Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-10-18
100 Doses One Dollar,

the girls side, as he saw his aunt shrink
away.
well" he said, ''even taking it all
for granted. where's the harm,'
Charles! Charles.' cried Mrs. Leeds.
putting up her hands with n gesture of
warning. Remember poor Avicer'
at is because | remember her that ]
speak thus" said Mr.. Nillars, calmly.
Z" had an elder sister once" " he added.
turning to Abby Jane Clark, "who ran
away from home and became an actress.
She had talents far above the average,
but my parents were Old-fashiOned. and
their ideas ran in narrow grooves. They
disapproved of the stage. so Avice left her
Whether she is dead or living we know
not, but wherever she is l am sure that
she cannot but be good and true and
pure"
Abby James eyes fell under his calm
glance. She was little sorry now that
she had chosen to come hither and bear
the news herself
Somehow, Mr.. Villars had taken 1t in
a different spirit from what she had an
ticipated. And ELIAS soft, languidly
modulated voice broke on the constrained
silence like drops of silver dew.
81 have been an actress, and perhaps
should still be on the stage" she said,
''had it not been for circumstances Ny
father dealt in stage properties. and was
brought up to the business, but still
never liked it But one cannot easily
step out of the path where ones feet have
been placed, especially if one is a woman.
However, the turning point came at
last Our leading lady fell sick Of CON
tagious fever, in a lonely village where
we had stopped to play one night The
manager packed up everything in n panic
and babe US all be ready TO go. told
him l could not leave Mrs. Montague
alone He said that if left the company
thus ] should never return to it.
well, what could l do The stage
was my living, it was true, but our lead.
ing lady had no friends. 1t would have
been inhumsn to desert her So so stayed
behind and took care of her. She died,
poor thing, and it swallowed up all my
earnings TO bury her decently.
Then / tried here and there to earn
my living as best could l was not al
ways successful More than once l have
been hungry and homeless; but heaven
be praised, have always found friends
before the worst came TO the worst. Now
you know all she concluded, quietly,
leaning up against the door, where the
swinging scarlet beans made n fantastic
background for her face.
Mr. Villars had advanced q step or two
toward Eliza rs she spoke; his gaze had
grown intent.
"This-leading lady of whom you men.
ton" said he, with an effort.
"Do you remember her name, Her
real name, | meanr'
They called her Katharine Montague |
on the bills, said Eliza. IF she had any
other name, she never told me what It |
was. ] say if, because-because- Oh, |
Mr.. VillarS, never quite understood il |
before, but there is a look in your eyes |
that reminds me of her. ! have been |
startled by the familiar expression many
time but | never could convince N.Y. |
self where the link of association be- |
longed And-and / still keep a little |
photograph of her that found in her Bible |
after she was dead. kept them both. |
Wait, and will bring them TO you"
Mr.. Villars gazed at the picture in ST
lence. Mrs. Leeds uttered a little cry OF |
recognition.
"Heaven be good to u.s. she walled;
ait is our Avice, sure enough"
The sequence of this little life idyl is
simple enough. Any one may guess il. /
Charles Villars married Eliza. And even |
the most fastidious sisters of her hus- |
bands flock can utter no word of re-
proach against the minister's wife, al |
though she makes no secret of the fact !
that she was once an actress.
And poor Abby Jane Clark is chewing !
the bitter husks Of disappointment, for |
even Mr.. Trudkins has gone back to !
Packerton without declaring himself
'There is no dependence to be put upon |
men," says Abby Jane, disconsolately.-I
Helen Forrest Graves in Boston Times.