Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1913-02-07
The
Tragedienne
By DOROTHEA HALE

10 her rooms at her hotel and, being
very tired. took her supper alone and
In kimono. Her apartments were in
q wing Of the hotel on an upper story.
where she could rest In quiet after the
strain of her performances. She had
scarcely got into negligee and seated
herself at her supper table. that she
always found laid for her upon coming
from the theater, when there came a
knock at the door. and before she could
reply to 1t man entered. The actress
looked at him In establishment.
Il witnessed your performance this
evening"" he said. land was very much
impressed with it."
Il am not receiving visitors at this
hour. sir. Who brought you to my
apartments?"
mo one. need no introduction to
those whom I treat officially. And
after l am through with them they
need no Introduction to any one else.
! am the man who freed two Of your
husbands wives from their troubles.
Anne Boleyn spoke her last word to
me. and Catherine Howard did the
same"
There was a glitter In the eyes Of the
unbldden guest which even without his
words would have stamped him for a
lunatic.
The actress at once realized that,
separated from the rest Of the house
as she was. should the man become
dangerous she would be without as
sistance.
On the wall there was a button to
ring bell, but already the man was
between her and It. She was a coura-
geous woman and believed that the
only safety from dethroned intellect
was to master It.
"These women you mention 40 my
husbands wives" she said. "were not
married to him. He never had but
one lawful wife. myself. The others
were his mistresses."
This was said with all the command.
ing force the actress had given in her
character Of the deposed queen. The
lunatic stood looking at her. evidently
taken aback.
| Ibid not he who was your sovereign
as well as your husband put You
awayT
mot by any law. human or divine.
The pope alone could annul our mar
rage. and the pope would not Then
Henry declared himself pope and d..
vorced me. He had as much right to
declare himself God"
"But not the power. He could de-
clare himself head Of the church in
England and as such divorce you.
But did not come here to discuss the
legality of his divorce from you.
came for another purpose. relieved.
as ! have said. Queen Anne Boleyn Of
her troubles and Queen Katherine
Howard. When saw tonight at the
theater the anguish Of greater queen
than either of the others my heart
was melted In sympathy, and I longed
to make you happy. as ! made them
happy"
The actress heart was beating like
a kettledrum. She formed a dozen
different plans for calling assistance.
but abandoned them all as soon az
formed. She believed that at the
slightest show Of weakness the man
would be upon her. He had no az.
nor could she see that he had any 9TH
er weapon. but she did not doubt that
he. had concealed the means to take
her life. Her only chance was to
dominate him.
do you class me with those jadesY
| she said fercely. IL, the daughter Of
q king and not drop of blood In my
veins that Is not royal. to be mention
ed with those women. In whose veins
ran not drop Of blood that was
royali Do you dare speak Of me In
the same breath with Anne Boleyn.
whose relations were Of the common
herd. or with Katherine Howard. who.
though her blood was Of the best.
there was still between 1t and mine
that great gap that divides royalty
from the commoner2 And why did
you behead her? Because abe was
impure"
She kept her eye fixed on the lunatic
and spoke the words 90 vigorously,
shaking her ist at him and bringing 1t
down with blow on the table. that
he made q step backward. Seeing her
advantage, she rose with view to fol-
lowing 1t up.
"And you have come here to treat
me a. you have treated these low born
creatures3 Are you aware Of your
sacrilege7 Are you aware that you ara
proposing the same death you inflicted
on them? You propose that alone
which can divorce my dignities?"
She made a step forward. and the
man made step backward.
Got Go to the Tower and there be-
hold the spot where you sent the two
30 called queens to their long home.
and on your Bonded knees ask for
givenesa for the insult you have Of.
fered to a queen Of England"
She raised her arm. the 6st clinched,
and. rising on her toes to give her
height. glared at him with the COM
bined dignity Of half dozen queens
And 20. fearing every moment to lose
her hold on him. yet summoning all