The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1909-06-19
BY Helene Hicks Bowen
(COpyright, BY Daily Story Pub. Coz

bVolIACe larson nhQ DSeu muCu
wooed but never wed. at which latter
fact people marveled.
She was advertised as the youngest
star on the American stage.
Godfrey Montague was an unsuc-
cessful actor Of the old school. and
should have considered himself unusu-
ally lucky in obtaining a small charac.
ter part in Miss Carson's company.
Frankly old, the man had never
been a firstrate actor, though pasSa-
bly, well trained in his art by past
experience in supporting great TRACE
dians.
When Miss Carson first took notice
Of him in her kindly. gentle way, he
vas as unprepossessing a. is possible
to a wornout passe member Of the
profession. He wore his hair greasily
long and unkempt. His face was sal
low and habby. His rather fine eyes,
the mans only good point, were sur
rounded by a network of d~issipated
wrinkles.
Miss Carson, always charming to all
who surrounded her, won the poor
old actors heart by her ever-ready
smile; her pleasant greeting when
ever they CHANGED to meet; her ap-
parent interest in him, and iattering
courtesy.
In other words, Beatrice treated him
Just as she did everybody else, and
Godfrey Montague hadbeen so snubbed
and shouldered aside that he had al
most forgotten what 1t was like to be
treated as ar equal.
When Miss Carson heard that Mon
tague had been taken suddenly III, she
sent him some flowers and q few
words Of sympathy psnciled upon her
visiting card.
She was greatly surprised to re-
ceive in return a message from the
old man, begging her to call upon
him.
81 call 1t confoundedly cheeky
said the manager, but Beatrice only
smiled. 81 will go, poor old creature
They say he is not expected to live
and It is very little for me to do II 1
will give him any pleasure"
The sick old Thespian lay out
stretched upon his untidy bed In
sQualid little hall bedroom OF a third
rate boarding house.
Beatrice Carson had been as ten
Derby and luxuriousiy reared as
milionaire's daughter. The Carsoni
we're the aristocrats OF stagedom.
Poor old Monty, you are very Ill
are you not?" she sail softly, taking
a rickety chair beside the bed.
I'm dying" croaked Ivse-Av witt
a dramatic gesture Of relinquishinI
life.
ooh, / hope It Is not so bad as that
But It IT," the man persisted, "an'
/ want you to do something for M
before / pass over"
The sepulchral tone in which he nj
tered these words was drearily I'm
pressive.
"Of course, Monty, you know shal
be glad to do anything l can to max
/. you more comfortable"
"Anything?" demanded Godfrey
: raising himself on one elbow and III
ing her with hollow, glittering eyes.
"Why, yes" said Beatrice. some
: what nonplused by his earnestnesi
"Will you marry met"
e Beatrice Carson stared at the sic
man in undisgulsed bewildermen
f Surely he must be out of his min
She wondered whether she ought I
r call the landlady Of the house at ono
= or try to reason with him.
Remember | am dying" pante
= Godfrey, and you have Just pror
ised to do anything you could for me
, There, there, lie down." murmurs
Miss Carson, soothlngly. "You mui
not excite yourself so"
you think l am raving, but +
: not" he cried. "I shall not lie dow
until you have promised to send n
out Of this life a happy man. r
, sure I have always been miserab
enough living, you might be willing
let me die content"
So the man meant It. Miss CarsC
felt weak from the shock
!. What harm will. u do your" |
n ven on, pleading. You have
? husband and you do not want on
Well. marry me and you will ha'
all the prestige Of matrimony witho
I, the burden OF a man. together wi
the realization that you have sent OF
e human being to his grave %eestatical
IS glad"
d you are talking nonsense" ga
Ie Beatrice, moving i%mpatiently, There'
a 10 her CONSERVATION, the man brol
, into a pltiful spell Of weeping.
"Oh. for goodness sake! don't
that" she cried, alarmed at the DC
e sfbls effect Of such excitement up'
D poor, worn frame.
a. With difficulty he suppressed b
v sobs. "Will you marry mey' be q
u manded.
IF yes. II you viii lie down and
is quiet now"
"when7" asked the man.
= whenever you like"
After all, the gil thought, swift
why should she not humor hir