“No, for she had rejected my suit, telling me she had loved once and her faith had been destroyed forever. She was very unhappy, I know, over her broken lovedream, but I still hoped on, believing that in time she might forget her false lover and turn to me. In all our leading parts I was cast as her lover, and I threw my whole soul into everything, hoping to win her at last. Alas! all is over, and her sweet life has fallen beneath the machinations of a cowardly enemy,” the man moaned, staggering up to his feet, with a look of despair that touched the woman’s heart. “I am so sorry for you, sir,” she murmured, putting the corner of her white apron to her eyes, that were wet with tears. He thanked her with a look, and added: “While she lives, Mrs. Cline, see that she receives the best of attention, and look to me to settle all expenses to--the last!” his voice breaking over the word. “Oh, sir, the Bonairs have already pledged themselves to pay everything. A trained nurse is coming within the hour, and the physician will be in frequently,” she replied. “May I see Mr. Bonair? Will you take my card to him?” asked the manager. She assented, and he was kept waiting some time, while she related to Charley Bonair every word he had uttered, faithfully describing the emotion he had displayed. Charley Bonair was lying on his couch very pale and restless, and he grew almost ghastly as the tale ran on. “That will do, you may bring him in,” he said, at last. The next moment: “Ah, Mr. Bonair, will you pardon this intrusion?” “You are welcome, Mr. Weston. Pray be seated,” Charley answered quietly, gazing hard at his handsome rival. Truly he was handsome and manly, with that dark, flashing eye that so easily wins its way to a woman’s heart. Charley Bonair wondered jealously that Berry had been able to withstand its fascination. “Dear little one, surely she loved me well,” he thought, with a twinge of the bitterest remorse and pain. The manager had somewhat recovered his self-possession that had wavered in the presence of his dying love. He did not give way as before Mrs. Cline, but conversed easily and with a sorrowful dignity that impressed the hearer, against his wishes, with profound respect. “A dangerous rival, and perhaps more worthy of her than I am,” Bonair said to himself, with a sweeping self-contempt new and withering. If she lived, poor little Berry, who could tell but that such devotion might win her at last?--but he groaned aloud at the thought. “Your pardon. A twinge of pain in that confounded shoulder,” he explained. “Permit me to praise your acting last night,” he added. “It was superb, and, in fact, your company is an admirable one.” “I thank you, but we are almost ruined now by this terrible happening. No woman in my company is capable of taking the leading part at short notice. I shall arrange to pay the company a week’s salary in advance, and disband for an indefinite time.”