The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1904-06-30

to the window the moment the curtain
fell In the hope of discovering the
writer erasing the lines, but by that
time the marks had been obscured and
she could only wait for time to unravel
the mystery.
On the 25Oth performance Agnes
Carleton celebrated the event by intro
ducing a new gown. In place Of the
white satin, which was beginning to
show the marks Of wear and tear. she
appeared In a handsome black satin.
which caused every woman in the au-
dience pang Of jealousy and incl
dentaily got her several newspaper
items
Az usual. Annice rtood by the win
dow wondering who her unknown ad-
mirer might be. Lady Gwendolin gave
her customary shrek and Annice
turned with a scream Of terror to he
hold the villains wicked work.
Tonight she supplemented her stage
horror with cry more natural Lady
Gwendolin fell with her face toward
the audience, that they might marvel
at the play of her facial expression
as she slowly died from the effects OF
Maltravers' cruel blow. There on the
back of the black satin were the marks
Of a mans fingers clearly outlined IN
white.
In flash 1t all came to her. Hugh
Cameron. who played Ma,travers. was
fha on1x ho 1of< he u<o
made his exit from the very window
cut Of which she had been looking. All
OF the other characters were supposed
to enter from the castle on the opposite
side of the stage.
1t was an easy matter to chalk the
legend while she was having her scene
with Miss Carleton. Then when he
fed from the consequence of his mur-
derous assault he could rub out the
chalk marks
Only the black satin dress had been
out of his calculations When he had
grappled with Lady Gwendoiin, the
chalk from his imperfectly cleaned
fingers had left their mark On the old
white dress they had not been notice
able.
All through the last act the incident
kept running through her head. She
liked Cameron very much, better than
anyone else In the company. He Lad
been so kind to her In many ways, so
she could not believe /
that he had sought TO insult her. She
could not even imagine him doing such
/ thing even for joke He was not
hat sort Of man.
1t hurt her to think that he had a
iand in his joke. Just as the curtain
ell at the close Of the act she turned
% Cameron
81 should like to speak to you after
-ou have changed" she said simply.
He bowed. but 1t was with no easy
leart that he awaited her coming Oh
he dark stage.
She preached the subject directly.
Mr.. Cameron" she demanded, why
10 you annoy me by chalking such abb
urd sentiments underneath the win
ow in the second acty
How do you know?r he countered.
"You left chalk marks on Miss
'arleton's black dress this evening""
he explained Now / want to know /
Thy you played such an absurd /
rank" I
He colored like guilty schoolboy.
Believe me-" he said. earnestly, 1t Z
as no prank. / meant II, every word I
ne night stood by the window. The {
age hands were all busy with card
anne at the rear and I knew no one
'ould see II before / came of after &
le murder. / picked piece Of chalk :
4 the call board and wrote the words. b
gu see, while I play villain on the c
age l am anything but bold man
7. Just as / was going to sign them
heard the cue that brought you to
lie window and l had just time 10 I
hisk round the corner. / have been
ying every night since then TO get the
,urage TO sign my name, but IL it
admit been for the blessed dress | Z
ever should have done so. I mean It,
,ery word Of IT, Miss Wbeatley. )
ont you believe meT
BY special request Miss Carleton will
ear her black dress at the wedding. n
-
Carved Furniture.
To dust carved furniti1re there IN