The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-11-07
CHAPTER VIII.
PARTING OF oREsTEs AND PYLADRa

PARTING OF OREsTES AND PYLADRl
Curly's recovery now was mere ques-
ton of TIM. One day Dr. Dixon sail to
Jameson:
IL think your frienl may leave the hos
pital in week or So, but you must be very
careful with him. Above ali things keep
him from drink ] fear he has tendency
that way, and any outburst of that descrip-
ton may prove fatal; certainly to his
reason, probably to his lifel Keep him
from it, for Gods saker'
with Gods help I'll do my BEST said
Willie.
At the end of the week he took his poor
friend to his 10 Igings and tended him as if,
I indeed he had been the little brother he had
lost so long ago. As for Curly, he accom-
Ianic Willie daily to rehearsal, went with
him at night to the theatre, assisted him to
dress, followed him to tho wings, tpotted
about after him like n dog. 1t was quito
beautiful to note the devotion of these men
to each other-mors beautiful and more
| touching even than the love of woman
| Warned by former experience, Jameson
was careful never again to refor to Flora,
and Curly never even mentioned her name,
so henceforth tho subject was tabooel be-
tween them. As to what passel through
that tortured brain AMI wounded heart none
| knew but God and himself. Let us hope
that God helped him to lear his bur len.
| DR.. Dixon was unrcmitting in his atten-
! tion', but he was stern in his discipli"e and
woudn'C permit his patient any stlmulant
beyond a pint Of claret and two or three
whif5 Of tobacco daily. OF course Willie
| had to fall into the same regimen to set u
good example Curly had never smoked
before, and the nicotine weel sOoihei him
exceedingly. At first Ii, dreaded the idea
OF acting again, but rs he continued to gain
| health AMI strength desire grew upon him
| TO play for WilioS "bencii5.' He kept the
r"''"H TO himself for some time; at last he
! took courage AMI ask II Dixon if he thought
| he might venture to act. This was exactly
! the Lealthlul stimulaut that the doctor de-
sired, and h. at once gave permission.
| Curly ran over the stage boy once more,
caught w illlo by 10th hands and Rugged
| him, as he exclaimed:
Look here, oil man, rvn got surprise
! for you. Tho doctor says ] may act for
your benefit Please may | play some little
part-something like Charles his friendr "
| "'CharlaS, his friend be hanged! re-
piled Willie. mo, you shall play Charles,
my brother. Wen do tho School for Scan
dal,' ch doctori Do you think it will be
too much for hing
deuce bit" replied Dixon.
From this moment Curly got better and
better.
AT length the night Of the benefit arrived.
| Wiliies own abundant popularity, the
| romantic interest surrounding Curlys first
appearance AMI the known attachment of the
| two young fellows for each other combined
to make the night tho event of the season
| The hOuss was full 10 Overlooking, the
musicians were crowded. cut 10y the p'ttltes
the overture was played on the stage
| After the first act the poor orchc Stra was
actually sent up To the flies Then the
box people were driven lehinl the scenes
and there they stool on the wings in sight
of the audience. AT length, III the last
scene, the stage itself was more than half
filed. as in the old Ehlabethan times, with
the elite of tho place, and when the tas was
spoken, hal 1t not been for the costumes IL
would have been impossible 10 distinguish
the actors from the an Hence Curly never
acquitted himself better. He had taken a
new lease of life; his career was about to
begin nfreSh Willie, too, hal distinguished
himself almrably-indcei, the come ly al
together was great success. People crowded
round the brothers and began TO congratu-
late them.
THIS performance was destined to form an
epoch in the lives of the young actors. IL
10 happened that that very night the man
ayers Of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane,
and Of the Theatre Royal, Edinburgh, were
among the auditors. Next morning Curly
received an offer for the ensuing season al
Drury Lane. and Willie was engaged As
principal tragedisn for the Theatre Royal,
Edinburgh A month after ward they TOOK
leave Of their dear old manager with many
p9otestations Of gratitude for past kind
nssses, and went on their way 70. their 70
spectivs Engagements, tuveiing a. far .,
kitabsrsh bSsthr.