The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-07-03
The Course Of
\ True Love y

tere.t was intensified 10 the pitch Of
excitement by What was being re-
veaied 10 hipa II was as though some
magician with a wave Of hts wand
had carried him hack to ten years
ESQ. whsn as . young man % twenty
i've he had sued. and sued IN vain
for the love Of Aithss standsn.
Ths very words he hsa spoken then
she had put into the mouth OF her
hero. and the very words she had
used herself on that memorable even
ms she was speaking now on the
stage:
Il have no room In my life for love
or marriage. I have determined to
live for art and for art alone until I
have reached the summit Of my am
bition'
How well he remembered her de-
eIsion and the despair II had brought
him.
with the beginning of the second
act ave years have siapssd and the
actress has reached the goal of her
ambition. and with n a determination
to give herself TO the man she Lover.
But II Is too late He comes 10 tell
her that he loves anothsr'
II was only as the curtain was fall
Ing for the last time that Aithss be-
came aware of John Trsvor's pres
encs In the theatre. when across the
footlights his eyss held hers for
brief second, and flashed 10 her the
message that her ssors, was known
al last
n found her
alone and had time to notice the list
less attitude. the tired lines about
the beautiful eyes
How you startled me. Joint" she
cried.
lie STROBE forward and Imprisoned
her hands 10 a close. compelling grasp.
Althsa." he said. "Aithea--iook at
me-
: what Is itY" she asked. In the old
} careless way he knew so we'll You
) sound serious"
! Il am serious. Aithea. il The Lad
. der OF PANE a true story Some Of
Z IL IL. 1 knowbut l mean the whole
Z OF it2'
. she struggled to release her hands.
but he held them all the tighter.
what nonsense" she laughed soft.
~. Whatever made you think Of
such n thingr
Don't play with me. Althea." he
! said sternly.
NO" she replied. slowly. TT 10 not
. all true"
His face went gray under the shock.
I I'm sorry" he said simply. 81 waa
: hoping II might have been"
The next moment she was alone
with closed door between herseif
. and the happiness OF which she had
4 deprived herself.
She had sent him away. and some
, thing told her that he would never
sue for her love again. with pas
sionate cry she dung herself on the
couch and buried her face In the cush-
e ions
..
= 1t was only when he had rsgained
il the stage entrance that John Trevor
4 discovered he had left his hat and
gloves In Althea's dressing room.
n lie heard his own name spoken ir
4 despairing accents by the woman whs
had so often refused his love: ther
|. came a passion OF weeping that sem
the blood ebbing away from Johns
{ face.
|, lie knelt down and drawing Aithes
into his arms. kissed her gently. She
o made no resistance and his hear
n lesped afresh.
Then IL was true after aii7' NJ
asked in a voice that trembied win
ID eager JOY.
4 She nodded. and with an exeiama-
a TO her feet.
Dear" he said. do you remembei
a the last time we had supper togeth
y err? DO you remember the toast W.
Is drank"
h 'sTo The Ladder of Famer" salt
Il John with a whimsical smile.
very tender look erept Int
- no" she said with sweet gravity
l. wen drink a toast to Love"