Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-05

wonder, and womans rage and chagrin that
whitened her cheeks through their overabundant
rouge And he meant it! She stared at him breathess
this disgraced daughter of dShonoed father and for
wild heartbeats space of rapture knew that he
meant it. Then she turned away silently her trembling
lips refusing the denial her pride and somethng-a
passionate self sacrifice demanded 1t must not be!
He he of all men, should not share the shame that lay
lrrevOCably upon her and hers.
A ND suddenly in the of that moment there
broke Shrl cry oath, and the sound of hurry
ing feet. Through the old stage door figure came
stumbling Feeble tears ran down it's face as it ran "e
them, tell them ALL" it cried ncoherently and thrust
aside all who would have stayed it. So, upon the
boards he had not todden for years. Old King Lear
There he turned and faced them. His voice was
hoarse and trembling with grief and shame; but he stood
erect in the great days of his trumphs. @You called
my girl thief he cried "Fools! Imbeciles all! My
Cordela wouldn t-couldn't-st to save her life
Yea might have known it |, the drunken old sot
you have all jeered at Old King Lear, the most
damnabe reprobate who misused sweet girl
lived loyal daughter shaved and starved
for his worthless, rum-soaked soul Could such cur
sink lower than to become thief?'
He turned to the prima donna Il came to see you,
he cried al to borrow, beg, or wheedle money.
And saw the accurSed baubeS, and would have gone
to lower mres of degradation; but she my daughter
Oh, fools, fools, fools! You should have known she
wouldnt STEAL but would take the shame-to save-her
father"
His voice broke. Great tears running down his
furrowed checks. ooh, God my gir!' he whispered
brokenly And then, Lets away!' he cried wildly, and
struggled blindly up the stage.
A keen-eyed one cried out-but too late. They saw
the old figure in the semdarkness, stumble the
open trap and through and down into the backness
of the depths below.
He was still breathing when they brought him up and
laid him gently down. No hands lacking in help
and illustrations; but it only his daughter who
knelt beside him that his old eyes saw.
"Cordelia, Cordeia,' he whispered, @stay ittle!"
The broken mind swung back to the old nights the old
play that had made him famous. @What ist thou say
est?" he muttered "Thou'1t come no more! Never
never-never- never' His voice broke. The white
head fell back against her knee the eyes closed "Hear
the applause! he murmured family. @But don't raise
the curtain; for-the- lights-are-
piteous cry broke from the kneeing girl. ooh,
Father she sobbed, "come back You were all had
and | am alone Father am afraid"
CORDELIA!' 1t very gentle hand that rested
- her shoulder, and yet compelled her upward
1ook,a tender face, with all its strength, that bent
above her. with honest the handsome eyes, and
back of them, and shining for her. and her alone the
light that makes the whole world beautiful
"Cordela, said the voice, and it like caress
may take you HOMEGROWN And moment later
drawing her from her PROSTATE, stricken position up
ward to the shelter of his arms, "y sweetheart GOMEZ"
And in that moment the daughter of poor "Old King
Lear" knew that by the side of Death, she had
ntoher "an fare countree of Happiness and Love-