The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1881-05-12

S'tnC,olS una deilcacles, he stared ut his
tar benefactress in such q mute. help
, less way that it was half-amusing, half
saddening.
"And yo1, have prepared this for me
FOR me And you do not know who or
what am"
"Odr guest, responded Nettie, gen.
Not but that the light t"-elancino.
disdainfully at his shabby coat"
Veals my wretchedness too plainly."
Pardon me-" said Nettie. brayelv
but it is the poor we are commanded
10 assist ; nor do L know of any duty
that yields half tho pleasure"
The warmth of the room BETRAYED
me INTO nap" continued the stranger,
and dreamed-alas it was but n
dream-that L should go forth from this
house free from the burden of remorse
that has weighed me down these many
years. But, no; such n miracle could
not happen. / have walked once more
TO misery and to the fact that I am
an outcast."
"Hush !" exclaimed Nettie. "We
will speak Of that later. You must not
talk SO bitterly; for, whatever your at
tire, your address is that of o gentle
man."
Nettlc DOW resumed her place with us.
and the stranger was left to his repast.
Charlie produced q highly -colored meer-
schaum, and, without regarding his
mothers entreating looks, proceeded to
fill and light it.
Come, Charlie" she could not for
bear saying at last "it is not often that
ask you to sacrifice anything for me.
but do wish you would give up smolz-
ing
No use, mother; should think YOU
would know better than to make such O
demand"
"Obey - thundered voice from the
open door. Let her ightest wish be
law, or beware ! My fate may be
yours -
The deep, tragic tones in which these
words were uttered, the erect, dignified
form standing upon the threshold with
threatening foretinger pointing directly
at the object of his attack, the flashing.
magnetic eye that compelled attention
and obedience-all involuntarily re-
minded me of an evening some forty
years before when had seen the elder
Kean advance TO the footlights, and.
with rapid, unexpected speech, electrlfy
the audience. So, too, L had seen re-
llglous revivalist single out some stiff
necked sinner in the crowd, and with
dartlng foretinger pour out the vials of
scriptural vengeance on the unbaptized
head
"The man must be mad, or q strollinp
actor playing part % cried Charlie,
who was the first to recover from the
general amazement.
Tho afTaot of 4l;, ,.o,>.o.,l- -.
was magical; the extended hand
dropped; his figure shrank and drooped
into its former listless attitude the fire
died out in his eyes, and his coat once
more revealed its rents, while his voice,
low and hoarse, muttered an apology:
"Forgive me. T forgot where L was
and who L am. No, L can never forget
that. | cannot escape myself"
Nettie's sympathetic soul was touched.
" Perhaps you would like to tell us
about yourself. That is, you might like
to feel that there were those who pitied
your misfortunes. My brother is some
times hasty, but always kind-hearted.
We would all be glad to assist you if we
can."
"My tale is one of horror, and could
gain me only your detestation yet why
should L shrink from the recital when
the pain [ thereby infict on myself is
the only penalty can pay for my crime?
"I am," he continued, cor rather was,
on actor, and SO was my father before
me. AS q child, I mimicked the set
phrases and gestures of the actors about
me, and early learned to look upon the
playhouse as my home and the field
wherein [ should develop whatever tai
ents L might possess. Ny father occu-
pied the position of leading man at the
B Theater, and was the most popu-
lar actor in town. He basked in the
glare of the theater, exerted, nay, ex-
hausted, himself in the effort to please n
tickle public, and possibly looked upon
his home only as q retreat where he
might recuperate his exhausted ener-
gies and equip himself for fresh
conquests. My mother naturally
looked upon the theater as
rival, and a successful one, to the
home. Yet, for all that, she never re-
laxed her efforts to make that home
pleasant and attractive one. Whatever
her sufferings and despair might have
been, she never voiced them. Only
remember on one occasion she had play
fully asked me what I intended to be
when [ grew up to manhood, and re-
piled: AN actor, mamma, an actor, by
all MEANS She pressed me closer in
her arms, and felt her warm tears on
my face as she cried out: 'Oh, not that,
my son Anything but that Choose
again, just to please your mother But
L obdurately insisted that would be an
actor and nothing else. From that mo-
ment my mother seemed to regard mo
with great apprehension, and am
afraid would have secretly rejoiced if
my first appearance had been such an
utter failure as to deter me from taking
any further steps in that direction. But