The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-04-07
HIS UNKNOWN RIVAL
By LOUIS e. CHARLTON.

two In spangled garments behind eIit'
tering lights. and then went Into DARK
ness and forgetfulness again. They
were only Of the mob. They might
have died any day. either Of them Or
both. and the manager would merely
have written letter. or nodded .
word. and hardly a soul in the next
nights audience would have known
that there had been . change In the
chorus.
And yet these two Of the chorus
were set far above the common lot OF
mummers and onlookers alike. They
we're lovers. When the opera demand.
ed that they sing the chorus OF .
drinking song. the eyes Of these two
met and drank to each other the in.
toxicating song Of silent love. When
their hands met in some stately min.
uct or may peasant dance. the thrill
of shrinking. fearfully sweet pleasure
touched them both. The people be-
yond the footlights saw none Of these
things. Every night he waited until
she came from the big dressing rooms.
he opened the door Of the stage en-.
! trance to let her pass out. and with .
smile and tender adieu. she was gone
into q world he knew not. Several
times he had tried when It had been
fierce weather. to accompany her to
her home. to lend her aid. protection.
but no, she had always gently declined
these offers. and 90 they both came
nightly out Of the unknown. danced
awhile in the light Of love that new.
er spoke. and went out again into the
unknown.
But one night he was waiting for
her sooner than usual. Eager and
trembling he waited for her coming.
He held out his hands to her. She
hardly knew why but she took them
in her own and looked into his face
wistfully. "Well." she said timidly.
"Oh. Fam" he said. you know what
I mean. love you. that's all. Long
ago I told you with my deeds. and
you understood. But that 10 not
enough. Now. Fan. must know. WIN
you be my wife? Strange 10 It not.
that I hardly dared ask before?"
Pain crept into her face as she list.
ened-pain that struggled with Joy.
"Yes." she said in low agitated
tones. Il knew that you loved me. !
knew-and-I loved you, too-dear. !
love you now-but-I cannot marry
you'll cannot"
Her head dropped upon his breast
and she sobbed softly. Then she held
herself erect and wiped away the tears
quickly. "You understand" she said
DULY. insistently-"I cannot marry
you"
An awful thought came to him "a
she spoke. Could It be that she was
already married-belOngin to anoth
er? How should he have known? Had
she not always gone into the unknown
and forbidden him to follow! And
there came to his lips that cry 0l
thousands like him, thousands Of low
ers In whom sudden jealousy creates
. frightful monomania of suspician.
"Ah, then there is--sOmebody else!'
Why Is II that lovers always think
that because they are not chosen some
one else must needs be? Is there M
such thing as a woman who refuses t
love simply from disinclinatiOn, in
stead of from previous exhaustion o.
the sentiment?
But in this case the girl nodded hel
head and said
Yes, there is somebody else"
"Then why" he retorted with quicl
anger evolved from his passive grief
did you not tell me SO before-witl
your eyes? Why did they always sa!
Yes If your lips were to say No!
You are cruel. How is It possible
And he--who Is he? All. well. wha
does It matter? You have turned m,
day into night will go away int
It,"
! He turned to 60. but her hand wa
on his sleeve.
, STOP" she said Come with me
. I will show you the somebody else
. And It Is you who are cruel. DO no
say that love you? Come"
: Thus for the first time he accomps
! MED her into what was to be no NOR
, the unknown.
They reached the house at last Sh'
} opened the door and beckoned him Il
follow her. In the dim, shabby room
he saw . figure lying on the bed,
wasted. shrunken figure that breathe,
, heavily.
This" she said. rs my mother
She IL dying inch by inch Of . was,
Ing disease. Every moment that 4
not spent at the theater I must devot'
to her. Every thought Of mine mus
be for her and her comfort. She, sh,
has so little left Of life. Would 70,
have me deprive her Of the care sh
needs?"
A lump came into the mans throa
and seemed to wish to stick there for
ever. He choked little hoarsely, an,
when he had found his voice. asked:
And Is this-the somebody else I.
She nodded. and turned to the bed
but the visitor picked her up in hi
armo c,,dJop1y orA 100000 - =,