The Washington herald., 1909-05-16

his bulk On the eCse or Q cIaair opposite
her. the private car swaying on its way.
and though that IN spite OF her rose
pink morning gown and freshly massaged
face he had never seen her look so nearly
middle aged Well. come to think OF it,
she vas getting on. He knew Just how
long she had been on the stage-seven-
teen 9-eighteen?-no, by Jove. more than
twenty years. and no chicken" even
then.
wen. what could he 90 for her? She
looked with distas-e al the diamonds on
his lumpish fingers. turned her eyes TO
the hard, snow briIliance touching the
windows with ashes that seemed TO
dart from quicksilver. and told him re
sestfuIly thar she was bored-bored 10
death. She could not endure the feeling;
It was awful
Nusshaura had some suggestions Would
he have in two OF the company and him
self and start a 'pUlly'' game Of bridge
Al ) cents a point. "a real sizzler2' she
was sick Of bridge. How about poker!
She did not want him 10 mention cards
again. Well. suppose she let him make
her one OF his own special 'pick-me-Ups?'
Oh. the mass of men had about as much
soul IS so many YahOos; he would be
suggesting something to eat next; she
really. believed ne would be quite capable
even CT that NussbaUm had besa trem-
bling on the verge OF describing a par
ticularIy fascinating c2nape OF truffies.
but he was mentally agile enough 10 lOok
PANIED al her accusation. He leaned to-
ward her dripping sympathy. What was
the natter
Nothine-ans everything Life was the
1natte--I.fe-lifel She had nothing 70
live for. nothing real She was cheat;
all the people walking the earth were
cheats. The real I was hidden n every
mortaTs heart. the I that suffered, that
zrrlIaes its hands. that did not sleep al
dead OF night she crushed one arm
against her mouth just as she did in the
scene with Armand's father Nussbaum
looked frightened. He had never seen her
quite as bad IS ;his. Mysteries we're due
any moment. and she was famous for her
MYSTERIES. But when size looked az him
again her dark. drv eyes had the burn
OF old pain in them II was no use. she
could not keep I'D the game. She was
sick. sick. sick OF Il all
He began 10 feel more comfortable She
lust wanted "tsTy" He had only 70
brace her Up by telling her she was the
greatest ever They all found this "a
medicine easy 10 take" So he smiled,
showing his small flashing teeth. How
could she talk sO2-she Fabla Leighton
the Leightor-the greatest English
speaking emotional actress who had
crossed the Atlantic She was beautiful
she was famous. she was rich, she was
Yong. Could mortal woman want more?
she moved 10 the edge OF the chair and
gripped its sides with the dark, bOny
hands that could be so wonderfully ex-
pressive IN her big moments He had
pictured her as the public saw heT-but
what was she realiy2 A woman who had
worked against tormenting odds 90 rise;
who now had fame and money. but who
still. Ike one obsessed by the fear OF
losing an inch OF her foothold, spent her
life on railroads pursuing more fame,
more money: who had no family left
from The wreck of years; no friends Of The
tender, freside sort; no real home. She
said nothing Of the twenty-odd stage
years. OF the lines that no massage would
take out nor OF the little pouch deepen
ing under her celebrated chin, bit Nuss-
baum thought ne understood women.
She walked down the car pulling the
pins out Of her hair she shook her
head and Il .clOaked her shoulders Il was
U6dNNlAll EldAL- DELLcL 1lldOE A-4AS tA4
than last. NusSbaum thought she had
been wise 70 give up trying for the red
tiuts and was sticking 20 her own brown
The Ioosening Of her hair seemed 70 give
her relief. Her face Gained, she turned
back 20 him with closed ewes i was
with closed eyes that she made her dis
QUieting statement She was hOmesiCk
for Erelznd- she would 20 as far west
and north in the States IS the contract
called for; she would not go into Canada
TO more snow and ice, she could not He
must cut Il out
Nussbaum bounded I'D Ike a bail Il
would mean the loss OF thousands and
thousands; she was sorry. but she could
not help il Il would mean being used:
she gave the celebrated. UndUlating shTug
Of her thin shoulders and told him 70 say
she was fll-as she was. III OF heart and
soul What about the company Would
she leave them unemployed No, she
would settle with them out OF her own
pocket, and she added that ne could 20
now she wanted to be alone. Her last
half-hysterical statement followed him as
he tumbied out, spUttering- Nothing
would induce her TO 90 10 Canada-noth-
ing
Nuss5aum remained IN the fey air on
the platform. He must by some strategy
get her over the border. Once there she
would I'll the Canadian dates. He pom
dered; he had two things TO build upon
her kind heart and her colossal vanity
His meditations resulted in q telegram
sent that night 70 Henderson. owner and
manager OF the Hyperion Opera House n
the first Canadian town for which they
were booked.
Leighton fretful. refuses filing Cana
di2n dates. Is determined. May induce
her II arrange something urgent Say
committee weaIthIest citizens. several
towns. meet her-at station. Brass band.
flowers. fake ali If necessary. Ring in
whole gallery sold 70 orphan asylum Say
httis hsarts broken II doa't see her
juliet Lay on thick citizens high posi-
ton, little orphans tear-dTenched pillows
wire fully my expense"
Il
It was this telegram that made Hender-
son finds his coffee hurriedly the next
night. plunge into HIS mink ulster and
start OF to find Andrew Brett. He had
been busy al day arranging the game as
Nussbaun had directed. but Andrew was
his trump card
There's a gentleman" he was think
ing. Hell look the part. The others
are hodCaTriers compared 10 him
WIKI nothing but his nose showing be-
tween the high collar and vizor-Iike cap
he was soon deep in the furs Of his sleigh
and speeding through a night Of ice and
stariight. TIE rug-draped board hid the,
driver and was supposed 10 act as a
screen against the wind. but irritating
gusts rushed in around angles and sawed
his nose He was carried along the
empty. ghostiy High street The theateE
was dark tonight and the people were
housed Ike hibernating animals. Near an
zi-ctrin lam c,a os hiz -osts-s H. IL.