Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-06
THE TEMPTING
or TAVERNAKE
4 Tale Of Love, Mystery and Intrigue

mir
She was herself again almost in a mo
ment
Ill? Never in my life" she replied
only have been hurrying-we are lat,
already for the performance-and seeinr
you there well, It was quite shock. yot
/ know. Walk down with us and tell me
all about Il. Tell us what you are doing
here--or rather don't talk for a moment,
| It is all so amazing"
They turned down the narrow cobbled
street, the professor walking I'm the middle
| Of the roadway swinging his cane, a
very imposing and wonderful figure, with
the tails Of his frock-coat streaming in
the wind, his long hair only half-hdden
by his hat. He hummed tune to him
self and affected not to take any notice
Of the other two. Then Tavernake sud-
denly realized that he had done a cow
ardly action in leaving her without n
word.
There is so much to ask" she began
at last but YOU have come back"
She looked at his workmans clothes.
What have you been dolng?' she
asked. sharply
Working" Tavernake answered. good
work too. / am the better for IT, Don't
mind my clothes. Beatrice. have been
mad for time, but after all It has been
healthy madness"
ut was a strange thing that you did"
she said-'you disappeared"
lie nodded
Some day" he told her. "t may. per-
haps. be able to make YOU understand.
just now don't think that I could"
1T was I1lizabeth?" she whispered,
softly
1T was Elizabeth" he admitted
IhoN said no more then till they reached
tho hall She stopped at the door and
put out her hand timdly.
Il shall see YOU afterward?" she ven
turcd
'Do YOU mind my coming to the per-
formancc?" he asked.
She hesitated
"A few moments ago" she remarked.
smiling, "I was dreading your coming.
Now think that you had better. 1t will
he all over at 10 o'clock, and I shall look
for YOU outside. You are living in Nor
wlch?"
81 shall be here for tonight at anv
rate ne answered.
Very well, then" she said, "afterward
we will have a talk"
He rose and quilted tho place i'm
mediately she had finished. waiting in the
N'r' 'A''''A oiiN bbltuIet- -Ile came out
In a few minutes
Father is going to supper" she an
nounced, "at the inn where he has n
room for receiving people VIII YOU come
home with me for an hour? Then We can
go round and fetch him"
u should like to-" Tavernake answered.
Her lodgings were only n few steps
away-a strange little house in narrow
street She opened the front door and
lshered him in
You understand, OF course" she said.
smiling, that we have abandoned the
launts of luxury altogether"
He looked around at the tiny room with
rs struggling fire and horsehar sofa, |
inoleum for carpet oleoEraphs for pic |
ures. and he shvered not for his own
sake but for hers. on the sldeboard were
'ome bread and cheese and bottle of |
ginger beer.
Please imagine" she begged. tnking
he pins from her hat that YOU are I'm |
hose dear comfortable rooms of ours |
lown in Chelsea. Draw that easy-chaIr !
Up to what there Is Of the fire. and |
listen. You smoke still?"
II have taken to pipe. he admitted |
Then light 1t and listen" she went on, |
'moothing her hair for a minute in front |
# the looking-glass. You want to know
Jbout Elizabeth, of course"
- : eSt ne Sdlut u want TO know
elizabeth, on the whole" Beatrice con-
inued, got out of all her troubles very
veil. Her husbands people were wild
with her but Elizabeth was very clever
hey were never able to prove that she
lad exercised more than proper control
ver poor Wenham. He died two months
fter they took him to the asylum. They
hered Elizabeth a lump sum to waive all
laims to his estate. and she accepted 1t.
think that she is now somewhere on
he Continent"
And your" ne asked. "Whv did Won
cave the thcatre?"
1T was a matter of looking after my
ather," she explained. "You see, while
c was there with Elizabeth he had too
luch money and nothing TO do. The
onsequence was that he was always
ell, / suppose l had better say it-drink-
'g too much, and he was losing all his
esire for work. l made him promise
nat If / could get some engagements he
ould come away with me. so I went to
n agent and we have been touring like
MS for quite a long time"
But what life for you!" Tavernake
Sclaimed' Couldn't you have stayed
4 at the theatre and found him some
ling in London?"
She shook her head
''In London" she said. "he would never
ave got out of his old habits. And
ien'' she went on, hesitatingly, you
lderstand that the public want some-
ing else besides the hypnotism-"
Iavernake interrupted her ruthlessly.
'Of course 1 understand" he declared,
was there tonight. / understood at
ice why you were not very anxious for
Q to go. The people cared nothing at
about your fathers performance.
ley simply waited for you. You would
t the same money if you went round
thout him" !
She nodded. a trihe shamefacedIy.
L am so afraid some one will tell him." y
9 confessed They nearly always ask
D TO leave out his part OF the perform :
ce. They have even offered me more :
1ney II | would come alone But you
Q how II is. He believes in himself,
thinks he Is very clever and he be- ;
YES that the public like his show. II
the only thing which helps him 10 keep !
little self-respect, He thinks that my :
lging is almost unnecessary"
'avernake looked into that faint gIim-
n OF miserable fire, He was conscious
a curious feeling IN his throat How Y
lie he knew Of lfel The pathos OF
lat she had told him, the thought OF :
r bravely travelling the country and -
ging at third-rate muslc-halls, never
ding any credit 10 herself. simply that Z
+ father might still believe himself a =
N OF talent appealed to him lrresis- 4
ly. He suddenly held out his hand. y
Poor little Beatriee" he exclaimed. z