Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1917-03-31

Il believe So" He had a match for
that impertinence: But you. / see.
have come of without a blemish."
Il am very We'll" she admitted, I'm.
perturbed. Her glance embraced the
room. You're very comfortable here"
II have been"
II hope that doesn't mean Tn in
the way"
To the contrary; but I sail day
after tomorrow for Australia"
"Oh? That's very sudden. isn't 1T?
You don't seem to have done any pack
ing. Or perhaps you mean TO come
back before a great while?"
Il shan't come back, ever"
Must believe you made up your
mind this morning2"
Il have only just read the announce
ment OF your opening tomorrow night"
Then am driving you out
Of the country?"
Her look was impersonal and curl
GUS
His shoulders moved negIigently.
Not to rant about it." he replied: II
find I am not needed here"
"Oh, dear!" Her lips formed a fu-
gitive, petulant moue: "And it's my
fault?"
There's no use mincing matters. is
there? l am not heartbroken, and If
l am bitterly disappointed 1 don't care
to-in fact, lack the ability to drama.
tie it."
you are taking 1t well, Hugh?" said
she. critical
Expressionless, he waited an instant
before inquiring pointedly: "Well?"
Deliberately laying aside her light
muff, her scarf and handbag. she rose:
equality of poise was impossible if he
would persist In standing. She moved
little nearer
Hugh" she said in a voice of sin.
certify, I'm awfully sorry-truly /
ami"
He made no reply; waited.
Perhaps I'm wrong" she went on,
but l think most women would have
| spared themselves this meeting"
themselves and the man." he in.
terjected dryly.
Don't be cross, Hugh. had
to come. l had to explain myself.
wanted you to understand. Hugh, +"
She was twisting her hands together
with a manner denOting great mental
strain. OF a sudden she checked and
dropped them, limp and open by her
sides. ''Youn see," she said with the
apologize smile, "rm trying not to
act"
"Oh." he said In tone of dawnlng
comprehension-"so that's It'll"
TIN afraid so, Hugh. I'm
dreadfully sorry for you-poor boy -
but I'm afraid that's the trouble with
me, and it can never be helped. l w8s
born with a talent for acting; life has
made me an actress. Hugh =.
I've found out something" Her eyes
appealed wistfully. I'm not genu-
| inc"
| he nodded intersstedly.
! I'm just an actress, an instrument
for the music of emotions. I've been
trained to respond. until now l re-
! spond without knowing 1t, when there's
no true response here" She touched
| the bosom of her frock.
He said nothing.
With n half sigh she moved away
| to the window.
"Of course you desplse me. / de-
spise myself mean. the self that
was me before I turned from woman
| into an actress. But it's the truth
| have no longer any real capacity for
| emotion, merely an infinite capacity
| for appreciation of the artistic delinea-
| ton of emotion, true or feigned. That
. that is why. when you showed
me yOu had grown to love me so,
responded so quickly. You were In
| love-more honestly than | had ever
seen love revealed. 1t touched me.
was proud TO have inspired such a
love. | wanted for the time being to
have you with me always, that might
always study the wonderful, the
beautiful manifestations of your love.
| Why. Hugh. you even managed to
make me believe I was worth it--that
my response was sufficient repayment
for your alteration. :"
He said nothing. She glanced fur
| lively at him and continued:
81 meant to be sweet and faithful
when left that note for you on the
yacht, Hugh; / was grateful. and
meant to be generous. But
when l went to the Waldorf. the first
person l met was Max. OF course
had to tell him what had happened.
And then he threw himself upon my
compassion. 1t seems that losing me
had put him In the most terrible
trouble about money. He was short,
and he couldn't get the backing he
needed without me, his call upon my
services. by way Of assurance to his
hackers. And I began to think.
knew I didn't love you homes ly, Hugh,
and that life with you would be a liv-
ing lie. What right had l to deceive
you that way, just to crafty my love
Of being loved? And especially II by
doing that ruined Max, the man to
u,horn neYf m Won I oyVad averv-