The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1911-03-17

| they did so neither Of them felt that
he or she was exactly acting A little
tremor went through Dora's body as
Holcomb put his arm around her, and
! the young man himself forgot for the
time being that they were only sup
/ posed to be rehearsing.
1t was a simple little scene that Hol-
comb had written. but it had lot Of
sincerity in it and much directness and
was unqualifedly sincere:
HE.
You are not happy?'
SHE.
II am honest"
II should be patient, Clara. If the stu
alton brought contentment to any one.
have been away a year"
/ 1T should have been forever"
HE.
Cant you see, Clara, that a stronger
hand than ours directs it?"
SHE
ITO what end. to what good?"
HE.
Let us obey and see. 1t is fater
The old man bad been watching
them grimly as he smoked his olga
| rette When their backs were turned
to him he arose and quietly left the
room.
y know you love me ard have given
me faith again and ambition and ideas
! and endurance
Holcomb turned and looked and saw
Vavin moving into the other room,
Dora" he whispered earnestly,
don't let US make a great mistake,
Don't think that it is the failure of this
play that has made NE Respondent
That wasn't in Ludlow's lines" the
girl answered.
mo. they are mine, and they are
more than real" be replied. Its up to
you, and if you don't lose faith in me
| will write something some day that
you will be proud of. Do say that you
love me-" he pleaded as he drew her
toward him closer.
81 have been so sorry, Willard. for
you. The way the papers treated you
was simply awful"
'They can do that again and again."
he replied, IF it will only make you
Vavin's step was heard returning.
Say that you love me. It's in the
part, you know. Dora"
81 do" answered the girl.
"a little louder. mes enfants." said
Vavin as he entered the room. You
are playing the scene too soto voice.
You must excuse me- he said, when
they both laughed guiltily. II was
called to the other room by the tele-
phone But you see, don't you, that
the moonlight is better|'
"Oh, it is wonderfully So" said Dora.
''Now. all these changes" said Vavin
as he turned up the lights in the room,
"can be made in one day. You will
let me help you, will you not?' turning
to Holcomb.
''You have helped me now, sir, more
than l can tell you"
Perhaps" replied the old man, ut is
not necessary, my friend. Tomorrow
we will call a rehearsal for the after
noon. One more favor I would like to
ask of you. Mr.. Holcomb. l had in
tended to go home with mademoiselle
as her escort. find, however, that
there is a gentleman waiting down
stairs for me on financial business?
May l imposeT
Holcomb shook him warmly by the
hand, and as he helped Dora on with
her coat she whispered to her bene-
factor:
you like him, don't you? Isn't he
simply wonderful
"He is a very wonderful man with
out doubt" was the dry response, and
as he closed the door after them he
shook his head and repeated ironically.
''he is indeed a very wonderful man."
1t was a happy moment for Jules
Vavin. With all his intellect and his
irony he was still a sentimentalist
There was still much in him of the
poet lad who had come up to Paris
years before with his bundle of verses
under his arm.
But there was more than sentiment
in the little comedy that he had enact
ed tonight. There was a climax. as
he thought. TO a life tragedy-a trag-
edy that even his intimates knew lit
tie about, for after his first grand
passion Jules Vavin had become
man extremely taciturn about his own
personal affairs. He had been ready
tonight to do more than play with
these two lovers. and Dora Fullerton's
happiness necessitated vigorous action.
But happily neither had really sus-
pected the depth Of the old mans SYM
pathy and had lent themselves to his
cunning in a way that made him most
! happy
"A wonderful man indeedr' he re-
peated as he stood in the moonlight
and contemplated the glass of wine in
\ his hand.
! The servant. who had been with
him for twenty years. discreetly moved
about the room putting out the lights.
"She is very like her mother. Henri"
said the old man.
VERY like her mother monsieur"
was the faithful Servitor's reply.
| Tho dra poffgt xVaa silent for n mo