Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-02-10

satisfied you possess the essential tall
ent. and you say . love for the at 10 !
say to you Go on the stage. 'sSsS
\ Then he learned her name md ar-
ranged with her the financial part Of
the engagement As Zepha. with happy,
triumphant heart, was quitting The par
lor, Mr.. Aimard said: Miss 0lnsy, I
ishould be pleased to have you return
BY l o'clock, ct least, 80 that I may
present you to my sisters. Grace and
Stella, who will be yonr friends and
arrange with you about your costumes !"
II shall be punctual, she replied.
and passed out as Mr.. Aimard politely
held the door open for her.
Zepha returned to the store, secured
Susan Grim's groceries. and walked
back to the cabin, which she found
empty, for old Sol and his wife had
gone to the woods and would not be
back till evening.
Zepha's fine memory, which had been
the envy Of her schoo climates, now served
her 81 good turn. In what seemed an
incredibly short time she had com-;
mitted the part in the drama, and res
Ihearsed it over and over again in the.
cabin she would soon leave to engage
in an untried career.
The girl had no misgiiyyings in the
step she was about to take. She was
but obeying force within herself that
seemed to urge her on. Eyer since she
was 9 child that strange force had
seemed to dominate over every other
inclination, and she had always believed
the opportunity would come to her TO
become ~ actress. Now il had. And And
she said to herself. The stage is an
honorable profession if We make it so.
I am sure Mr.. Aimard i an honorable
man, and has respectable company.
Anyway, Ishall not forget to ask God
to help me in my new life. shall CO.
: Good-by, old cabin, SO long my
home, she said, as she prepared to leave
it. IF success crowns my steps, Sol
Grim will never regret that he has
been 9 friend to friendless girl.
Little the Grims dreamed; that the
girl IN the role OF little, artless
mountain maiden, whom the large au-
dience ct the opera house that night
admired 60 vastly in her charming
rendition OF the part, was this missing
ZephaiO lney. II those who knew Zepha
observed q resemblance to the girl who
lived with the Grim's, they made no
comments then. But next day, when
the theatrical company left town, and
Sol, wild with fright to find some clew
to the missing girl, appeared and told
Of her disappearance, those parties
mentioned the resemblance. and put
ting this and that together, they were
not wrong in the conclusion at which
they arrived. aJist as I 'spected!"
calculated Susan Grim, when she learned
Of their conclusion. II allus knowed
that gal i'd disgrace this family. But
old Sol only sighed, for he really loved
the girl, in his rough way, and longed
for her back.
I Three years later, the Pacific Slope
was oil astir with excitement over ! star
that had suddenly appeared above the
theatrical horizon. She was q lovely
and gifted woman, whose progress
in a dramatic caraarS had hoon ahoady
and brilliant As the curtain assembled,
revealing the star in the leading femi-
nine part Of one of the most popular
plays Of the season, radiantly beanti-
full woman, an elderly gentleman in
one Of the finest boxes the theater af-
forded arose and gazed Of the actress
as though fascinated.
aSit down, Crofton; everybody is
ewing you instead Of the star, spoke
his companion.
Who is that?" whispered Croftonsto
his friend, pointing toward the stage,
as he sank back with u deep drawn
sigh. 81
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