The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1881-05-13

fi-l lAllt. WIN llS FoOulF af9tN 0 Sltn-
stlutials and delicaeies, he stared at his
iair hcnctaclress iii such mute help
les Way That il was hali-amusing, halt
nddtuing
Nad you m.ya prepared this fog me
"or na I! And you do not know who o.
yla am.
"0r guest, responded Ncttie, gen
Not hut that the light glanciug
li51aiiIfuliy at his shabby cout-'' re-
5ca!s my indebtedness too plainly"
9 Pardon me, said Nettie, bravely;
"but il is the poor we are commanded
70 assist nor do | know Of any duty
TINT Yields half the pleasure.
I" HE warmth Of the room betrayed
me into nap, continued the stranger,
"and | dreamed-alas it was but Il
dream that | should go forth from this
house free from tile burden Of remorse
that mas weighed me down these many
years, But, no; such a miracle could
not happen. [ have walked once more
to misery and to the fact that ] 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 a gentle
man.
Nettie DOW resumed her place with us,
and the stranger was left to his repast.
Charlie produced 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 smok-
ing.
{ No use, mother; should think you
would know better than to make such a
demand
"Obcy !" thundered a voice from the
open door. Let her lightest 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 rnpid, unexpected speech, electrlfy
the audience. So, too, had seen re-
| ligious reviyalist single out some stiff
necked sinner in the crowd, and with
darting forefnger pour out the walls Of
scriptural vengeance on the unbaptized
head.
"The man must be mad, OF a strolling
actor playing part !" cried Charlie,
who was the first to recover from the
| general amazement.
The effect of this remark on the man
was magical; the extended hand
dropped; his figure shrank and dropped
died out in his eyes, and his coat once
more revealed its rents, while his voice,
low and hoarse, muttered an apology
"Forgive me. I forgot where was
and who / am. No, can never forget
that. | cannot escape myself.
Netties 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 | shrink from the recital when
the pain thereby inflict on myself is
the only penalty I can pay for my crime
81 am" he continued, " or rather was,
nm actor, and so was my father before
me. As a child, l mimicked the sci
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 tail
ents might possess. My 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
tickle public, and possibly looked upol
his home only MS a retreat where III
might recuperate his exhausted ener
gies and equip himself for fresl
conquests. My mother naturally
looked upon the theater as
rival, and a successful one, to tn
home. Yet, for all that, she never re
laxed her efforts to make that home
pleasant and attractive one. Whateve
her sufferings and despair might hav
been, she never voiced them. Only
remember on one occasion she had play
fully asked me what 1 intended to b
, when / grew up to manhood, and 1 re
/ piled AN actor, mamma, an actor, b
all means. She pressed me closer i
her arms, and / felt her warm tears o
my face as she cried out: oh, not thai
my son i! Anything but that Chooa
) again, just to please your mother Br
: l obdurately insisted that would be a
actor and nothing else. From that mC
/ ment my mother seemed to regard N
i with great apprehension, and 1 al
|. afraid would have secretly rejoiced
e my first appearance had been such a
r utter failure as to deter me from takin
!, any further steps in that direction. Br