Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1920-11-29

apologize smile, TIN trying not to
act"
"Oh,' he said ia tone Of dawntng
cO.nprehenSfon-"s that's 1t !"
I'm afraid so, Hugh. I'm
dreadfulIy sorry for you--poor hoy -
but I'm afraid that's the trouble with
me, and it can never be helped, ! was
born with talent for acting; life has
made me an actress. Hugh .
I've found out something Her eyes
Appealed Wistlully. I'm not genu.
ine."
He nodded iutcrcstedly,
"im lust an actress, an instrument
for the music Of emotions. I've been
trained to respond, until now | 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.
"nf course You deSpise me. | de
spise myself mean, the self that
was me before | turned from woman
into an actress. But it's the truth
have no longer any real capacity 70"
emotion, merely an infinite capacity
for appreciation Of the artistic deiinca-
ton Of emotion, true or fcignCa. That
l.. 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. Il touched ne. |
was proud f. have inspired such a
| love. wanted, for the time being. 10
have you with me always that might
always study the wonderful, me
beautiful manifestations Of your love,
| Why, Hugh. You even managed to
make me believe l was worth it--that
nv response was sufficient repayment
| for your alteration.
T. He said nothing. She glanced fur
| lively ut him and continued
-; meant 10 be sweet and faithful
when | left that note for YOU on the
yacht, Hugh; | was grateful, and !
| meant to he generous. Bnt
when went to the Waldorf, the first
person | 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. lie 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 | began to think. l
knew I didn't love you honestly, Hugh
and that life with you would be Il !IH-
Ing lie. What right had TO deceive
YOU that way, Just to crafty my love
of being flowed? And especially II by
doing that | ruined Max, the man ia
whom, next to You, | owed every
Thing? / couldn't do it. But took
time to think it over-truly | did.
really did 20 to Il sanatorIum, ana
rested there Will" | turned the whole
matter orer carefully in my nina, and
u, length reached my decision to stick
by Max and let YOU 90, free to win the
heart Of y woman worthy of YOU
She paused again, but stu he was
mute and mmobie.
$50 now you know Mc-~Wh"t | am
40 other man has ever known or ever
will But had 10 tell YOU the truth
It seems that the only thing my career
had left uncalouscd WAS my fnnda'
mental sense of honesty. so | had
to come and tell YOU
And still he held silence, attentive
hut with set face that betrayed moth
Ing of the tenor of his thoughts.
! Almost tinidly, with nervouSly rum
him. fingers, she extracted from her
pockethook u small ticket envelope.
MAX WAS afraid you might upset
the performance again. as You did on
my last appearance, Hugh" she said
"but | assured Nm it was just the
shock of recognizing YOU that hoWleo
mo over. So Eve brought YOU II boz
for tomorrow night. | want YOU tt
use it--you and Mr.. Emhcr.'
He broke in with curt lnonoSyl
liable; "WrN"
Ito be contlnued)