Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-03-16

In the one glance I gave her I saw
the pallid agony Of her face, and my
heart was near broken with despair.
One cry came from her lips, sound
half sob, half moan, breathed and was
broken. She had tainted, lying inert
against me.
We were on the bridge now. The
seconds of our time were numbered.
Leaving the machine to run straight,
with tense rapidity l threw myself
over its back and rudely dragged Elsa
to a place beside me on the box that
contained the power. There l knelt,
facing forward. Then. still kneeling,
l gathered up my love In my arms,
holding her close to my bosom.
There were shouts Of wonder and
alarm from others on the bridge. The
time that now remained before the
crash could be only seconds. l straight
ened myself on my knees, then leaned
back abruptly. Elsa still in my arms.
In an instant I was falling backward;
then my feet touched the flooring Of
the bridge.
fell heavily on my side. My last
thought was that at all costs she must
not suffer harm. Then blackness closed
in on me, and I was lost in nothing
ness.
They told me afterward that the
crash of the motorcar against the rail
and its headlong rush into the river
below were wonderful and terrifying.
As for Elsa and me, we knew nothing
Of 1t all. When l regained conscious
ness, however, Elsa was kneeling by
me, her eyes beaming tenderness and
pity.
Clumsily rose to my feet. was
aching In every bone. but I was not
seriously harmed.
L was soiled with the dirt Of the
street, little bloody from bruises
here and there, very weak and trem-
bling, but after a moment my brain
cleared. and l was able to climb into
a hanson. AS leaned wearily against
the cushions Elsa's hand stole to mine
and clasped 1t gently. She turned her
face to me, and / saw that her eyes
were filed with tears.
THANK you," she said.
There was q beautiful kindliness In
her voice, a soft, womanly apprecia-
ton Of the service | had rendered, a
restrained emotion of tenderness. But,
weak, suffering, dazed, yet perceiv-
ed that here there was no passionate
fervOr.
made q formal answer, then rested
silent. Elsa, in sympathy for my
mood, said no more.
The next morning went to her.
She met me with eager solicitude as to
my condition after the accident. an
swered briefly.
ELSA, come to release you from
your engagement to me-"
The color faded from her face, and
she stared at me in amazement.
"Yes," I continued; II believe you
thought you loved me. You have been.
you are, my friend. but | have seen
the passion you can feel, the depth.
the ardor, of your heart, and l know
your love is not for me. So l release
you"
"You have seen? Where? When?
she stammered wonderingly.
M have seen you on the stage, In
Ansteed's arms, his Juliet. his Mar
garet, in the new play. Oh, and 1t
has broken my heart to see you lying
so willingly in his embrace. your eyes
blazing love into his! Yes. Elsa; 1t Is
death to give you up, but ! know l
have no choice. for your heart Is not
mine, but his"
Elsa laughed. l recoiled in mingled
indignation and sorrow.
"You are amused by thisr cried.
Forgive me-" she said very seri-
ously. "But you are so foolish, dear
est Let me tell you something. You
have given me the greatest compli-
ment have ever received as an ac-
tress. And you were really jealous!
oh, you darling! Almost am glad OF
It. Hear me. On the stage play my
part-my part. do you understand!
Nothing more. or the stage. with
you, I am not artificial; am only
natural. To my lover on the stage l
am his heroine, silly. passionate.
weeping, mad, anything the part de-
mands-a thousand things. With you
I am only one thing. natural, simple
woman who loves, who loves-you!
Are you content7 With you l show
only what feel. Isn't that enough?'
Somehow, as she spoke. the scales
fell from my eyes. ! saw there in her
gentle tenderness the profounder pas
sion of sincerity. of abiding love. l
drew her to me, my heart beating a
reveille Of Joy.
"As to Ansteed, l have asked our
manager to discharge him. He leaves
this week. Oh. such a man! I'd rath-
er rant to a stick! And you. sweet
hearth Oh. I love you too much to be
actress to you! Besides. really you
ought to be content, for-well, just for
this-I love you!"
And then my kiss silenced her.