The Meeker herald., 1905-06-24

So each evening while Martha s'eT;
like a rob5er 10 write without arous-
ing snsyscion. He fesi tia, II YVES
HIS ias; chance 10 write something
worth while
Se,-ra. DAYS later Pierre and his
wife went tack 70 the city He was
lcaih TO leave. bu, Martha was hap-
py in anticipation ot rev triuiurhs.
Her devoted count had promised to
open new. and yet more Fashionable,
houses 10 her.
we viii push your husband" he
said. in protecting tcne.
Work. Pierre" added Martha.
The indurssr-ent Of the count is val
liable Don't throw awny the Chance"
Pierre Dubrerii did not answer.
Nowadays ne appeared 20 be indif-
fer.nf 10 al That went on around him.
Gre day at the end Of r,e,sn-
choly dinner tete-a-tete with Martha
he said:
BY the way. the Gymnn.e viii pre-
sent play ot mine in a few weeks.
The newspapers made the announce
menf this morning."
WHAT exclaimed bis wife. curl
ous,y. .iou have said nothing Of II
TO mel"
What was the use2 have always
bad such bad luck with my work that
have not mentioned this ore even TO
you."
Martha was satisfed and the
thought of a pay by her husband
Pleased her vanity. She liked to i'm
agine herself in a box OF the opening
night.
she kissed her husband on both
cheeks.
-.Are you content?" he asked. anx-
iousiy.
Yes indeed. my husband" she
answered.
When the time approached for the
representation Martha was happy.
For the newspapers contained many
advance notices and most of them
spoke OF the play rs excellent.
The play presented Mt the Gymnase
was not comedy. but a drama OF
great depth md emotional strength
representing a drama of the strong
est human emotions. The blase pub
! lie was delighted. II was triumph
with few pIeeeti,n.s in the enthusi-
asrns it aroused. 1t was masters
work TINT people said would place
the author among the rank Of the
worlds foremost ornIna;ists.
Martha. charminely dressed in
mnuve- was in box with crowd
of friends. among who was the per-
sistent count. From the first words
Of the play she was surprised. The
story acted en- the stage WIS familiar
TO her. 1t seened rs II she bad had
the same experiences in the 1avx Of
her cour.ship. She capped her little
hands in applause. proud to listen to
the clever words and charmed to see
the dead days revived. she sought TO
glance in the eyes OF her husband hid
den behind curtain of the box.
In the second act the action grew
quicker. A crisis came between the
man and wife. The words they spoke
were those that had passed between
Martha and Pierre. Evidently be had
put his own experience into the play.
II was interesting, but what would
come next7 Martha had been 80 In
different to Pierre that she could not
guess.
The third act was admirable. In
the drama the suffering of her hus-
band was analysed with masters
hand, cruel in his resignation, tor
ture and tenderness. The role OF the
woman was studied with psycholo-
gy delicate and mockipg. 1t was a
masterpiece.
Martha listened with beating heart
Each phrase spoken by the comedi-
ans was for her like the stab of a
dagger. Was il possible that she had
made Pierre suffer ike that? For by
this time she knew that her true his
tory was being told on the stage.
'Brayo," shouted the count, who did
not understand the real meaning of
the play. "My friend. your husband,
Is clever fellow, and we will make
something of him."
But Martha did not answer. She
stifed her emotion.
Take my arm" said the count, at
the end.
Not to-day" she answered. "I
shall be proud to go on the arm Of my
husband"
Pierre followed her with difficulty,
making passage through the admir-
ing crowd. When in the street his
friends crowded to congratulate them.
They wished to give them n supper.
When the supper had ended and they
reached home in that house where
Pierre had experienced so much hap
piness and grief. Martha fell on her
knees before him and broke into tears.
rht-1..~ ~.