The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-01-04

she sHOulu lcel IL tHey were ior hSi'
Her heart swelled and her cheeks
flushed with pride at the thought.
Without telling any one of the OBJ
ject of her errand. Bessie went down
town the next morning. 1t was little
before noon when she entered the hotel
at which she knew Madam B-was
staying. Her little card was sent up to
Madam BIS room, and Bessie waited
in the hotel parlor, her heart fluttering
in spite of her efforts to appear self
possessed. Madam B returned word
that she would see the lady, and Bessie
followed the porter of the hotel to her
room. Madam B was lying on a
lounge. and Bessie's timiditv gave way
to amazement as she looked at the wO-
man before her. The Madam B she
had seen the night before was young
and beautiful woman with long, golden
curls, sparkling eyes and happy. joy
Gus manner. She had worn such beau
tiful jewels and such lovely dresses.
The woman Bessie saw on the lounge
was not young nor beautiful nor gold
en-haired. She had a weary, care
worn look; her thin, dark hair, streak
ed with gray, was combed back plainly
and she wore plain, dark wrapper and
not 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 to Bessie to be
the voice she had heard the night before,
and this surely was not the same
woman.
I-I-wanted to see Madam B."
replied Bessie, and her voice faltered
in spite of her efforts to appear calm.
Il am Madam B." replied the
woman, looking curiously at Bessie. Il
suppose" she added, that you have
seen me only on the stage and that you
hardly recognize me off of it. There is
difference.
The last words were spoken sadly,
and her manner was not unkind. She
sat up on the sofa, drew a shawl around
her shoulders, and asked, with a smile:
"Can l do any thing for you?"
A maid had brought a chair for Bes-
sic. She sat down and said: 81 called
to see you about-about myself. My
friends tell that IL have" - she
paused with blush on her cheeks and
Madam B finished the sentence for
her.
That you have dramatic ability, is
that it?"
Yes, replied Bessie.
81 guessed it," replied Madam B,
land you want to go upon the stage?"
"Oh. erer so much!' cried Bessie, re-
assured by Madam BIS kindly man
ner.
Il thought that. too, when you came
in" said Madam B, little more
seriously. "Well, how can l be of
service to you?"
Il thought" said Bessie, THAT if you
would be kind enough to hear me re-
cite a few pieces, or some thing from
plays have 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 again in her room, and that
was probably the reason she spoke it
now in such an unnatural way.
Il am quite willing to hear you recite
any thing you wish" said Madam B.
''Of course you want me to be frank and
tell you just what | think?"
"Oh certainly" replied Bessie, quite
confident that she would surprise
Madam B.
She recited the most exciting parts of
The Polish Boy" and a part of the
balcony scene from Romeo and
Juliet" and sat down, flushed with her
efforts, intending to rest moment be-
fore beginning the sleep-walking scene
from Macbeth"
A half-suppressed giggle behind her
caused her 10 turn around. and she saw
maid evidently trying hard not
to laugh. She knew that she was the
object of the girls merrlment, and her
cheeks flushed with indignation and
pride.
Madam B turned to her maid and
sternly sent her from the room. Then
she said, quietly and kindly, to Bessie:
You need not recite any more. l
can give you my opinion at once. You
are about eighteen years old, are you
not?n
Il shall be eighteen in May" replied
Bessie.
DO you live here?"
NO: in Elderton, ten miles from
here"
You have kind parents and pleas
ant home there?"
Somehow there came into Bessie's
heart at that moment great and ten
der sense of how very good and kind
her father and mother had always been.
and Of the many sacrifices they had
made for her comfort and happiness.
She wondered what thev would think
and say if they knew where she was at
that moment, and there was the sug-
gestion of tears in her voice as she said,
Loyalty:
.'Oh yes, indeed; have very good
and kind father and mother, but it is
as much on their account as my own
that want to be and do something more
than ordinary. l should like them to
be proud of me-"
do they know that they have come
to see me?n
NO" replied Bessie, with some con-
fusion.
land they would be sorry If they did