The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-02-13

tell her the truth.
She seemed quite overwhelmed al
this. and | tool advantage Of the stu
alton to tel! her that I desired her to
make me happy instead of pleasing the
world by her plays. There is nothing
like such a sacrifice as | had made to
produce love. and | was rewarded ny
an acceptance.
During our engagement my fancee
told me that she was engaged In writ
ing another play. But III not offer
it to you.' she said. AFTER your no
BILE act in paying me for a play that
was worthless rather than hurt my
feelings it would be a shame for me
to put you to such Il test again"
"You will permit me to read 1t sim
ply as your critic. will you nOt?" l re-
piled.
We'll see about that when have
finished it."
One evening soon after this when !
called on Alice | met a theatrical man
from her house. ! wondered what he
had been doing there and wished t.
ask him. but r%efrained. | thought hp
looked ut me with something akin to
jealousy. We bid each other good
evening and passed on without n word
upon the subject that was uppermost
In the mind Of each. Entering the
house. | found Alice. and 1t was not
long before | gave her an opportunity
to inform me why he had called.
"Oh. you mustn't think that y"u are
the only string | have to my bow"
she replied la%ughingly. and that was
all | could get out Ut her.
The next day as I was about to en-
ter nv office Parkinson. the man ! had
e coming out Of my dancee's home.
passed by and. seeing me-. stopped and
said:
ut seems that you and ! are after
the same thing" be- said.
THE same thing: What do you
mean?"
"COme. Don't pretend to be stupid
You know where l met you last even
ing"
"Certainly ! dol"
"Wpll?"
"WeIl?'
1--WE got 1t all In my own hands. and
there's no Tive in your interfering. You
can't do anything"
"YOu speak in riddles"
"What nonsense: Own up. man.
You're trying to get ahead Of me. |
having been first In the field"
"See here. Parkinson" | said. with
rising color. Miss WoOdruff IL engag
ed to me. and there's no use for you t.
try to get ahead Of me. 1t Is you who
are intruding."
The most singular expression came
over bis face l have ever seen on tn.
c"Ountenance Of any one. He sttnNl
gaping ut me for a few moments. then.
with an abrupt good morning. turned
on his heel and left me.
l called ON Alice during the after
noon. hot for an explanation.
II supposed" ! said haughtily. ''tha,
you and I were enRagedY'
$50 did l."
"Wtll you please explain what You
mean by encouraging another MANI"
II encourage another MANI
I told her Of my meeting with Far
kinsOn and Of his having accused me- Of
trying tn get ahead Of him. She hurs,
into an uncomfortable fit Of laughter.
II think it time" she said. that you
and l came to an understanding. 81,
down. l have a story to tell you"
| Oleyed her impatiently.
1.-THE first time | SAW you" she said
TWAS when ! left you a play called
'COnstancy.' The next day the man
uscriIt was returned tn me by some
n who found it. though | don't t.
this day know where"
A cold chill began to creep down my
back.
II offered it to several other man
ayers and finally to Mr.. Parkinson
He brought it out under the name OF
"A Sylvan Butterfly"
"A Sylvan RuttprnyY"
"Yes. You remember that the play
was 4 great success"
Go on"
. - n1sANOu A10u VIZ W. y
losses o other failures through "A
Sylvan Butterfly Then you. out of
Difference to my feelings, paid me $5N'
for a play you had lost. Never mind
that now. dear: it's all in the family.
and I've made a good deal Of money
which you will share with me out Of
the play. And now you can under
stand why ! laughed at you when you
told ME Of Parkinson's accusation that
you were trying to get ahead Of him
He il trying to get me to sign a .
tract for my new play. have been
holding of till l could learn whether
you or he had better produce 1t. Hav-
ing made me success for me. he nat
urally feels entitled to my second pro-
dnctiOn. He knew nothing about my
engagement to you and thought you
were coming to see me with q view to
getting my play"
Having finished her explanation. or.
rather. confession. she leaned back on
her chnir and regarded me with an
amused expression. though there was
q slight sign Of worry Il 8 to how !