Casco Bay breeze. [volume] (South Harpswell, Me.) 1901-1917, 1906-08-16

The Case
at the Ambigu last night were Ii,
skeptical as to the artists real ser
Incidentally. we understand that an,
sucn doubts are dispelled by the fac
tnae MI. Ferrars Is shortly to b,
married to Charming lady who
He heard a knocking at tbe b.,
door below. And then a vo!ce-low
Clear sad. A woman's voice: the
voice that had answered him not an
hour ago-Lottie's voice! Here.
| He stumbled across. He bat
heard the maid anawer that Mr. Fer
rars was at home. He stood rooted
q hand to. his forehead, staring ont
Was 1t real? Should he wax,
presently in a sweat to find bimseI,
still upon the ocean liner, For ,
door on that lower landing had
opened. and Ferrars' pale, ciear-cut
face looked out. Ferrars, unconsc,ou,
OF his return to the house, had been
In that other room all the while
And Ferrars had called anxiousIy
down.
Miss Haynes. is It? Why. dear
what has brought you here, What
Is the matter! was not we'll
I did not go to the rehearsal IN.
night. How strange you look. Come
this way-sit down-tell me-you
must"
Flat to the wall the listening man
shuddered back as Ferrars leaned
up the stairs. sprang in, set the gas
blazing. and reached out for a chair.
No-no!" 1t was the same dear
voice. but trembling and somehow
different: It went through Dams
brain with a strange thrill. 81 could
not rest was going straight on
to the theatre to find YOU" She
paused. Framed there in the door.
way SO close she seemed to strain
her hands together.
He Is back" came her whisper.
He Is back in England-in London.
He was seen only this afternoon.
He went to my old address. some one
told me. He looked Ill and troubled
No, no-let me think .
Archie I can't can't be your wife
yet. think of him still must,
whatever he has done. however faith.
less he may have been to me out
there. You don't know; you couldn't
understand a woman's heart. oh.
1t would break IL I thought he had
come back to realize the love he had
thrown away-come back to find me
another mans promised wife, !
wrote that letter. Yes, you made
me; but something told me that a
true woman would have waited to
know from his own lips that he had
met woman he loved better.
have lived in agony, and I wouldn't
tell you you had won my promise
when all seemed so dark and bitter"
"Lottie!" 1t broke in a moan
from Dams lips. "Lottie! He is
here! Yes: here for love Of you,"
He stood there, his shaking arms
put out All was silence. The cry
In her throat seemed to be frozen.
Ferrars. his friend. had reeled back.
and covered away as from a de.
scending death-blow. Only his lips
worked soundlessly as Dan Joyce
took his second step, his finger
pointing. his voice suddenly strong
and calm.
II know. know now! What
have you done? What have you
written, to blacken my struggling
life in her eyes? What part was II
you played to-night-you, the actor
as the last vile resource of a man
in extremity? The part that that
paper says you play with such rare
success"
There was no answer. He waited
for none. He turned his voice going
soft. "Lottie! The light has come
heaven meant this to happen. An
hour more and I should have lost
you-lost you to this man who has
sunk himself body and. soul to win
you away in my absence-this man
who could veil himself in angels uni.
form as a nurse-as your own self
to crush me with a lie! You never
doubted me: you were blinded, as
1 was blinded tonight, by the genius
OF a william"
You wrote!" came the weak
breath in that pause. Her filmed
eyes looked past at something toe
deep to be understood. you wrote
twice, saying that you wished to re.
lease me. I was crushed; I had nc
one to turn to. And yet-and ye,
oh, Dam"
Come to me-" he whispered. T,
Is all dawning now. I never wrote
that. My real letters have no,
reached you. Look! He has played
many parts. trusting that should
never come back in time; but to-
night he has played his last. Come
to me, Lottie! Only believe, and
love will bring the light"
Next moment he stood I'm the grir
OF a happiness that paid for all
Two soft hands had framed his face;
| slight breast heayed aoainat his