell you what l
heard last evening"
"What did you hear?" broke in Har-
court.
THAT the yelled dancer at the AL.
cazar is Mrs. Harcourt," replied Trux-
ton.
"The veiled-the Alcazar-" Then
Harcourt put his hands to his tenn
pies. "She used to be good dancer"
he went on. as if to himself. eyes,
but the Alcazar-that Of all places!"
Come, Truxton," he said, I'VE must
go to the Alcazar at once. I must get
her out of that place as soon as pos
sible. Come, Truxton come"
In short time the two were seated
in a box at the theatre.
When the great act finally came Har-
court leaned far out on the box rail-
ing, awaiting the dancers appear.
ance, which was heralded with
dreamy waltz by the orchestra and
the suffering of the calcium. Then
figure leaped lightly into the sill
very patch of radiance. 1t was clothed
in a spangled costume, long and of
ample folds, while covering the whole
there fell from the crown of the head
yard upon yard of the thinnest illu-
sion.
Now the swaying figure was like
burning gold, now like shining silver.
At the next moment it looked as if
bathed in blood; then changed to fiery
red. Next followed such a rapid sue.
cession of colors as seemed beyond
mans ingenuity to produce. And
finally total darkness prevailed. Dis
tant thunder began to rumble. with
faint flashes of lightning Louder
and louder it grew, brighter and
brighter became the lightning, each
time bringing into view the undulat-
ing figure of the dancer. Then came
a binding flash, followed by a deafen-
ing roar. The bespangled figure fell
to the floor, writhing in apparent
agony. A few CHASTITY contortions,
the uplifting of snowy arm and the
dance was over
Harcourt sat through 1T all, en-
tranced. He seemed to have forgot
ten everything save the mystic, gyrat-
ing figure. The evolution from one
stage to another of the dance en-
thralled him. Even when 1t was all
over he remained sitting, his eyes star
ing at the stage curtain. But Trux-
ton finally reused him, and once out
on the street, Harcourt turned to his
friend and said:
"Jove, it was wonderful"
They walked on. Truxton wondered
at the others silence, but said moth
ing. When they reached Harcourt's
home Truxton noticed his friend turn
suddenly round, and selling him by
the arm. cried out:
"My God, Truxton, must go back!
1t was my wife. l had forgotten"
Truxton expostulated with him
tried to lead him up the steps into his
home; but Harcourt was determined
to go back to the theater, and Trux-
ton, despairing of changing his mind,
at last consented, and together they
retraced their steps to the place of
amusement. "To think that in the
wonder of it all I should forget she
was my wife!" Harcourt repeated
again and again.
The dancer had left when they
reached the theater. The manager was
standing in the lobby, and Harcourt
opened up conversation with him.
He was gruff man, and in a few
words told that the dancer would re-
ceive no one, nor would she conde-
scend to accept written matter other
than that relating to her vaudeville
engagements.
After this Harcourt tried his best
to secure an interview with the dancer.
He went to the theater night after
night, waiting at the stage entrance
| to see her come out.
One evening he came home, and TAX.
ing revolver from his pocket, laid
it upon the table before him.
| "You'll dance for the last time to.
night, Nyganza," he said half aloud
"Your agony will not be feigned. The
lightning will strike in earnest to-
night"
He put the weapon into his pocket
donned his hat and coat, and went out
into the street.
AS the door closed after him CHAIN
ers, the butler, rushed up the stairs
and along the hall to the rooms which
Mrs. Harcourt had chosen to occupy
He raped at the door. 1t was eau
tiously opened. A few moments
breathless conversation followed. Then
Mrs. Harcourt cried out:
"Order the carriage, Chalmers, quick
Tell Marie to get ready with all speed
must reach the Alcazar before"
The door closed and Chalmers bound
ed through the passage.
Mrs. Harcourt succeeded In getting
box directly back of the one hel
husband occupied. There was but {
thin silky curtain between them.
When the glittering figure appeared
Mrs. Harcourt moved still closer to he
husband, her eyes wild, her breatl
coming quickly. Her mind was cen
tered upon reaching over and touch
ing him-to speak a word that woult
tell him she was not there upon tn
stage, but in the box behind him
ready to forgive and forget. But sh
could not. The very knowledge o
the impending tragedy turned her int
a thing of stone.
The vivid flashes of mock lightnin,
now began to light up the stage. TIL
thunder was gradually becoming loud
10 ia