Wichita eagle., 1888-02-24

success" was cut down to one modest
sentence, "a triumphant success" "a
few enthusiastic cheers from partial
friends alone broke the ominous silence
when the curtain FELL" became briefly
Enthusiastic cheers"
But nobody was deceived. One week
the public were informed they could book
their seats month in advance; the next
that the successful drama had to be with
drawn at the height of its popularity ow-
ing to other arrangements. What the
other arrangements were to be our man
ager was at his wits end to decide
There only wanted three weeks to the
close of the season. Fired with wild
ambition born of suspense and disappoint-
ment. suggested that Shakespeare
should 6ll the breach-''Romeo and Ju-
Get," with me, Sybil Gascoigne, as the
heroine.
''Pshaw! child" said or good humored
manager; 'tyou don't know what you are
talking about. Juliet! You haven't the
depth, the temperament, the experience
for Juliet. She had more knowledge of
life and love at thirteen than most of our
English maids have at thirty. To repre-
sent Juliet accurately an actress must
have the face and figure of young girl,
| with the heart and mind of woman, and
of woman who has suffered"
Sand have l not sufferedS Do you
think because you see me tripping through
some foolish, insipid role that am capable
of nothing better? Give me q chance, and
see what can do.
Oh bid me leap, rather than marry Paris,
l began, and detained the speech with
such despairing vigor that our manager
was impressed.
Well, the end of it was, he yielded to
my suggestion. 1t seemed prosperous
time to float new Juliet. At neigh
boring theatre lovely foreign actress was
| playing the part nightly to crowded
houses. We might get some of the over
flow, or the public would come for the
sake of comparing native with imported
talent. Oh, the faces of my traducers
who had said, "Those Gascoigne girls
| have no feeling for art, when it was
known that they were out Of the bill, and
| that Sibyl Gascoigne was to play Shake
| speare. / absolutely forgot Jack for one
whole minute. But the next, my grief,
my desolation, were present to me with
more acuteness than ever. And was glad
that it was so. Such agony as was en-
during would surely make me play Juliet
as it had never been played before.
At rehearsals / could see I created
sensation. l felt that l was grand in my
hopeless love, my desperate grief l
should make myself a name. If Jack
were dead or had forsaken me, my art
should be all in all.
The morning before the all important
evening dawned. / had lain awake nearly
an hour, as WAS my custom of nights
now, thinking of Jack, wondering if ever
woman had SO much cause to grieve as l.
Then rose, practiced taking the friar's
potion, and throwing myself upon the bed
until my mother came up and told me to
go to sleep or my eyes would be red and
hollow in the morning. But I told my
mother that hollow eyes and pale cheeks
were necessary to me now; that my career
depended on the depths of my despair.
Tomorrow, mother, let no one disturb
me on any account. Keep away letters,
newspapers, everything Tomorrow I
am Juliet or nothing"
My mother promised, and I got some
hours OF undisturbed slumber.
Rehearsal was over-the last rehearsal
had gone through my part thinking of !
my woes. had swallowed the draught as
if it had indeed been potion to put me out |
of all remembrance Of my misery l had |
snatched the dagger and stabbed myself |
even as / often felt tempted to do in real
life. And then / set off home, feeling
that if life were bereft for me of all joy, If
l was doomed to sink, unwedded, to the
grave, l should at least have the satisfac-
ton Of confounding my enemies and
triumphing over them.
| was passing Charing Cross station,
delayed little while by the streams of
vehicles issuing forth, when in hanson
at little distance | saw form-a face
which made me start and tremble, and
turn hot and cold and red and white
all at the same time. 1t could not be
Jack. 1t oughtn't, mustn't, shouldn't be
Jack. Had / not to act in suffering and
despair tonight? Well, even if he had re-
turned in safety from his cruise, it was
without a thought of me in his heart
He was engaged-married-fo aught I
knew. 1t was possible, nay certain, that
should never see him again.
And yet l ran all the way home. And
yet told the servant breathlessly, eff any
visitors call don't wish to be disturbed"
And yet / made my mother repeat the
promise she had given me the previous
night. Then l flew to my den at the top
of the house, bolted myself in, and set
chair against the door, as if ! were afraid
of any one making a forcible entry. I
stuffed my fingers in my ears and went
over my part with vigor, with more noise
even than was absolutely necessary. Still
how strangely l seemed to hear every
sound. A hanson paSsing--no, hanson
drawing up at our house went AS far
from the window as possible. l wedged
myself up between the sofa and the wall,
and l shut my eyes firmly Surely there
were unaccustomed noises about, talking
and laughing, as If something pleasant
had happened. Presently heavy footsteps
came bounding up two stairs at time.
Oh! should l have the courage not to
answer If It should be Ja-?
But it wasn't Kitty's voice shouted
'Sybil, Sybil! come down. Here'sr-
"Kitty, be quiet" called out furiously
'If you don't hold your tongue if you
don't go away from the door Immediately,
I'll-11l shoot you" ,
She went away, and I heard her telling :
them down stairs that she believed Sybil :
had gone mad.
waited little longer, then l stole to
he window. Surely Juliet would not be
spoilt by the sight of visitor leaving the
house. But there was no one leaving. I
indeed, / saw the prospect of fresh ar Y
'ival-Isabel Chisholm was coming up the a
street in a bran new costume and hat to b
match. Her fringe was curled to per- o
ection. A tiny veil was arranged coquet- g
ishly just above her nose. Flesh and t
Hood could not stand this. Down stairs c
iarted, without waiting even for look in G
he glass. Into the drawing room | t.
and there, in his six feet two c. il
omely nanliness, stood Jack, my Jack, "
more bronzed and handsome and lovable g
han aror He uhnr,n | bod rnnnr,rrni biz 4.