Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-08-08
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THE ROOT OF EVIL ]
BY THOMAS DIXON
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Copyright, 1911, by Thomas Dixon.
Pub. BY Doubleday, Page & Co., N. Y.

between them.
With the liberal use of money she
made the acquaintance Of a member OF
the chorus of the grand opera company
who agreed to report to her every
movement in Harriet's life.
At the beginning of the season the
usual quarreling Of the stars gave the
young singer the opportunity of her
life, and Mans friend reported that
the little golden haired understudy was
suddenly booked to sing the LEADING
role in Faust on account Of the ill
ness of the star.
IF course, the cats not i'll at ALL
the chorus lady volunteered to inform
Nan over the telephone. She's only
pretending, to bring the manager to
his knees. He's called her bluff and
the little ones going on in her part
and she's in the seventh heaven of de-
light"
will she succeed?" Nan broke in,
eagerly.
What? as Marguerite in Faust, that
poor little kid? She will-nit! I'm
sorry for her. She'll need friend to
take her home tonight. It's a dog
mean trick of the manager to make a
monkey of her. She's a good little
thing; everybody likes her."
"All right, that will do, thank you,
Nan interrupted shortly, as she hung
up the receiver.
She was not surprised when Stuart
accepted her invitation to spend the
evening in her box at the opera-the
first time he had allowed himself to
be alone with her since their return
from the cruise.
YES, Man," he answered quickly,
I'll go with pleasure. A little friend
of mine is to sing a great role tonight
I'm so glad you're going. 1 want you
to hear her and help me applaud"
Now she knew it! For the first time
in her life she began to realize what
Stuart meant to her; what his refusal
to love another woman had meant
For the first time she knew that she
had built the foundations of her hap
piness on the certainty that he could
never love another woman and that
ne would die her devoted, if unsatisfied,
slave.
For the first time she felt the tigress
instinct to defend what she held to
be her own, right or wrong. She could
tear this woman into pieces-the lit
tie poverty stricken nobody, an under
study in an opera troupe! And yet If
she should succeed tonight-the thought
was focating-tomorrow her name
would be on the lips Of thousands and
new star would be shining in the
musical world.
Stuart took Harriet to the stage door
on his way for Nan. AS the cab
wheeled up Broadway he was in a fe-
yer of excitement over the outcome
of the nights work.
It's horribly unfair, little pal, for
them to thrust you into such a position
with only few hours rehearsal"
I'm only too thankful for the
chance, JIM" she answered serenely.
Let me see if your hand is tremb-
ling"
He took her hand in his and held IL
a moment, looking tenderly into her
expressive eyes.
II never saw anything like it in my
life!" he exclaimed. You're as cool
and unconcerned as if you were going
to hear me sing instead of making
your first appearance in one of the
great roles of an immortal opera. You
haven't the slightest fear of failure?"
She smiled with joyous eagerness as
she replied:
Il know that l can sing tonight,
may not make a deep impression oil
create the slightest excitement, but
can't fail"
IF you should, dearie," he said, with
deep tenderness, promise me not tc
take it to heart. Such a trial is moi
fair to you. Even the greatest stal
could not do her best under such con-
ditions."
mo, they couldn't he induced tC
sing under such conditions. But / an
divinely happy over it. l promise yor
that not a tear shall stain my face if
fail l shall only laugh and try again.
Her faith was SO serene, Stuart was
reassured.
At the stage door he held her hant
in parting and whispered:
MY soul and body will be yours to.
night, dearie, remember that! I've
permission from the manager to mee'
you behind the scenes after the las
curtain. Be sure to wait a moment
before you go to your dressing room
mo, I'll see you in my room. l shall
be so proud of 1.-THE stars room fol
one night at least! The maid vii
show YOU the way"
Il will be in the Bivenss box, the
second from the stage on the right
Don't forget to glance that way, nov
and then"
A look of pain clouded the fair face
but he could not see it in the shadows
and with a last warm pressure of hel
hand he was gone.
Harriet found to her joyous surpris,
her dressing room transformed into
bower of roses. A great bouquet o
three dozen American beauties on he
table bore her fathers name and al
the rest were from Stuart. She had
vague surmise that he paid for he
fathers. too. Every tint of rose tina
blooms he had sent, hiring an artis
to arrange them so that their col
curing made a veritable song OF 10!
as she entered There was no card t.
indicate who had sent these wonderful
| flowers, but she knew. There wa
| only one man on earth who loved hel
well enough. Her heart gave throi
of daring joy at the thought! Surely
such token meant more than merely
the big brotherly tenderness which h
assumed 50 naturally. And then he
heart sank with the certainty that h
didn't mean it i'm the deep sense sh,
"a ralla6 har '1aar' aDf