Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-07

you," he was cXultinE. And that's
why ! wrote YOU that you were free.
i planned to set the law after you in
few months--just when you'd had
enough of married life together to
make both hearts break if YOU were
ever parted. Then my money affairs
began to go wrong. and ] thought of
better plaza way TO save myself
from bankruptcy and Jail at Your cx-
pense. Write me check for 100000
and I'll keep mum. If not"
With a strangled, wordless cry, she
slipped past him. before he could stop
her. and fed from the house.
An hour later, Bruce Kingston.
nervously wondering whittier his bride
had gone. received this note from the
hand of a messenger boy:
Bruce. Dcarcst,-I find have not
been legally divorced from my husband
l. am not your wife. Duncan holds
us both in his power. He Will send
us to prison If we are together. But
if l vanish. he can't prove anything,
and you will bc safe. So good-by. my
own darling. Forgive me for the grief
this must cause you. but there is no
other way. love YOU
"EuNIcE."
Nor could money or skill or months
of tireless search bring Bruce any fur
ther trace of the woman he adorcd.
She had disappeared as utterly as II
the earth had yawned TO receive her.
Bruce's youth and his hope and all
that made life worth living were
crushed by the bitter tragedy The
bereavcd man turned al last 10 his
work for consolation. AS play
wright. he had hitherto made srant
progress. but, because success now
meant nothing to him, success pres
entity sought him out His plays won
him increasing fortune and fame.
1t was eight years since Eumice had
gone out OF Bruce Kingston's life The
years, for all their ElittcrinE success
had been drearily lonely and miserable
for him.
For long time he had refused all
the invitations and honors showcrcd
upon him by n hero worshiping public
and had lived solely for his work
But no eref's h.st horrible anguish
is eternal. Which is mercy of God
For. otherwise, half the world would
be dead and the other half in the asy-
lums
And. with the rassing Of the years.
isunice became at last a sweets al
memory TO Kingston, rather than Il
reality. He began 10 go about more.
And. at last. NJ the end of the eight tn
year, ne once again met woman.
whose look and voice could make his
lons-emrty heart stir with love
He me; her. first. when company
was called together for a reading W
Hruce's new play. Ropes OF sand n
masterpiece, which the manager and
all his friends predicted would be the
browning hit Of Kings;on's brillian,
career.
The manager had discovered" i'm the
person OF younS girl hitherto un-
heard OF an actress OF marvellous prom
Ise and beauty, whose sole experience
had been Paiite-f lat .pt!" season Of stock.
Her name- vas EVELYN Eden The
manager had chanocu 10 see a per.
formance OF !he stock company. and
had at once been struck by Miss
Eden's sirlish cha. nj and undoUbtcd
talent He had engaged her on the
spot. for she was precisely the typo
he had been seeking for tho forth
coming kinsst n play
The role called for the youth and
freshness of an irgcnuc and at tho
same time for great histrlonic abn-
ity. The combination had been hard
10 find. the very young actress being
hopelessiy bad In the hig scenes, and
the Older actress failing 10 give the
'iiusion o! S!rl'shness. Evelyn Eden
proved TO be the long sought woman
for the part. She was barely eighteen,
Ind vivid beauty all her own. and
was posss ssed OF unusual magnetism
The manager was enchanted with her
The latter however did no, chance 10
meet ne. until tho company reading
Of the play
But from that moment he rcalizcd
10 his dismay, that he had fallen vic
tim TO The hopeless ana mysterious
inalady known as love at first sight
He had little trouble in cuilivat!nC
Erelyn's acquaintance. .ii first she
was fiattered that she should be SIN
sled out for attention by the foremost
playwright; OF the day But soon the
began tc feel Il much warmer personal
Interest in the man on his own ac-
count.
: The hint Of sorrow in his dark eyes
appealed to Evelyn. So did the clu
sive air OF melancholy bred from his
lorS years Of suffering. There was
also a gentle Difference In his name,
toward her that she was wise enough
to recognize as masking grea,
strength of character and will He
was clever, too, this famous middle.
aged adorer Of hers and there were .