Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-22

Win the swapping VI tHS teiiSloIl' WITCH ITO
answered: 1T was only that terrible last
scene. darling. I've seen you die in other
parts. but it never affected me like this.
Perhaps it's because you L.dn't belong to
me In those days. Or Is 1t that you were
more realistic in your acting tonight than
ever before? Anyway, 1t was awful-so
horribly real. 1t was all 1 could do to sit
still and not jump out Of the box to save
thwart the villain. I should have killed
him in the third act and then Helene
might have been happily married. instead
Of dying
II believe you would have killed him."
said.
II know I should. It's mistake not to
be jealous. I admit that I'm jealous. But
such jealousy is compliment to woman,
my dearest not an insult"
How you feel things" I exclaimed.
Even a play on the stage
IF the woman l love is the heroine
"Will you ever be blase like the rest OF
the men I know l laughed, though I
could have sobbed.
Never. l think. 1t isn't in me- Do you
despise me for my enthusiasm?'
Il only love you the more. l said. Won
dering every instant. In a kind of horrid
undertone. how I was to get him away.
Il admit l wasn't made for diplomacy.
he went on. II wish I had money enough
to get out of it and take you off the stage.
away into some beautiful peaceful world.
where we need think of nothing but our
love for each other and the good we might
do others because of our love and to keep
our world beautiful Would you go with
me?'
"Ah. if couldr I sighed IF I could
go with you tomorrow, away into that
beautiful. peaceful world But-who knows?
Meanwhile-"
Meanwhile you don't mean to send me
away from your he pleaded. In coaxing
way he has, which is part of his charm
and makes him like q boy. you don't
know what it is. after that scene of your
death on the stage. where I couldn't get
to you-where another man was your lover
to touch you again, alive and warm: your
own adorable. vivid self You will let me
go home with you in your carriage. any
how as far as the house, and kiss you good
night there; even If you're SO tired you
must drive me out them"
| would have given all my success OF that
night. and more. to say yes" But instead
l had to stumble into excuses. I had to
argue that we mustn't be seen leaving the
theater together-yet. until every one knew
that we were engaged. AS for letting him
come to me at home. If he knew how my
head ached. he wouldn't ask it. I almost
broke down as I said this. and poor Raoul
was so sorry for me that he Immediately
offered to leave me at once.
IT'S great sacrifice. though. to give up
what I've been looking forward to for
days" he said, land to let you go from me
tonight of all nights"
Why tonight of all nights?" I asked
quickly. my coward conscience frightening
me again.
"Only because I love you more than ever,
and-it's stupid feeling of course, I sup
pose all the fault of that last scene In the
play-yet l feel as il But no. 1 don't
want to say it,
You must say IT," cried
well. II only to hear you contradict me
then. 1 feel as II were in danger of losing
you. It's just feeling-a weight on my
heart. Nothing more Rather womanish,
isn't it?''
Not womanish, but foolish" I said
Shake off the feeling. one wakes up
from bad dream Think Of tomorrow
Meeting then will be all the sweeter." AS
I spoke 1t was as If voice echoed mine
saying different words mockingly. If
there be any meeting-tomorrow or ever
l shut my ears to the voice and went
quickly. Before we say goodbye I've
something to show you-something you'll
like very much. Wait here till I get 1t
from the next room.
Marianne was tidying my dressing room
for the night busting here and there, a
dear old comfortable dependable thing
She was delighted with my success. which
she knew all about. OF. course: but she
not In the least excited. because she had
Loyalty expected me to succeed. and would
have thought the sky must be about to fall
If ! had failed. She placid as she
was on other. less important nights, far
more placid than she would have been If
she had known that she guarding not
only my jewelry, but a famous diamond
necklace. worth at least 100000 francs.
There 1t was, under the lowest tray Of
my Jewel box. l had felt perfectly safe in
leaving 1t there, for l knew that nothing
earth-short Of bomb explosion-could
tempt the good creature out Of my dressing
room in my absence, and that even if
bomb did explode, she would try to be
blown out with my jewel box clutched in
her hands.
Saying nothing to Marianne, who was
brushing a little stage dust off my third
act dress with my back to her took out
tray after tray from the box (Which al
ways came with us to the theater and went
away again in my carrtage) until the cleo
trio light over the dressing table set the
diamonds on fire.
Really. l said to myself. they were Won
derful stones. l had no idea how magnih-
cent they were. Not that there were a
great many Of them. The necklace was
composed of single row of diamonds,
with six fat tassels depending from It, But
the smallest stones at the back. where the
clasp came, were as large as my little
finger nail. and the largest were almost the
size of a filbert. All were of perfect color
and fire, extraordinarily deep and fault
lessy shaped. well fawless. Besides.
the necklace had history, which would