The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-05-13

drcu "ljut you don't undcrStand-nO
no, ! see you do not--and it would take
too long 20 explain now. lIc--"
"Thank you, have heard enough"
interrupted Harold, curly.
And he left her, standing alone in the
deserted groonroom, with pain and suf-
fcrng depicted upon her agonized face.
How long she stood there with her
hand pressed TO her aching heart, she
never knew.
The prompter thrust his ugly head in
ut last
"lIas he gomez" he asked with a grin
and Il chuckle.
yes, he has gone, Karl she said,
gently, without looking up.
"Did you tell him?"
eyes, | told him"
lie gave grunt which was peculiar TO
himself.
H,evcngc is sweet" he muttercd. 81
thought I'll pay him out for the airs he's
shown me.
She passed him without word or
glance, but he never knew how deeply
she had been wounded, or how dearly
she loved the man she had dismissed
from Der that night-perhaps forever
She went through the part as Lady
Tcazlc, and acted il to perfection then
went home to her invalid mother, laden
with trophies of her evenings triumph,
and strove her utmost to be cheerful and
happy,so that Mrs Gars;on might never
suspect she was otherwise.
Months passed, but she saw no more
of Harold Oakburn, either among the
audience or in the grccn-room.and size was
still the same sad, pensive looking girl
she had ever been, holding herself aloof
from those around her, aud bravely,
chcerfully earning her mothers bread.
But, ere the spring had give place TO
summer, that mother died, and, for II
time, Mildred, well nigh crushed by the
hlow.waS too i'll to appear mt the theatre.
Old Karl Kirkland came and went like II
ghost ii those days, aud never stayed u
moment longer than his duties com
PEELED him.
Mildred grew better ~ last, and reap
pcarcd in some minor part, her health not
being sufficiently strong to undergo any
more silent than ever. they all Thought;
the sweet and transient smile had wholly
vanished and she seemed to grow palcr
and thinner with each succeeding day.
One night, toward the end Of the per
formancc, Karl Kirkland was standing in
his accustomed place, when, suddenly, Mil
drcd saw him fall immediately she has
70 L., Ia nj l,n al
bore him into the grccn-room. He was
speechless. a fit of apopleXy had seized
him, and he died that night.
And now the time had come for Mil
dred to publish her secret to the world
and in the presence of the whole com
pany on the following day she told them
all.
How, nearly three years ago, she had
met Karl Kirkland. formerly friend oI
her fathers (once an actor, and from
whom she had gathered fragments of hi'
history. That he had likewise been al
actor of no small reputation, and, having
lived misery life, had hoardcd con
siderable fortune for the last iive.and
twenty years, and when too iutirm anC
weak, from ill-health rather than age, tC
play any longer, yet loving the stage to,
well to leave it. he took the post o
promptcr, which he had maintained ever
since. She told them that he had no
only brought her forward in the thcatli
cal world, but fell in love with her anC
had the audacity TO offer her his hanC
and heart. How, at first, she coldly anC
haughtily refused him, and then, ncve
dreaming that she herself might some
day ascend the ladder Of fame, and see
ing her poor, suffering mother, wantin!
at times, even the common nccGssaries o
life, she consented to wed the repulSiv
looking man, on condition that it nigh
he kept n secret from those at tn
theatre. How that she had married hin
for his wealth alone, although she ha'
tried to be good and faithful wife
That they had not always lived together
for fear of arousing suspicion, and sh
could not bear the world to krow tha
she had married an DID, ugly, shrivee
man for the sake of his gold. She di
not speak of her love for Harold Oakbur
but she never said one word desparagingl
of him who had been her husband
lie had been kind to her in his own p,
culiar way, and she had never given hin
cause for jealousy; he had loved her an
trusted her, and tried, poor, old man, I
make her happy.
This was the whole of her young life
history,told not without tears; but fey
words in addition are yet required fc
the benefit of the reader.
When old Karl discovered that lla1
old Oakburn was in love with his youn
wife, feelings of jealousy were natural
paramount; but when he found how col,
" she received his addresses, and any
ioUS to bcrcvcnG:cd for his naughty an
impcrious behavior toward him who ";
her lawful husband, he persuaded Mi
dred to reveal to him her secret, whic
she did--as much to free herself from Ii
painful opportunities as to comply Wit
her husbands wishes
When the will vas read they -four
that he had left everything to his wifi
, and Mildred Garston never went back
the stage again; but she met llaro
Oakburn few months later, and subs
quently became his wife
Thus the wish of his parents heart W
, fulfilled at last; for their son married
woman OF wealth after all; and in Il
: happy years that followed, when smi
= tribe of grandchildren clustered aroul
y their knees, they could only look la
and feel thankful that Harold had w
I the wife of his choice, even though
= had courtcd her "l}ehind the Scenes"
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