Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-08-08
HAMPTON. PHOEBUS AND OLD POINT-C Continued

come quickly.
For many DAYS CORTLAND and Mat
hide met frequently in tho enjoymen
OF their renewed friendship. On" aaA
they spent at Fontainebleau. aunthe'
AT NauX,de-Cernay. but between then
there was no talk OF the future, and
there were moments IN those days ol
June sunlight when Muthiide was say
and joyous, when II was possible u
forget Che shadow beneath which the
lru;Mre lay. Yet that shadow was al
ways present
In the evening CORTLAND was often
at the theatcr. Nigh, after night the
U.lrou was hlled. Paris was not tired
OF lie Dernter Jour
| As he watched that last act night
latter night CORTLAND marNelcd. Yet
how great was the strain upon her IN
that last act, As the climax cam"
leach night. Courtland knew what no
one else In the theatcr knew--that
! The actress was paying for her iri
umph with her life. Sometimes u"
was not ut III" thrater. because he
: felt that II was impossible for him
to watch that last aCt--to see that
spectacle Of woman choosing To dn'
when the JOY IN her life had died out.
/ and. despite her decision. trembling
as she raised the phial OF poison IN
her lips, then. when the irreyocabie
thing had been done. as she saw for
one swift instant some vision OF her
fierce JOY of living, reer"tting what
! she had done, only to sink down with
a cry of pain as the hand OF death
crushed in upon her life.
! Such was the last act OF lie Dernier
Jour.
1t was Mathilde's dressing.roOm at
the OdeOn in the interval before the
last act
Courtiand was nonpIussed. helpless.
He had used his last argument and
he had not prevailed.
1T is so easy for me-" she repeat
ed. so much easier than 1t Is FOR
many. A way has been made ready.
A little COurage-that is all
A little courase!" Courtiand burst
out. almost in anger. n little courage
to die! l ask you to snow great
or courage-the courage TO live!"
The climax had come SO swiftly
He had come back to his rooms in
the Rue dc Berlin 10 find letter
waiting for him. 1t had been lying
waiting for some hours. 1t was from
Mathilde. and it told him that she
had decided that night to do what she
had been thinking of doing for many
days. but had lacked the cOurage--to
drink in the last act not a little wine.
as usual but poison which she
knew was painless. but quickly fatal.
With the words of her letter ring.
ing in his thoughts CORTLAND had
hurried to the Odeon.
He stood now L,efore Mathilde. and
she did not WAIVER. He spoke once
again OF the greater courage. the cour.
age 10 live, but she only smiled.
Three years ago, Mathilde." he
was saying. Il asked you to marry
me. l do so again now"
1t is in pity" she whispered. "Oh,
don't tempt me. don't make it hard
for me! DO you think I shall be able
to bear seeing you chained to my
side when this speck Of hope you talk
OF has gone? Think Of the misery
night"
Yet as she spoke CoHrtland saw
that she loved him. He determined
to win by that power. He put his
hands upon her shoulders. He foro'
ed to meet his gaze
Are you SO blind that you think it,
is because OF Pity" he asked. Il will
tell you why ! ask it. Mathilde. Be
cause l hope some day TO know the
greatest of all joys. You alone can
give It me. However small the hope.
| will give fer it-anythiBg,"
For a moment a light came into her
eyes which CORTLAND could not mis-
take, and he thought ne had conquer
ed 4 bell rang. II was time TO 20
on the stage. Her decision came back
to her. After all. she had though; II
all out before. She was only now re-
peating thoughts she had already
! crushed The way had been made
ready for her. II was better for her
to take IL.
| "You consent"
No" she said; there is So much
to which you are blind"
She went to the door. The phiai
: was in her hand.
Give me that" CORTLAND com
! manded.
No" Mathilde answered: Il have
not given mp nv decision. have
70, Thought out all tina; you nave said.
On the stage. away from you, shall
be able 10 think must choose for
myself
Before he could preT0nt her, she
had passed through the door.
The act began.
| Il must choose. for myself. The
words ccnced in CourtlaBdt ears. He
vas helpless What would Maihiide
do. He could not tell. H could not
Influence her. The familiar act weni