The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-01-11

aOu bne WOTea plalD, uaTk wrapper huu
not a single jewel. The roses were
gone from her cheeks and the smile
from her face as she put her elbow on
pillow, supported her head on her
hand and asked: 'Did you wish to see
me?"
That did not seem 10 Bessie to be
the voice she had heard the night be-
fore, and this surely was not the same
woman.
"-I-wanted to see Madam B."
replied Bessie, and her voice faltered
In spite of her efforts to appear calm.
81 am Madam B" replied the
woman, looking curiously at Bessie. 81
suppose" she added, 'tbat you have
seen me only on the stage and that you
hardly recognize me off of it. There is
a difference" -t.'
The last words were spoken sadly,
and her manner was rot unkind. She
sat upon thesofa, drew a shawl around
her shoulders, and asked, with smile:
Scan l do anything for you''
A maid had brought chair for Bes-
sic. She sat down and said: 81 called
to see you about-about myself. My
friends tell that l--I--have"-sb she
paused with a blush on her cheeks and
Madam B-finished the sentence for
her. ..li ti..1- .t...
''That you have dramatic ability, is
that it 2" NJ .... ~.
EYES," replied Bessie.
81 guessed it," replied Madam b,
"And you want to go tupon-the stage ?"
"Ob, eeer so much !" cried Bessie, re-
assured by Madam B. kindly man
ner.
81 thought that, too, when you came
in,' said Madau, B, little more
seriously. "Well, how can be of
service to you?"
81 thought said Bessie, shat If you
would be kind enough to hear me re-
cite few pieces, or something from
/ plays Ihave seen, you could Judge OF
my ability and would be willing to tell
me just what you think"
| She had rehearsed this little speech
again and agaih in her room, and that
was probably the reason she spoke it
now in such an unnatural way.
II am quite willing to hear you re-
cite anything you wish" said Madam
B.. ''Of course you want me to be
frank and tell you just what / think :"
ooh certainly" replied Bessie, quite
c,ngtent that she would surprise
Madam Il -.
She recited the most exciting parts
of "The Polish Boy" and part of he
balcony scene from 'Isomeo and
Juliet" and sat down, flushed with her
Efforts, intending to rest moment be-
f)re beginning the sleep-walking scene
from "Macbeih."
A half suppressed giggle behind hel
caused her to turn around, and she saw
madam's maid evidently trying hard moi
to laugh. She knew that she was the
object of the girls merriment, and hel
cheeks flushed with Indignation and
mortified pride.
Madam B--turned to her maid ano
sternly sent her from the room. Their
she said, quietly and kindly, to Bessie
"You need not recite any more.
can give you my opinion at once. Yot
are about eighteen years old, are yol
not?"
81 shall be eighteen in May" replied
Bessie
''Do you live here?"
"No; in Elderton, len miles from
here"
"You have kind parents and pleas
, ant home there?"
Somehow there came into Bessie
heart at that moment a great ard ten
der sense OF how very good and kint
, her father and mother had always been
= and of the many sacrifices they hat
made for her comfort and happiness
/ She wondered what they would thinl
5 and say if they knew where she was a
that moment, and there was the sug
A gestioh of tears in her voice as she said
a loyalty
"Oh yes, ir deed; have very goo
Q and kind father aud mother, but it
D as much on their account as my ow
e that want to be and do something NOR
n than ordinary. / should like them t
+ be proud of me-
n "Do they know that You have com
8 to see me?''
No. replied Bt ssie, with some COZ
r fusion.
/ "And they would be sorry if the
o did know"
t Il am afraid they wouldn't like it
o replied Bessie, hanging her head. "B,
of course, after I'd got to he famor
. and rich and"
It Madam B. suddenly leaned fo
J. ward, took both of Bessies hands
=, her own, and said, in changed, ear
d est voice:
e "My dear girl, listen quietly to n
It Tor a moment, and be very sure that
10 mean all that say for your own goo
and that if had daughter of yo,
o age, should be forever grateful to ar
y ons who would say to her what l shs
IS say to you.
o SIN the first place, you are mistake
's in thinking that you have any speci
If dramatic ability. don't think "
: could make much of what ability "
81 have, and ] am glad of it. If you W
'r go back to the peace and security
1t your home and faithfully discharge Il
10 duties that come TO you, no matter no
5, humble they may be, the time W
l. surely come when you will be glad tn
a. you were kept from going on the stag
1t No success that might come to you, !
p. laurel crowns could be half 30 beau
K full as the crown of a pure, good al
W noble womanhood. Go home now al
r. never give another thought TO Il
Ks stage as a place where you might
happy
b, Bessie felt that these words we
n true, Notwithstanding her recent dele
a mination to go upon the stage. Hum
ID lated and crestfallen, she stammer
m her thanks to the actress, and return
I'd home to take up the duties of Ii
n, again.
r, Her dream os greatness was ov
f. but she was not unhappy; and if s
m did not win the applause she covete
Id she did afterward find in the sphere