Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-04-21
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Destroying
Angel
By Louis Joseph Vance
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CopyTtShs by Louis Joseph Vance

Win q n0lf sign she moved away
to the window.
"Of course you despise 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, l
responded 30 quickly. You were In
love-more honestly than I had ever
seen love revealed. 1t touched me. !
was proud to have inspired such a
love. I wanted, for the time being, to
have you with me always, that l 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 sufncient repayment
Tor your alteration :"
He said nothing. She glanced fur
uV0ly AZ ulIu Auu COuAh0Sus
II meant to be sweet and faithful
when I left that note for you on the
yacht, Hugh; I was grateful. and /
meant to be generous. But
when I went to the Waldorf, the iirst
person I met was Max. OF course !
had to tell him what had happened.
And then he threw himself upon my
compassion. It seems that losing me
had put him In the most terrible
trouble about money. he was short,
and he couldn't get the backing ne
needed without me, his call upon my
services, By way OF assurances to mis-
hackers. And I began to think. l
knew didn't love you honestly, Hugh.
and that life with you would be liv-
ing lie. What right had to deceive
you that way. Just to crafty my love
Of being loved? And especially II BY
doing that I ruined Max, the man to
whom, next to you, I owed every
thing? / couldn't do 1t. But / took
time to think It over-truly did. l
really did 30 to a sanatorium, and
rested there while I turned the whole
matter over carefully In my mind, and
1t length reached my decision to stick
BY Max and let you 60. free to win the
heart OF woman worthy Of you"
She PAUSED again, but still he was
mute and iM0obile.
$50 now you know me-what I am.
No other man has ever known or ever
win. But had to tell you the truth.
It seems that the only thing my career
had left uncalloused was my funda-
mental sense Of honesty. So I had
to come ana tell you"
And stin no held silence, attentive.
but with set face that betrayed moth
ing Of the tenor Of his thoughts.
Almost timidly, with nervously FUN
bling fingers, she extracted from her
pocketbook small ticket envelope.
Max was afraid you might upset
the performance again. AZ you did on
my last appearance, Hugh" she said ;
.but I assured him it was Just the
shock Of recognizing you that bowled
me over. So I've brought you box
for tomorrow night. I want you to
use it-you and Mr.. Ember."
He broke in with q curt monosyl-
liable: "whyi"
! .Why-why because-because want
you'll suppose it's simply my vanity
to see me act. Perhaps you'll feel q
little less hardly toward me if you see
that am really great actress, that
I give you up for something bigger
than just love"
.'What rot!' he said with an odd,
short laugh. Besides, harbor no
resentment"
She stared, losing little color, eyes
darkening with apprehension.
II did hope you'd come" she MUIR
INJURED.
"Oh, nj come" he said with spirit.
"Wild horses couldn't keep me away"
REALLY, Hugh3 And you don't
mind? Oh, I'm 50 glad!"
~ really don't mind" he assured her
with strange smile. "But .
would you mind excusing me one mo-
ment? I've forgotten something very
Important"
"Why, certainly
He was already at the telephone In
the hallway, Just beyond the living
room door. It was impossible to escape
overhearing his words. The woman
listened perforce with, in the begin
ming, a little visible wonder, then with
establishment, ultimately with a con-
sternation that shook her with violent
tremblings.
( '.Hello," said Whitaker; "get me
Rector two-two-hundred. -.
..Hello? Rector two-two-hundred ?
North German Lloyd7 This Is
Mr.. a. N. Whitaker. I telephoned
YOU fifteen minutes ago about reser-
walton on the George Washington,
sailing Saturday Yes.
Yes. Yes. I promised to call
for the ticket before noon, but ! now
ind sha'n't be able to 60. VIII you
he kind enough to cancel 1t. If you
please. Thank you.
Goodby.''
But when he turned back into the
living room he found awaiting him a
1 luiet and collected woman.
"why did you do that?" she asked
Svenly.
because" said Whitaker, "Tve had
my eye: opened I've been watching
The finest living actress play n care
4 fully rehearsed role. one that she had
Kiven long study and all her heart to-
hut her INTERPRETATION didn't ring true.
4 Mary, / admit, at first you got me: