Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-03-03

Franks for the loan Of little money! He
would be sure to lend il. He was always
such q kind hearted fellow" sssI ~ *
eWhat would be the use Of five or ten
pounds! couldn't ask him for more
when tdat was gone. And why does my
little comfOrter fear
And the little comforter cried on my
shoulder, and told me she WAS Afraid-yes,
afraid that the degradation would be too
much for proud spirit, and that II my
heart didn't break should perhaps destroy
myself =,
Then turned comforter, and told her
how there was no degradation to be IN
de1 gone. should be honestly earning
my bread honestly working for money ;
and under NO more mspiciOa Of mendi-
cancy than Charles Kean was in acting
for money on the stage. Ny stage was TO
be the street !; that was the only diner
ence. l went further. took higher stAbd,
and, indeed, scared off the ground altogeth-
er BY the ii ne got ahead bit. "Yes !;
il was mere question Of work and wages.
Wasn't il more spirited than living on
ones relatives, even supposing could
exist until heard from England? Yes ;
there could be nothing more honorable ;
spirit, barring the one fact Of his living
upon his lawfully acquired means =, l
SCARED, ~ you see, and nay little woman,
from crying turned to smiling. and wing
and wing we few off together"
And !, darling, with my voice can
help you In a few weeks, when you
have made twenty or thirty pounds over
expenses, we can hire rooms, and give
concerts and, perhaps, you know, may
take nearly as well as you. And then we
can 90 on the stage and, with your fine
appearance % we shall be sure TO make q
fortune! If really succeed in taking
only half as well ~ you, we shall"
Who can blame me for finishing the
sentence with We shall be safe TO make
an independence, at least, In two or three
years !"
"Or else 90 home to England Is prinsa
donna and tenore."
It was pity that it was too late and
too wet, and that the horse was too tired
for me to begin that very evening.
The next morningI was still enthusi-
astic enough not TO take the trouble
of making my usual daily visit to
the hotel TO see the advertisements
in my line in the Aygus,-at least, didn't
trouble 10 60 until after two o'clock.
But the time went on, and the dusk ar
riYed-with the fog too. had made up
my mind to set out about six o'clock,
drive into Melbourne, and there deter
mine on where was to make my debut
whether in city or suburb Somehow,
fancied that the fashionable Saint Kilds
would be my best ground. If I struck
my first chord at between seven and eight
o'clock, it would be ark enough in all
conscience; and, my audience, having
dined, would be at comfortable leisure to
attend To me. Well, at about six o'clock,
then, quietly put the horse to, slipped
my sack alpaca coat and my sonbrero into
the gig, and then went in doors for my
guitar, and half crown from the sad
faced worker.
"Afe you going out for long, sir'' Mrs.
Tom Smith asks.
eyes, Mrs. Smith, am going to the
play. / may leave early, and be home
about ten o'clock"
And then, turning to my wife, said
Significantly
"Adeline, Pm taking in the guitar for
some new strings for / had perceived
that Mrs. Smith had observed me putting
the instrument into the gig Then AIDE
line, after what thought very curious
silence, gathered up her work in her
arms, and unceremOniously ran out into
the ycranda whereupcn Mrs. Tom Smith
looked TO me for an explanation OF all
this. I laughed, and said
"She is angry with me, perhaps, for not
taking her to the theatre; but under
stood all along that she didn't care for
going
"Ask her now, sir. I'll take care ofthe
children, and welcome"
"Thst will, Mrs. Smith. I suppose
she wanted to go, but didn't like to leave
the youngsters to trouble you" 3g
Arrived in the veranda, and going to
its darkest corner among the clematis,
where lady was weeping bitterly, not to
say Historically, l say, gayly,-
".Wel, madame, 30 we have lost our
courage at last and that stage-fOftune
that we were to have Is not to be ours af-
ter ALL"
90, William, dear, do forgive me /! l."
"A comforting sort of thing, this 10 1t
not, for this cold EVENING"
40, II is cruel, William, dear-so cruel
in me. But could't help i'll couldn't,
indeed; and you know am not 10 strong
now as--as might bep @Jl9E4
Poor little. woman! ! knew that well
enough for the thought Of It was help.
Ing TO break my heart d we'll as hers. z
What else could / dor / stayed to com.
fort her and the effect was 90 great that
In a TOW minutes the bonnet and shawl
were run IN for, and both of us were seat
cd in the gig and on our way for . drive
AS then and there, agreed upon, It was
drive Of reconndisance dw pays, to see
whereabouts would be likely 70 pay me.
Ideclare we drove around the western
that night until ten o'clock; &C.
tually picking out the groups of houses
where / was likely to secure On audience,
and debating on the matter ~ profession
Ally ss II l were regular old hand at the
business.
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
In town, going through the old
unhappy routine Of place-seeking. But
ali without effect II It any wonder that
became more and more eager to try my
And what ID more, was do.
not to be balked this time by
any lady at the gate. I knew she WAS In
good hands. So on Friday afternoon
drove back from town; told my old story
OF non.success; gave my horse bis feed
Of chat (alasl he, poor fellow, fslt the