Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-07-21
Her Last
By Winaroxe Rnthon

uA q III WOIdS, UUl there was
no drawl in his eyes as he abruptly
turned away.
He wanted to reach a decision. He
seated himself with his back to Bush
nell and though rapidly.
The day Miss Wentworth had sent
for HIM to ask him to write the new
play she wanted. outlining the fact that
1t must be a play of the Creole life with
which he was identified, and a play
within a play, she told him how much
she had heard Of him and the ability
that was said to be his. His ability,
he had told her, he had never denied.
1t had been proven. he said with a
shrug of his shoulders, as If 1t were
something he could not help. But he
was tired. He had worked verythard.
He did not think ne ought to undertake
the commission with which she wanted
to charge him. What object could he
attain by writing something else? Rep
utation? He had that. Money? He
didn't want it. He could use no more
than he had. But, in the end. he began
to write the play. He said he found
that people always did the things Miss
Wentworth wanted them to do.
AS in a Kaleidoscope, there flashed
through his mind. as he sat there, pic
ture upon picture of his so far self
satisfactory career. And If he was
writing her play for her, 1t was not be-
cause she wanted him to do so. as he
had said, but because up to that time
his life had been-what had he called
it, 'unsatisfac tory"?-yes. unsatdsfac-
tory to himself And he had at last.
come to think hat she was the one who
could make 1t less so.
So. after heir two months acquaint-
anceship-a period they both used to
prove that his Judgment of certain DOW
ers was correct. with never a word in
plain language and only their eyes and
their sighs to help-he had given her
that night a rose, the rose. the gift. Not
one of his usual homages paid to wom-
en-, but in the manner. of the kind, and,
at the time that asks the question h
only a red, red rose can ask. Did he
dare believe as true the answer he
thought she had given? That was the
decision that Longchamps wanted to
reach.
He went back to Bushnell. who ner-
yously paced the stage.
"Well?' said Longchamps.
The fact is" Bushnell said, slowly,
II intend to take the lead in the play,
myself"
"Ah!" said I5ongchamps.
1T will be the first time" Bushnell
continued, as IL speaking to himself.
that shall ever have had the oppor-
tunity to hold Miss Wentworth in my
arms. l have looked forward to Il for
three years."
Eyes? ?" sal Lcngchamps.
What is the trouble with o two.
now ?" Miss Wentworth said, coming up.
behind them on her way to the stage
for the last scene.
"This!rH Longchamps said to her. j
mi. Bushnell insists hat our actress.
heroine shall marry the manager in the
climax of the new play"
But" he went on, II nave now made.
up my mind that he shall not! He says.
he intends to play the lead with you.
himself"
MIR. Bushnell!" she said.
"Valerie"- he commenced again.
And he says" interrupted Long.
champs, that he will not produce it
unless unless. the heroine does marry her man.
That is a difnculty," she said.
Then Lopgchamps took a step nearer
to her.
You tell me you are tired Of the
STAGE" he said, speaking so that she
alone could hear. II have a little place i
up here in Louisiana. Will you go up
there with me and let my sister take
care of you, and let me-ah-make you
a perfect play?"
h met his eager eyes.
ITO which character do you propose
to give the lead?" Bushnell asked,
breaking in in voice n in person.
ITO h %penniless New Orleans news
paper man." L~ongchamps blazed out,
WllOIIl lIlC uCIOlI0 d6h0U " WIIIS u0T
new play!"
She was Idly kissing the rose in her
hand.
Come into my rOom," she said, IAN
I'll ak 1t over with you"
She placed her hand on his arm and
he started to draw her away.
"The scene! The cen Miss Went
WORTH" the stage manager cried. II.
am holding 1t for you!"
Bushnell reused himself.
Ring down the %curtain!" she said, (
savagely. Tell them she Is sick"
Say something to her!" Clark en- (
treated him. Its the last perform,
ance. man! It spoils the play!"
"Oh, yes" Bushnell said, duly, ut
spoils the play"
He was watching her retreatinR fR-
ure. Smiling. she passed onward In.
sweet, stately silence. the train Of her
regal costume. unheeded, sweeping the,
dusty stage. and L~ongchamps stopped
at the door for a moment AZ she en-.
tered the reception room Of her dress-,
Ing apartments. "You might give to
the audience" he called back e his
shoulder. when You tell them they
Can get their money back the real rea-
son OF Miss Wentworth's refusal to M.
tsh, because I shall give Il to the news
papers later. It was her last appear-
ance."
His only answer was the sound OF the.
signal bell n the thud OF the curtain
pole a. It struck the stage rather heav-,
lily. Outside he could hear Bushnelrs
voice beginning:
Ladies' and gentlernen-s
He did not wait TOR more. for inside
the threshOld before him Miss Went.
worth's dnaid stu invttiAgiy held open