Evening star., 1911-08-14

| scorned." he heard her husband quoting.
| with a vicious laugh. before there had
| been time to shut the door.
Loveland went up to his own room.
more than a little troubled. He had
! learned to like Lille de Lisle. not only
for Bills sake. but for her own. She was
q sweet bright little creature. lady by
nature. though not by birth or education:
and If she had a chance. might even yet
in spite Of bad training-become q charm
ing actress. The Moon woman was Jeal-
Gus OF the stars youth and prettiness. OF
course; and now she meant to play her
rival a shameful trick. yet he might not
| warn the poor girl because OF that stupid
promise he had given.
| II was a new thing for Loveland to
trouble himself about the affairs OF his
| acouaintances: but he knew too well now
what II was like to be deserted by friends.
cold -shouldered by the world. not TO have
| learned how to feel for others. He was
genuinely uncomfortable about Lille. but
he could only make up his mind to stand
by the deposed star whatever happened
to her and to himself. For the present
he did not see what else he could do.
bound as he was to silence. But there
was one comfort, he consoled himself-a
new company could not be formed in a
minute. This was Saturday. They would
all go on to Bonnerstown next day, no
doubt perhaps Mrs. Jacobus would re-
consider the spiteful decision to which
her henpecked husband agreed with evi-
dent reluctance. In any case. there We're
few days in which to plan. Loveland
hoped that he might hear from England
in another week: and at worst. salare.
were payable on Saturdays He would
he the possessor Of ten hard-earned dol
lars that night.
Dinner had been at II. because OF the
matinee, which would begin at o'clock
Now 1t was already after l, and every
body had started for the theater, except
himself, the Jacobuses and Ed Blnney.
who was i'll with racking cough ana
keeping his room till the last minute.
was feeling. found him ready though
coughing hard. and they walked to the
Ashville Opera House together.
After all. salaries were not paid that
night. j. ]. informed the expectant mem
bers OF the company that business hadn't
run to it They must wait for their
money TIL next week. Bonnerstown was
a bigger place than Ashville, and there
was every prospect OF better things for
the future. Two or three or the actors
and actresses wheedled q few dollars out
of the manager to "go on" with; but they
we're ..old fakirs." as they would have
said themselves. and knew how to man
age such matters. Loveland. however.
took the news quietly. as he had begun
to take the various blows which fortune
successfully dealt him.
In these small towns the hotel break
fast was from till 8. or until $50 by
faVOr. anO on sundays, II one were u
quarter OF an hour later in coming down.
nothing actively unpleasant was said
aloud. though there might be mumblings
and dark looks On this Sunday morning
Loveland availed himself OF the, last
amount OF grace. hurrying down at
quarter to nine lest he should be told.
grumpiiy, that breakfast was cleared
away.
Ed Binney was in bed, for his room
mate had volunteered to carry something
up, but Lille de Lisle. PA and Ma Win
ter and Miss st. Claire were still at the
table.
Have the others finished and gone al
ready?" asked Loveland, for the two
Eccles were usually the last to appear.
unless II were y. j.. who invariably
took his wife's breakfast upstairs before
beginning his own.
NO. It's queer. none OF them have
been down yet." replied Mrs. Winter.
They wrote cards on their doors. saying
they weren't to be disturbed or their fires
to be made and didn't want breakfast.
The cards are up yet. It's the first time
they've ever done such a thing since
knew 'em, and that's two years"
at do hope they haven't committed sui
eide" whispered Miss ST. Claire, who bat
tened on detective stories.
Loveland did not offer any opinion. but
he flushed slightly on hearing the news
and went on eating his lukewarm break
fast with eyebrows drawn together In an
anxious frown. Could there he any con-
nection between this mysterious and un-
precedented conduct on the part of the
manager, his wife and his wifes family
and the secret proposal made. yesterday
to the Juvenile lead?
ITO be continued tomorrowl