The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-04-17 00:00:00

ATHERSTONE GRANGE.

BY THE AUTHOR OF
" Allan Thornton," "Effie Baird," "Almost a
Criminal," " Leonora's Legaq," c.

CHAPTER VI.

. A NEW START IN LIFIC.
Never give up, though adversity presses,
Providence kindly has mingled the cup;
And the best maxim in 8.,1 your distresses
/s the stout watchword of "Never give up."
—AsoN.
ka• IVRIFFIN was very much disappointed that his
Protege should marry so early on her successful career,
"d thus deprive him of the golden harvest he
had hoped to win through her talents; but he was a
Eensible man, and perhaps he thought that it would be
fruitless to oppose her wishes, so he gave the young
People their wedding breakfast and his blessing, and
then began to 'think of facing the world once more
(In his own account. • He had a pretty fair sum of
rooney at his command. Beryl and he had fairly shared
What her talents had earned, and about £2OOO stood
to their credit in the bank they had selected.
The young wife did not go altogether portionless to
'll,er husband, and Mr. Whiffin went into management.
"le eras a clever, shrewd man, with a good deal of
,talont both as actor and manager, and for some time
,
"le Young people heard of him from various places,
Reeerally as succeeding fairly, and making a comfor-
;able living ; and then there arrived a farewell letter
lroui him—he was going to Australia again.
'He had been offered the management of a good
'leatre in Melbourne," he -wrote, "and there was a
Re°sd many years of work in him yet, so he was going.
eesides ha wanted to see the old woman's grave once
/tore. Perhaps it might be that he should lie beside
E'er, after all."
Beryl knew how deep had been his love for the faded
volnan, who had only lived long enough to have a
'ey, months of the comfort her foster-child's talents
1111141 assured for them. "Poor mammy !" she said, as
).e' tears fell fast over the letter. "it was hard to
Ye her there, Len."
Isut Leonard was scarcely sorry that Mrs. Whiffin
Zas dead, and Mr. Whiffin gone to Australia. His
etYI was a lady, and presentable in any society; but
tee •
• worthy manager and his wife were not altogether
tie
guests his father would like at Atherstone Grange.
still pictured them going back to the Grange, and
atl their troubles coming to a happy termination. Hope
Is strong in the young; but deferred hope gives many
! heartache. Beryl's spirits sank very low at the
`leParture" of her foster-father. She was not so
rageineas her husband, and their friends were so few
t it was hard to lose one.
The event proved that she was right—not a word
e_eanae from Mr. Atherstone, and their funds began to
low, They returned to England, and took a
;&oclest lodging in Kentish Town, and once more
nnard wrote to his father. Again the letter came
'acli unopened, and he knew there was no chance.
I must take to the profession again, dear," Beryl
e7id, when they were discussing their future pros-
Wets.
no, my darling," her husband replied, Mr.
s."niffin's words about what came of marriceees such as
4181. coming strongly to his mind. "Anything but that,
can work, and I will.'
And hetried ; but only those who have been well
;Ithicated, and yet taught nothing special, can tell how
y!rd it is for a gentlema 71, to find work. "What can
do ?" eras the question everywhere, and
,ylen lie came to explain what, it seemed so little.
w and then he got a little writing, copying, and
;net not; but he was often walking the streets in
h:arY hepelessness, white the wolf at the door at
~,nale howled, and worried, and threatened utter
reation if something were not done. Then Beryl
74,,it heart and donned her carefully preserved best
tee'' 're, and went to the agents, and strove to re-enter
I Profession she had left so abruptly, but her
lita'e—and, indeed, any place of mark—was filled up.
h he legitimate drama and pretty comedies in which
t:t simple, natural style,- and modest demeanour
,ade her so acceptable, seemed to be things of the
71, t now, and broad burlesque and opera bouffe, in
"etch shameless women, dressed in glittering gems,
hi very little else, paraded their naked limbs and un-
wltshing infamy before dissipated men and callous
for nominal salaries, or no salaries at all.
L'lle agents plainly told Berylthat she was passé, that
stye was old-fashioned, and her repertoire a thing
th_the Past; and one manager may informed her
t'eat he never engaged any young lady who could not
tillarantee that "a friend" would take a private
for the season. She hardly understood him at first,
when he explained in terms that could not be mis-
eederstood, she burst into tears and hurried home,
'tertnined to try fashionable theatres no more.
ItiaAot the East End matters were somewhat different,
kid she managed to obtain a brief engagement now
ee then, while Leonard toiled on, with breaking
alth and a sore heart, atwhatever poor employment
Qeele find. Beryl's splendid wardrobe went piece
itesPiece to supply them with necessaries, and her thin
el: grew nacre care-worn every day.
Vile wet winter evening, Leonard, in crossing the
(ltid, slipped on something, and was run over by a
s •
-B'ng cab. Two of his ribs were broken, and he was
'e'rtied to the Charing Cross Hospital. The hurt was
ihi,necessarily dangerous; but in his enfeebled con-
it‘ produced serious consequences ; a fit of cough-
-I)4erilptured bloodvessel onthe lungs, and for weeks
LaY hovering between life and death. Beryl moved
it, a Poor lodging as near the hospital as she could get
and worked late and early for her daily bread. It
kis hard and bitter to get, and she was very thank-
wee When she got an engagementcloseby, the manage-
teell,t of which was precarious and fluctating, to say
th' 'east of it. A fairy piece was being produced. and
*lei stage manager, struck by the beauty of little Beryl,
tee°. Went with her mother now and then to the
v,aatre, offered to take her as one of a bevy of children
kra,ted for a group of cupids, Sre. Beryl was thankful
e 'lle few shillings the child's services brought in
eeklye
~f'tl:le little one showed signs of great talent, and
,t a week or-two a little speaking part was put into
tre oands, in which she acquitted herself so well that
tnade quite a success. From that time it seemed
blot her career was determined on, though, could her
letther have foreseen what would :have come in the
ee,,lilre, she would have begged, starved, gone to the
sh for relief, rather than her little girl should have
eee uPon the stage.
'"e did not tell her husband till he came out of the
)423,1411—5he could not bear that he should think that
,
wax helping to maintain him; but it helped her
Pllt away a trifle against the time when she sheuld
ete;llt of employment. The time came all too soon,'
te"she found herself with a sick husband and a de-
ht'tadent child to support, and no hope anywhere. She
sec?'" very hard, but famine stared them in the face,
te,„ she was almost despairing when a heavy cloud
eetikovershadowed them turned up in silver lining,
eoue!le came at last.
ler eallng out of an agent's office one day, she heard
ee,e",aine pronounced by a familiar voice, and turning
, 71, her hand was clasped by Mr. Whiffin.
tee' 4Y poor, dear child !" he said. "Where have you
te till hiding yourself? I have been trying everywhere
le" You." •
d
bet, rew her out of the busy street into a quieter
2, and let her cry quietly, for the surprise and joy
10,,Ze1ng him made her quite hysterical. Mr. Whiffin
at her very pityingly, and made him tell her
she lived.
come to you the very first thing to-tnerrow,
he said, pressing some money in her hand;
eogd I'll see what I can do for you before I come. I've
t01.131,1,ce of ra own now, but I may give you a lift
- au that"
Nk_
leZe hurried away, afraid to trust her voice to
and he looked after her with tears in his eyes. !
eN.reor child! poor child !" he murmured. "It has '
tor„El upon her as it-has upon others. Faded looks,
hee°l-ten talent, and starvation, and the husband a ,
Wess fine gentleman, I'll be bound. Poor Beryl !"
e was hardly prepared for the wreck Which
I)ittr:Lrd Atherstone had become and all trace of
tee? Ineess towards him died out Of his heart when he
• ‘lle wretch he had become. He would work no
Nseitat.,in this world. It was plain to be seen death was
yer,"'e4 in his face, though Beryl strove to shut her
hç eeei the facteand to think that with bright weather
ilyiwould be better, and all the little delusions we in-
t,: in when those we love are hastening to the
&le
;,,,Vhiffin had spent the evening in trying to no
,Irreee"fling for his foster child. He had , been back
be, Australia for a couple of months, but had not
kazabie to find out where she lived. He made all
keilbele enquiries about her and her little daughter,
Vtlieard gloomy accounts of the talented child,
hbo7 beauty and capability had begun to be talked
tfe ,v't• He was not manager in his own right now.
lee as going to Pirmingham, to fill the post of stage
nee
a e.,, Or in the theatre there, and he thought he saw
e,'Y to get Beryl and her child a chance. Ilis•
eet°Yer was in town, and. he went to him and
t4ti.'ned from him a conditional promise of employ-
eieici'for Beryl, and a desire to know whether the
le would do to play in the pantomime that was then
eParie
" ,g'
Leryl Joyce hasn't gone off too much I'll give
hit•
,a chance," he Said.; and Mr. Whiffin's heart failed
almost as fie looked at the anxious, faded face of
e°,!lce bright girl. • •
kid' 'el to see what the little one can dee' he said;
tM4lt the child, no ways loth, displayed her small
,
, did her best.
aee, el" 11 do," was Mr. Whiffin's verdict. "Master will
Yel ,Litler if I say the word•, and you, child,. he'll give
s!
°Pening. Where's your wardrobe:"
t a
es3,l , there was hardly a vestige of it left, and
her face and wept at the question.
lo e
re• 'I. gone I see and I've no money now. I wasn't
tlal • ' •
t' In Australia but 1 'dare say I can get , a
•ree• -,‘1"°"13- MiStereien't a bad sortetef •
eee
"S" him he'll give you an etilged 'k pen c s
krt., g s taoe against leg pieces said indecency .of all
It Day going in for the legitimate. I hope he'll find
ad
keep you for his leading lady."
tla afraeal that's too good to be hoped for," said
w
ith tears in her eyes, as she went to the door
tet, eer old friend. "It seems as though good fortune
,Ire deserted us."
"'Sae' it is darkest before dawn." Mr. Whiffle

"No."
"Why not tell him ?"
"He won't even read the letters; they come back
unopened."
"The old brute! Does not all this make you repent,
Beryl P
"Not an atom."

"You are not sorry for your marriage ?''
"Not for my own sake. I grieve for him—for
Leonard, when I see to what linking his fate to mine
has brought him. For myself, I would die working
for him. Nothing can alter or lessen my love."
" Ah, love is a strange thing," said Mr. Whiffin to
himself as he went away. "It has brought her low
enough, poor girl 1"
He managed to find a few pounds, so that a couple of
handsome dresses of Beryl's were redeemed from
durance vile at the pawnbroker's, and a costume
provided for the little girl. Beryl was allowed to
ohoose the character she would make her first• appear-
ance in, and she selected Rosalind, in "As You Like
It." It was a pirt she felt sure of, and had played well
in her palmy days; she was content to stand or fall by
it in her new venture.

They went to Birmingham, and established them •
selves in small-but comfortable lodgings in a little
street leading out of Dale End. It was some distance
from the theatre; but nothing near New-street was
to be had within the compass of their means.
And now the walls and hoarding be,gaa to
announce a change of performance at the Theatre
Royal, and to set forth that Shakespeare's comedy of
"As You Like It" would be performed on a given
date, the part of I?osalindby Miss Beryl Joyce. The
comedy was to be followed by a short fairy extrava-
ganza—" Little Sunshine," A child carried away by
the Fairies, Miss Beryl Margaret Atherstone.
No one knew who the new actress was. Beryl had
never played in any good theatre in England under
her own name ;and there were no cunning paragraphs
in the newspapers and cleverly devised bits of scandal
or gossip to set excitement-lovers on the qui rice.
She was to stand or fall on her own merits, without
any extraneous aid, and perhaps it was bettter so;
to be bolstered up by lavish praise, and applauded for
one night only, to be received with apathy ever after,
is bitterer than the knowledge of failure at first.
People asked each other, in a listless sort of way,
"Who is she P' but no one knew. The manager
himself was curiously reserved on the subject, "Ho
knew her well by repute, "he said. "She knew her
business and would not fail ;" and that was all ho
condescended to tell any one.
And yet could her story have been told, the romance
of her career would have filledthe house, and curiosity
to see her would have filled the ma;la,ger's pockets.
People little thought that she was in the town, going in
and out amongst them, while her name was on the
walls, taking a part in a sad drama of real life, while
she was preparing for her appearance on the stage.
They thought of her as a girl—not as a stricken wife
and anxious mother, scare-worn matron, with a dying
husband, whose father, not thirty miles away, was
master of a house where the meanest servants lived in
what would have been luxury to their master's
banished son.

(10 be contintsedj