The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-11-02
And l promised that I would.

girl with great eyes, who lay slowly dying. he must have been very pretty once, but the long fevers had ] driven the soft solor from her cheeks. There was something more than beau ty, however. in her gentle eyes and tender smile.
 As her mother had said, I had play ed many roles in my life, roles of all natures, but this one which played to a single audience of one attracted me strongly. Was it not q truly greater creation than any of the other; would not my success bring me a pride and pleasure such as had never known before? Moreover, I was conscious of. a strange interest in this little sick girl to whom had come to say words Of love.
 It was an odd situationi But I felt from the very beginning that I pleased her, that when the time came she. would believe whatever I should tell her.
 T came to the house first on some pretense and was shown into the room where christine was lying. I shall. never forge how she watched me that first day. her large dark eyes filling her whole face.
 The mother invited me to come again. She, too, was playing part, and one that was even more difficult than mine. We had to plan most carefully together the story Of our first chance meeting, the occasion of my mingling in their uneyentful life.
 
 the sick daughter. began to bring her presents. books and little tri1es which mean 50 much to a woman. And, what meant infinitely more, | brought her gentle words and quiet amusement. I told her funny stories. and her mother, seeing Christine laugh So heartily, something she had not done for many long months, thanked with looW which encouraged me to go on and do my best.
 Little by little 8 sembIance of l health came back to the poor little con- sunptive The doctor was right happiness was the only medicine for her. $
 Then came to see her every day, and my visits brought a quick light of pleasure to Christine's large eyes. I spent long hours sitting beside her. reading aloud and testing rnerrily. Sometimes she would look at me strangely, almost suspiciously, 50 that was afraid had betrayed myself, for 1t seemed to me that she could read my very soul with her great dark eyes. But the look would pass quick ly, and Christine would smile, again, frankly pleased to see her big friend. My visits became part of her life, she grew accustomed to me, and then it was not long before she began to love me.
 At last, on one of these beautiful autumn days, when the dying summer seems flushed with new life, I told Christine that Flowed her in words that rang cleary true. I shall never feel again the quiet strength of passion that filled me then. .
 'eThe soft color crept into her pale cheeks as she listened. She had wait ed for my confession, she had longed for it, and as she heard the tender words spoke her face grew bright with the happiness that flooded her whole being, and she became far more beautiful than she had ever been be- fore ~ s~' t3##E s t3. Sa S
 Soon, with joyful tenderness, she ran to tell her mother what a wonder full thing had come to her, and can never forget Mime. iD-'s face as she came toward me, gravely smiling, ut a tering the words it was her role to say, and later, when we were alone, how she fell at my knees and sobbed.s
 ''The next day bought the most beautiful ring could find When II gave it to Christine and she realized that she, too, was to have her share of the great happiness which every young girl looks forward to, and for which the betrothal ring. stands as al symbol, she gave low cry of happi- ness: e'3> ''s@fs-557'7
 Life is not so cruel, little mother! she said. As soon as I get well Ii am going be married, who. have always been so unhappy!'' @ |" Tha is very beaqtifu1,' Mime. D. replied. ''@"
 ''It was not very long after that, when, the first cold weather came, that Christine knew that she would never get we'll. But the knowledge did not distress her now; she was calm and serene, and each day she thanked me again and again, in words that will never cease to ring in my ears, for the l two months of happiness that I had given her. <
 T did all that was possible. Il brought the greatest doctors to see her, and then, when all hope was lost. Il carried her and her mother to a lovely rosecovered cottage in the south, where the sun shines all the time. It was there she died, smiling happily until the very end.
 ''Three months later, one night when I was playing at the Comedie Fran casie, Mime. D., dressed in deep mourning, entered my dressing room. he was grievously changed, poor wo- man. z.&--a ~5& 1 Forgive me-" she said, her eyes full of tears, for having delayed so long <, ..#H
 Continued on Eighth Page)