The Washington herald., 1909-06-13

/ the stand. She forced a few drops be-
tween his lips. In thanks, he smiled
again. That wondrous. haunting smile,
Jane put her hand clutchingly 10 her
sorrowing heart and caught her breath.
( Was there no woman In al the big
world 10 whom the lOveliness Of that
smile belonged and whose rightfuI place
was here?
Knowing that useless emotion Is a.
hurtful as IL is selfish. Jane conquered
herself and persistently sewed spangles.
once she lifted her glittering tunie and
showed her industry
Are you an actress?'' ne murmured
We'll" said Jane honestly, I have
heard doubts"
I knew you were
How
Because you are kind. They are
brothers and sisters when one is in
trouble"
How about the 'Merry-Merrys' VINO
abandoned you here?" flashed Jane.
What else could they do2''
| What else. indeed? Jane admitted that
he was right. Whoever drops out in one
town. the curtain must go up in the next.
The night advanced. IN the town. tho
cable cars stepped running. their sudden
silence jarring the ears like a sound:
]
riages OF late revelers. and occasionally
the hotel corridors woke TO the tread Of
returning dissipaters. whose low laugh
/ ter occasionally rang out
In the room Of illness there was prog
ress, too. for the gray presence came
back, and took haunting possession OF
the mans eyes.
rs there no one belonging 20 you7"
cried Jane suddenly, out OF her thoughts.
NO one. No one-belonging TO nc
but II belong-to some one"
With his faint. appealing smile. he
drew with difficulty a picture from be-
meath his pillow.
who is it?'' said Jane. gently.
who was it?" he corrected 1T was
my wife"
He showed the face.
Nance" cried Jane.
'You know her?''
''Yes. Why-I-oh. .STaitr'
Not daring 10 raise any hopes which
might prove false. Jane left the room
without explaining herself.
On wings OF hope and fear she few
swiftly through the corridors, down the
deserted stairs to the elaborate suites on
the parlor floor. where Nance established
herself. Even in her excitement she had
time to be surprised that brilliant light
flooded from Nance's apartments, and
that voices sounded laughing1y within.
To her vehement knOckings the door
opened, but tardily On the threshold
appeared Nance and Studheim. the re-
mains OF supper littering the table. and
both were cloaSed and hated for a moon
light auto ride The Laughing radiance
on Nances face faded TO awe
What is it?' she demanded sharply.
Stammeringly, Jane told; and then
wrung her hands wretchedly when she
saw that II was no use.
who? whieh?" cried Nance. in angry
rebellion.
''Noei--" began Jane.
And Nance stopped her furiously
''The blackleg, The drunkard, He
hood, It was over years ago. How dare
he claim
He claims nothing" mourned Jane.
TT was T."
Nance broke into whimpers, ike a ter
rifed child. She clutched Studheim ap-
pealingly.
4 am ill-faint, Take me to the air..
she insisted.
Stifiy bowing to Jane. Studhelm drew
Nance's cloak about her and led her
toward the street doors.
The world grew very black 10 James
girlish vision. and she swept her hands
across her eyes as II 10 clear them Of
dreadful picture. Then she went upstairs.
and composedly returned TO the dying
mans bedside.
She had sewed for perhaps an hour
when he spoke.
'She would not come then7' ne said
Had he known guessed2 Immaterial;