New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-05
SUNDAY MAGAZINE FOR JANUARY S. 1913

wonder, and one womans rage and chagrin that
whltcncd her checks through their ovcrabundant
rouge And he meant it, She stared him GREATNESS,
this disgraccd daughter Of dshonorcd father and for
one wild hcartbcats space Of rapture knew that he
meant il. Then She turned away silently, her trembling
lips refusing the denial her pride and something-a
passionate self sacrihcc-dcmandcd 1t must not be!
He he Of all men, should not share the shame that lay
irrcvocably upon her and hers.
A ND suddenly the tcnscncss Of that moment there
broke a Shr cry, an oath, and the sound Of hurry
ing feet. Through the old stage door a figure came
stumbling Feeble tears ran down its face as it ran "cl
them, tell them all" it cried ncohcrcntly, and thrust
aside all who would have stayed it. So, out upon the
boards he had tOddCn for years came Old King Lear
There he turned and faced them. His voice was
hoarse and trembling with grief and shame; but he stood
erect, as in the great days OF his rumphS You called
my girl a thief" he cried "Fools! Imbccilcs all! My
Cordcla wouldn't oudn't-stcal to save her life.
Hcl might have known it was |, the drunken old sot
you have all jccrcd at as Old King Lear the most
damnabc rcprobac who ever misiScd sweet girl as
lived loyal daughter shaved and starved
for his worthless, rum-soakcd soul. Could such
sink lower than to become thief;
He turned TO the prima donna. 81 came to you,
he cried 81 came to borrow, beg, whccdlc money.
And saw the accurScd baubcs, and would have gone
TO lower mrcS Of degradation; but shc my daughter
Oh, fools fools, fools You should have known she
wouldn't steal but would take the shame to savc-hcr
father
His voice broke Great tears were running down ms
furrowcd checks. "Oh, God, my girl he whispered
brokcnly And then, "LctS away he cried wildly, and
struggled blindly up the stage
\ kccn-cycd one cried Out-but too late. They
the old figure, in the scmdarkncss stumble over the
open trap and through and down into the backncss
Of the depths below.
He was still breathing when they brought him up and
laid him gently down No hands were lacking in help
and mnisrations: but it was only his daughter who
knclt beside him that his old eyes
"COrdClia, COrdCa,' he whispered, stay Il ttlCi'
The broken mind swung back to the old nights, the old
play that had made him famous. "What iSt thou say
est nc muttcrcd "1hoult come no more! Never
ncvcr-ncvcr never" His voice broke The white
head fell back against her knee the eyes closed car
the applause, nc murmurcd family. But don't raise
the curtain; ior-thc lights arc-out'
pitcous cry broke from the knccng girl. "Oh,
Father" She sobbcd, "comc back! You all had,
and am alone Father am afraid
CORDELIAI 1t was a very gentle hand that rested
~ her shoulder and yet compelled her upward
look-a tender face, with all its strength, that bent
above her. with honest tears in the handsome eyes and
back Of them, and shining for her, and her alone, the
light that makes the whole world beautiful
"Cordcli said the voice, and It was like a CarcSS,
"inav take YOU homc-now; And moment later,
drawing her from her prostratc stricken position up
ward 10 the shelter Of his arms, "My sweetheart. come
And in that moment the daughter Of poor odd King
Lear knew that even by the side Of Death, she had
come ohcr AIN fare counrcc Of lapplnc, and Love