The San Francisco call., 1908-07-19

Shadow Girl.
They parted at the Ranford camp. for
he was to leave early in the morning.
As he silently. with crushed heart.
held her hands to his lips. the shadow
Girl bent and. kissing him on the fore
head. said. brokeEly: ~Goodby. Dream
Man i hope-I may-some day"
With an effort he turned away and.
pushing OF the canoe. whispered. huskl-
Iy "Goodby, Shadow Girl. God bless
and keep you, dearr and disappearing
in the twilight
One early May evening bronzed
faced, athletic man entered Broadway
theater. and hastily writing a few
words on a card. left it at the box offtco
with orders to be delivered at 0n-s.
Taking his seat. he began mechani-
cally to scan the program. but IL was
not the printed page that he saw. but
mountain lake leagues away in the
north and a man standing on tha
wooded shore saying gOOuby
slender. sade eeyed girl as the twilight
shades erept down from the timbered
hills.
Five years had passed since he had
parted with the Shadow Girl and. Ar
cady. He had never cared to return. in
the absence OF the Shadow Girl to the
scene OF the happiest days OF his life.
and the memory of that last afternoon
on the Island of Enchantment was as
poignant as though 1t had been but yes
terday. From time to time her letters
had reached him on his wanderings-
letters full of her life of study and
ceaseless endeavor in her chosen work.
Then. as her personal charm and artis-
tic potentiality made themselves felt.
she began to climb. until a London en-
gagement drew the attention of the
critics. and one morning found her IA
NOUS
1t was part written by the great
feminist Pinero. and her sympathy and
intellect had caught the very cOncep-
tion of the author. Her season in Lon
don had been followed by a long run
in New York, where. as Wainwright
had read five days before on landing
In San Francisco, she was playing her
last week.
1t was a changed Shadow Girl that
met his eyes as the curtain rose but
the heavy brown hair was worn as he
had always known IL. and the voice.
though deeper and richer. possessed
the same plaintive note. AS the au-
dience recognized her entrance. some
thing in her slender beauty. as she
stood in her clinging white gown wait
ing for chance TO speak walked in
him feeling of fear. Taller. and real
izing TO the full the beautiful promise
of her girlhood. there was yet a look
of fragility and WEAKNESS about her
that haunted him.
AS he sat. at the fall of the curtain.
overcome by many emotions. an usher
handed him a note. wainwright went
back to the foyer and with trembling
fingers opened the envelope and read:
Dear Old Dream Man; You see, I
discovered you before the curtain rose.
1 am so overcome at seeing you that 1
can not ask you behind now. but please
walt at the stage entrance and take
me home. Dream Man. you have kept
your promise. You have come when I
needed you. Please have mercy and
don't be critical, for 1 am so unstrung
at your being in New York. Until we
meet. Shadow Girl"
Proud though he was Of her success
and compelling artistry. the personal
equation clamored too strongly within
him to allow him to realize anything
but that in two hours he would have
her TO himself TO talk TO, and all this
applauding crowd of people would not
be there to share her. He sat watch
ing the play like one in a dream. and
at the fall of the curtain went out
oblivious to his surroundings.
The Shadow Girl finally appeared at
the stage entrance and with a little cry
ran to him and gave him both her
hands. "Oh. Dream Man. why didn't you
tell me you were on your way eastT'
she said.
ow GirlT was all the man could man
age TO say in his emotion
Yes. il is /. Dream Man, and very
much of a shadow girl, / fear. I was
hardly able TO finish the last act-but
you do not tell me how you liked it.
You know they have all come true-the
dreams"
now. and she piled him with questions
about his work and wanderings. while
he with difficulty found words TO reply.
so wildly was his heart beating and so
fast were rhe thoughts surging through
his brain. 1t was so sweet to be with
her and hear her voice again. and the
old wound that had never healed panied
as If but newly made.
over the dainty supper that awaited
them they wandered back through the
years like two children. and at the
mention of the island the tired eyes OF
the Shadow Girl frightened and her
color returned.
Finally the Dream Man said: "Shad-
ow Girl, you are not well. dear. knew
it when 1 first saw you, and the
note"-
"Oh, yes she interrupted. "the note.
You see, have had a very hard season,
and" she hesitated. this is my last
week. 1 had to finish. you know but
that is what I meant by the note" Then
this may be the last appearance of the
Shadow Girl" and there were tears in
her voice and eyes.
He was at her side now. Tell me
all, dear. OF course she is very tired
and must have long, long rest To
think of her wearing herself out for tho
amusement of others has cut me like a
knife all these years. You do not know
what you have made il cost me. dear"
But it's my work. Dream Man. and
oh. 1t has been so good TO come into
my own!'
"I know, and you little imagine how
proud I have been. hearing and read
ing about my little Shadow Girl But
now she has won a long rest"
Yes" she replied. with a sigh. and
the great brown eyes were rimmed
with shadows. "she must rest now.
The doctors tell her II she does not
rest she will become a real shadow
girl"
She was speaking with the absent.
far away note Of the child of years
ago. Her face was strangely pale. and
into his heart side by side with his