Year: 1878




and below it was written in pencil


MAY I be permitted to satisfy myself ii
person of your welfare7 My anxiety, sinc
last evening, has been great"


Mariposa Immediately wrote, upon blanl
card of her own


81 regret that it is impossible for me tt
receive visitors. Accept my thanks for you
kindness, and please receive the assurance
that my strength is quite restored"


Allan, of course, was obliged to depar
without seeing her; though she had KEEP
his flowers, and that was some consolation
Posy had not, indeed, been able to deny her
self the pleasure of placing this offering in {
glass on her dressing table, where she coule
admire it, and be reminded by it Of the donor
to whom she felt so grateful.


Important changes had occurred in Posy'
life since we left her last Her good friend
Manager Lacombe, was dead, and Mrs. La
combe, was forced, by ill-health, to give up hel
clearinghouse. Posy had removed With he'
to smaller abode; but after continuing there
for awhile, had received and accepted an Of
fer of considerable value from San Francis
co theatre and while performing in that city
learned, through letter from Mrs. Lacombe
that sister of the latter, having inherited
some property in one of the Eastern States
was about to remove there permanently, and
had offered her home with her for the re-
mander of her life. Physicians, she inform
ed Posy, had la ely given her, as their verdict
that she could not recover from her present
disease, though change of climate would, in
all probability, be of some benefit to her; and
she gave the girl her choice of accompanying
her or remaining, under suitable guardian
ship, where she could, at least for the present
best make living for herself. Posy was
still deliberating on the question, being anx
ious to 60 with her friend, and at the same
time reluctant to intrude herself upon the
family of stranger, while she felt that in hel
present situation she could earn handsome
support, which was uncertain elsewhere, when
second letter settled the difficulty fol
her. Mrs. Lacombe wrote to her, with many
expressions of sorrow, that the sister had
declared herself unwilling to have her &C.
company them and as she felt her own days
to be numbered, and was not desirous of end.
ing them in a state of dissension with her on.
ly sister, she would have to leave her dear
Posy behind-a thing, she added, which DO
thing could have induced her to do, had she
any prospect of being restored to health
Posy obtained leave, not without difficulty, to
make her a flying farewell visit, then return,
ed to San Francisco, where she had already
acquired brilliant reputation. Her salary
was now sufficiently handsome to enable her
to employ respectable middle aged woman
as a personal attendant and chaperone; and
dwelling quietly and cheaply in modest lodg,
ings, seeing no visitors and seldom going
Huroad st1e ted tife tfA to wthicih no reproach
could be attached.


The management which employed her, at
length conceived the idea of making arrange
ments for her to visit certain other places
on starring tour, which they expected
would result in considerable pecuniary profit
to themselves and to her. Favorable con-
tracts were made with parties in several
western cities, and also in some of the princi-
pal cities of the South; among others, New
Orleans. And thus it is that we find her 80
far removed from her former home. Besides
Margaret Tanning, her hired attendant, she
travelled in company with one or two mem.
hers of the theatrical profession, who were
we'll known to her, though their course did
not entirely be together.


Her engagement in New Orleans was for
three weeks, with possible extension. The
first night had been great success, and it
seemed especially disastrous that she should
have met with the drawback of an accident
so soon after her appearance on these boards.
Although fancying herself quite we'll enough
to fill the role assigned to her, on the next
evening after, she found her strength severe.
ly taxed in doing so, and half repented Of
having made the attempt. Fortunately, the
day following would be Sunday, and she
could, for at least twenty. four hours, take a
complete rest. On this Saturday evening,
Allan Lambert was one of of the audience.
He was more than ever impressed by her
beauty, more than ever disturbed by the con-
trast between her surroundings and herself
as she ought to be.


As she passed out of the lobby, leaning on
Margaret Fanning's arm, he stepped quickly
to her side, and with the utmost courtesy and
respect, accosted her with an inquiry after her
health. She blushed deeply, as she raised
startled look to his face. His manner was
such that she could not take ofense at it,
neither could she repress a thrill of secret
qualification at the interest he 80 plainly
evinced in her welfare Margaret gave her
arm a warning pressure, which, for the first
time, she felt inclined to resent. She an.
swered him 50 gently and so sweetly that he
was more charmed than ever. But he read
suspicion and defiance in her duennas glance
and had the discretion to withdraw almost
Immediately, not even offering to see them tc
the hotel, which was but couple of squares
off,


This was only the beginning Of an inter
course which he soon found it impossible tc
break off. With infinite tact he managed tc
overcome the attendants scruples and Oh
iections not through bribes, which she would
have disdained to receive, but by mode ot
conduct so judicious as to gain her confidence
and admiration. She soon discovered, as she
told Posy, that he Was real gentleman


l. l.. Il. IL l.