The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-05-02


was more than plain that the child
was in a seriously bad way.
] Sunday night her father cOuldn {
even dress her. but put q blanket
Ground her little white wrapper and
tucked her on the sofa in his dressing
room while he made up. Her sleep
wasn't sleep exactly, but sort OF
/ stupor. so that she ives obliv.Ous Of
what was going on. Essie never
thought of lowering her voice.
She hurried in with Helen and came
right out with the thing.
/ Jack" she said, "Geneva's company
( is in town. They evidently don't play
I Sunday night I thought you ought To
know. I passed Geneva in the street not
a minute since"
Speak lowerr' ordered Jack, furious.
! Geneva" cried Henrie. pushing
away the blanket and struggling to get
/ up. Jack, did you hear that? Geneva
/ in our town-at last, Ny mother! Ny
pretty Geneval Is she here? VIII she
come? Jack, talk TO me, VIII my
mother be here soong'
! The fire in her eyes wrung truth from
him
aHenrie. I don't think so" he said.
slowly, hOarsely. Il don't think she
| will"
The child dropped back as if shot, and
! Helen ran 20 her and knelt by her.
"Henrie." she cried, frightened. can
] DO anything for you?"
Yes; you can go away" whispered
/ Henrie hostilely.
! PerfOrce. Helen went.
! Quickly making up and dressing. Jack
/ sat beside his baby and watched the
/ havoc Of change which deepened on her
! face. Her breathing was all wrong.
! That small, uncertain heart of hers had
got the shock the doctor was always
warning against. Something must be
/ done to set il right.
/ Germaine rose blindiy to his feet and
/ scTawled out a telegram. Going to his
door, ne CHANGED upon FentOn Leasing
and wrung his hand as if he had not
seen him Tor weeks.
You'll send this. won't you?" he
asked. ITO Geneva
/ Leasing glanced down at the message:
! Come to the theater Immediately.
Henrie is dangerously ILL.,"
Sure, old chap" said Leasing. Then
] pityingly, Don't worry, Jack; please
don't"
/ Going back to the sofa, Germaine said
/ with impressive distinctness:
Little Red Hen, listen; I've changed
my mind. think Geneva will come.
| Henrie opened her eyes and seemed to
come back from somewhere; she spoke
coherentiy but passionately:
You always tell me the truth, don't
1 you. Jack?"
Always"
And you really think she may come"
i really think she may come"
carry me to the wings, Jack. It
VIII be your cue pretty SOON
! Lovingly he carried her to her accus-
/ toned place. He comprehended that
she dare not speak of the hope which
gathered strength from his promise, but
the life of it was tingling happily
/ through her
! Then commenced his torture. for the
I play was on. Every minute that he
could he stood beside Henrie. irving to
reply assuringly to the constant oues-
ton;
! Jack. is Geneva here vet ,"
| Not yet. Little Red Hen"
! Finally Henrie siekened of the asking
and dropped into a heavy stupor.
/ Just as Jack tore himself away To 90
( on for the last act, Leasing brought
a telegram:
Your ruse is too fimsy, Jack. In
vent something else. Geneva
Crushing the paper in his fist. ,Jac,.
went upon the stage and plunged into
the gayety OF the scene. carrying MS
9otASlANt CusrElAN WITH MIN.
ana Henr-e never moved-her pc.
/ scene, too.
To her quiet form Jack PLAYED as he
had never played before. till the great
house rose ct him in applause.
Yet still she never stirred.
ihen ne came to the test line The
line Of their freenasonrv. Into HI
voice there leaped a loud fear-it rang
cOmmandingIy:
IF you love me, look at me. look 2 T
me- To this he added. unknowinglv.
Henrie, And again: "Henrie!'
Unable to continue. he paused-the
silence intense. except for the music.
Dazed and Obeying the command Of
ms spirit. Henrie sat up and slipped
/ from the couch. Swaying and faIterjng.
! she went right out before the foot
lights; not that she saw them: blind
/ indeed, and drawn but by the honiDg
instinct, she staggered across the center
Of the stage till she came to her
| fathers stricken feet. Then she raised
her hands. And he lifted her to his
breast
From the audience came a stir o.
expectant amusement. The music
sweiled a little louder To raise her
feeble voice above these noises, Henrie
spoke very clearly.
Jack" she said. and her voice car
RED to the galleries. us Geneva
here"
No. dear"
As II the words had been a stab she
blanched beneath them. Across the
stage. Essie Asirly sank into a chair
and turned away her face.
Jack continued Henrie. still clear
". is Geneva cOming?"
Before the trusting honesty of her
big bright eyes Of brown his lie was
silenced.
''NO!" he said at last
Into her glance there came a quick
CLEAN of reprOach that he should hurt
her so. Her wee wasted hand crept
slowly TO her heart. ciutching at its
burden Of pain. The music kept on and
a little laugh waited up from the
audience. Then Henrie's head framed
in its red-gold curls. dropped heavily
back upon Jacks arm.
At that some one behind the scenes.
with awful intuition. gave an order
And the final curtain made its slow
descent.
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