The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-17

obeyIng her-seldom in her obeyins
me. But we'll see how feel wl,en t ~,
last acts over. Well talk OF IL when
| you come hereafter my DEATH
tried to laugh as I made thai snrrg
jest, but was sorry when made n
md my laugh didn't ring true There
was shadow on RaouHs face-.thnt
dear, sensitive face OF his which shows
TOO much feeling for man In this
ork-a-day. strenuous world--but
had little time to comfort him.
1T will be like coming to li.c again.
to see you ! said. And now good
by! no. not good-by, but nj, revoir."
sent him away, and flew into nv
dressing-room next door whore Ma.
rianne was growing very nervous, and
aimlessly shifting my make-up things
on the dressing table. or fussing with
some part of my dress for the next
act.
Madcmoisellc," said che. The staga
i5doorkeeper has just brought 1t round.
But you haven't time to read It now.
A wave OF fain,ness swept over me.
| Surprising 1vor had had bad news, and
thought 1t best to warn me without
delay?
Il must read the letter. Insisted.
Give 1t to me at once"
Occasionally Marianne (who has been
| with me for many years. and Is o,A
enough to be my mother) argues
matter on which we disagree; but
something In my voice. suppose. made
her obey me with extraordinary
promptness Then came a shock--and
not OF relief. recognized on the en-
velope the handwriting of Count
! Godensky.
-
| 1T was only by the strongest effort ot
will that l forced myself to open tina.
letter. i was afraid--afrald of a hum
dred things. But most of all, ! was
afraid OF learning that the treaty was
in his hands. 1t would be like him 10
tell me he had It. and try to drive
some dreadful bargain.
Nerying myself, as ] suppose con-
demned criminal must nerve himsef
to go to the gnillotine or the sallows.
I opened the letter. For as long rs
III might have counted 'one. two"
slowly, the paper looked black before
my eyes, as II ink were split over y,
| blotting out the words; but the dark
smudge cleared away, and showed'rne--
/ nothing. except that, IL Alexis Coded
sky held trump card was not TO
| have sight OF II until later, when he
chose.
/
ter though he had never been given
the right to call me Maxine. and never
| had dared so 10 call me before. II must
see you, and talk TO You this evening,
alone. This for your own sake anil
/ that of another, even more than mine,
| though you know very we'll what 1t vs.
to me to be with you. Perhaps you
may be able to guess that this is inn
| portaut- I ain so sure that you will
guess. and that you Will mol only b5
willing but anxious to see me. to- night,
| IL You never were before, that shall
venture to he waiting for you at tho
! stage door when you come out.
| Yours, in whatever way you will.
| ALEXIS"
| pleasure at that moment, 1t would have
! been to tear the letter In little pieces,
| with the writer looking on. Then.
| TO throw those pieces In his hateful
| face. and say. That's your answer"
But he was not looking on. and even
! IL he had been. ! could not have donc
what wished. He knew that / would
| have to consent to see him. that no
need have no fear / would profit ny
| my knowledge OF his Intentions, to
| order him sent away from the stage
| door would have to see him. But
| how could I manage II after refusing
! as must refuse-to let Raoul go home
with me? Raoul WAS coming to me AT.
ter my death scene on the stage. AT
1 the very least he would expect to put
| me into my carriage when I left the
Theatre. even II he went no further.
| Yet there would be Godensky, waiting.
and Raoul would see him What could
1 / do TO escape from such an impasse?
CHAPTER TX.
Maxine Give. Baci. the Dia Almonds.
( tried to answer the question, to de-
side something; but my brain felt dead.
III can't think now. must trust to
1 luck--trust to luck said to myself,
| desperately, as Marianne dressed ME.
/ by-and-by I'll think 1t all out
4 But after that my part gave me no
more time to think. / was not Maxine
| de Renzie. but Princess Helene of Hun
/ garia. whose tragic fate was even more
/ sure anod swift than miserable
\ Maxine's. When Princess Helene had
Edied In her lovers arms however itdied
/ as Maxine had not deserved to dia) and
| i was. able to pick up the tangled
Threads of my own life. where Id laid
Them down, the questions We're still
cryng out for answer, and must some
how be decided at once.
!, First. there was Raoul to be put OFT
i and got out OF the Way----Ii eoui. my
best beloved, whose help and protection
1 Ineeded so much. Yet must forego, and
Ehurt him instead.
The stage doorkeeper had orders to
slet him come behind" and SO he was
already waiting at the door Of my little
| boudoir by. the time Helene had died.
the curtain had gone donw, and Maxine
4 de Renzie had been able to leave the
stage.
AS we went ether into the ROOM
| he caught both my hands cruchtng
them tightly in his. and kissing them
over and over again. But his face was
pale and sad. and a new fear sprang up
4 in my heart like sudden live fame
4 among red ashes.
"What is IT, Raoul?--why do YOU
look like that?" I asked; while inside
my head another question sounded like
a shrek. What il some word mad
come to him in the #theatre-about the
treaty?" F 5s ssh HI
Then could have cried as a child
/ cries, with the Swapping OF the ten.
sion, when he answered: 1T, was only j
that terrible last scene: darling. I've
4 seen you die in other parts. But It
never affected me like this. Perhaps