Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1914-07-09


her cue she felt dumb, crippled. almost
blinded for one moment The smile on
zilla Paget's face, 90 she stepped
from the wings, Btung her into action.
There was scorn IN It, and cruelty
smoothed over by q sweet, beguiling
perfidy, which aroused In the girl q
sudden hate that she had never felt
in her life before. The hatred made
her forget everything except her part.
The recollection of q bit Of gossip
had flashed to her memory: zilla
Puget had prophesied that her Cor
della" would be q dead failure. Be
fore the end Of that second act the In
tense loathing and scorn which Merry
had put into her lines became real.
The woman understood. She shrank
with terror which was scarcely simu'
lated during the girls denunciation Of
q mother who had lost all claim upon
q child for love or respect Seven
times the curtain rose and fell upon
the two women. Once O volley OF
Kisses was hurled at Zilla Paget, and
she smiled in happy triumph. Oswald
and Merry stood in the wings watch
ing the act. The intensity which
Dorcas threw into her part stirred
both men strongly, as II did the audi
ence. They had anticipated womanly
sweetness and tenderness. but they
had not gagged her emotion to the
depths.
Il never dreamed she could do any
thing like this" said Oswald slowly.
Merry did not speak. He had caught
Zilla Paget's subtle smile. He knew
there was more than acting In the
scene.
While Dorcas sat gazing into the
red caves OF the coal FIRE she went over
each situation in the play. step by
step Once she buried her face In
the folds OF her shawl; her cheeks
were throbbing holly. She felt Merry's
kiss burn upon her lips. There had
been no real kisses at rehearsal. The
trust and love and gratitude with
which the broken old convict turned to
his child seemed real for a moment;
she felt it when the actor touched
her lips. Then she had fallen sob
bling into his arms. She heard the
audience sob with her. When she
turned to glance aside through half
blinded eyes, she met the derisive
smile Of Zilla Paget, who stood in the
wings. There was jealousy In her
scorn. Her part was over for the
night; she was dead to people In
front. They had forgotten her, in spite
Of the applause she had won a half
hour before. 1t hurt her vanity.
Dorcas came out OF her reverie with
a start. The door behind her closed.
and Enoch walked in. His face was
glowing with eager, impetuous tri-
umph, his cheeks were flushed. and
his eyes shone. He stopped suddenly
to kiss his sister. She did not speak.
1t seemed years since she had seen
him in such mood.
"Dorry," he cried, why did you rush
home? Everybody was waiting to con-
graduate you. You lifted people on
their feet: swear, you took me OF
mine! The critics went wild over
you and wanted to interview you.
Tomorrow you'll be the talk OF the
town"
Everything that had blurred life
seemed to vanish. 1t was wonderful
that in a few hours the dreams OF a
lifetime should have come true. The
girl laughed. Her heart had suddenly
grown light.
"Enoch, cannot make myself be-
lieve It."
He stood beside her with a proud
smile upon his lips "Dorry, you're
queer proposition. Any other girl
would have had her head turned by
the triumph tonight. Why, child. in
three hours you climbed straight onto
a pedestal that many women work half
a lifetime to reach. Even then they
often miss It."
Enoch bent and lifted her face till
her eyes looked into his. There were
minutes" he said fondly. when
actually questioned whether 1t was
the little sister herself or not"
Dorcas had never seen her brother
30 strangely excited. She wondered
for a moment II he had been drinking.
but she saw It was the intoxication OF
sudden success. not Of wine. He paced
about the library. talking. laughing.
building a thousand plans for the
future. The girl watched him Gu.
riously. II was a strange transition
from the sullen silence OF months.
The Enoch OF light.hearted boyhood
days had returned.
You have a great future. Derry"
He stopped abruptly and his voice
grew grave. There is one thing
want to say. Don't" he hesitated and
began to pace the room again, as II
choosing his words carefully, don't
make a hero OF Merry. He did well,
tonight. have seen him set the whole
town talking as he did in 'Esterbrook,'
then topple back and go down, away
down."
Dorcas rose from her chair and
tossed the long braids Of hair over her
shoulders. Her eyes and cheeks were