Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-04-04

might have gone on this way, and ultimately
) attained to bald head and sub-editorship
at fifty or so, but for doing two exceedingly
foolish things. made the acquaintance of
Charlie Eastwood, and fell desperately in
love with pretty actress, and one who was
quite as clever and good as she was pretty
Lizzie Rayburn-you remember herr This
Charlie Eastwood was journalist like my
self-a wild, harum-scarum fellow OF the
speculative sort-you've met this prototype,
dare say; always going of at tangent,
or breaking out in fresh place when least
expected; full of extravagent ideas about
the undiscovered possibilities Of the press;
always vaporing about the reforms he in
tended TO originate, if ever he should edit a
paper of his own. ], at that time, admiring
and looking up to Charlie, not only as the
| best of good fellows, which he really was
! but as the very prince of journalists and an
original genius, which only too late, have
discovered he was not, firmly believed in
and held to him in spite OF the ridicule and
chaff of older and wiser heads.
SAT last, one day Charlie came to me at
the Office in perfect frenzy of excitement
| with the news that he had just taken the
management of a new weekly paper called
The Bullseye which would make its appear
ance the following week, and which had, as
usual, been started TO fill the not particularly
noticed void. We're all full up with the
| exception of the dramatics, and, Teddy my
| boy, you're the very mani know you have
| ideas of your own about the way that sort
| of thing should be done, and here's the OPP
| portunity. Between US, we will make the
paper the biggest go in London
What Eastwood said was true. had
long possessed secret warnings that way,
which / had at times confided to Charlie.
| For a moment considerations of prudence
came to my aid, and l ventured the mild
suggestion of doubt as to whether Twas
quite fitted for that line of work
Nonsense, my boyn said Charlie; i
know your proper capacity. You're sure
to make hit 1t was curious fact that
! Charlie possessed the most remarkable in
tuitive faculty for discovering everybody's
proper capabilities except his own.
"'Besides.' he added, think of Lizzie
THAT settled it. Without further ado 1
closed with the offer, and fortnight later
saw me installed as dramatic critic of The
| Bullseye, with the title of that publication
inscribed on my cards underneath that of
| The Blunderer. The plan of operation /
proceeded to act upon was this: l had long
| had a wholesome contempt for that class of
dramatic critics forever hanging round
stage doors and hotel bars, and drinking
with managers and actors, so l resolved to
set an example in the opposite direction by
keeping reigiously aloOf from all associa-
ton with the profession-with one eXcep-
ton. This was Lizzie, who insisted on re-
ceiving her little paragraph of two or three
lines regularly every week, and with whom
spent each Sunday afternoon and evening
at her fathers place in Twickenham, whittier
he had retired to spend the rest of his days,
free from the smoke of Aldgate and the
cares of the grocery business. There had
once been some talk of Mr.. Loydall, a
huge beetle browed, hoarse-voced ira
gedian, who played heavy lead to Lizzie's
juveniles at the Olympian, but he soon found
out that he had no chance with me, and
after one or two tussels retired from the
battle, leaving me to walk over the course
at my leisure.
LAS you will guess, matters were pretty
well settled between Lizzie and me, and we
obtained old Rayburn's consent to our mar
rage whenever the Blunderer's manage
ment should recognize mymerits sufficiently
TO advance my salary, and to enable me to
take Lizzie away from the stage. The Bulls
eye, contrary to everybody's expectations
everybody, that is, outside the office
showed signs of becoming a pronounced
success. My dramatic criticisms were soon
one of the leading features of the journal
j had always had notion that the wither-
ing, sarcastic style of writing was best
suited to me, and this was the line took, with
such effect that at times it became difficult
to find out whether had been praising or
stating a piece or an actor. Some people
were unl1ind enough to say that they would
La 20
Needless to say that as the power and in
fluence of the paper increased, l soon be-
came an object of hatred and dread to the
whole profession. This only ticllled my
vanity the more, and 1 would strut along
Fleet street and the Strand of morning
meeting the scowl of passing pros with
stare of superciIious Indifference.
lone night, entering my club at the usual
hour. just before starting for the Lorne
Theater, where a new piece, entitled For
L ife or DEATH was to be produced that
evening. i found a telegram lying for me
in the rack. 1t was from Lizzie's mother,
telling me that Lizzie had been seized with
a dangerous illness that very morning, and
begging that / would proceed to the house
at once. For moment was in a serious
dilemma. At all hazards l must see Lizzie
that night, yet it was Imperative that /
should attend the first nights show at the
Lorne, having for that special occasion I'M
dertaken The Blunderer's special notice in
place of the regular man, who was absent
through indisposition.
''Thei an idea struck me as | caught sight
of Scrubby, the dramatic critic of the
Scorcher, at the other end of the room,
already preparing to leave. Scrubby was
reliable man, knew, and the best available
for the purpose had in my mind. Crossing
over to where he was, l showed him the
telegram, and explained my difficulty.
Nothing easier, my boy he exclaimed,
clapping me on the back Trust to me-
Pm going down to the show, and will leave
you a programme here, marked with my
notes. on my way TO the Office. If you're
back here by half-past ten, you'll find it
waiting. Then you can scrib5le your
notices for the two papers from my notes
and send them in the usual way
Warmly shaking him by the hand, &C
cepted his offer, and FASTENED away to
Twickenham. When reached the house |
found my darling already delirious in the |
first stages of high fever, and calling for |
me. Remained by her side, holding her !
hand in mine and soothing her as best l |
could until she had fallen of into a fitful |
doze. Then l stole quietly away, whisper |
ing to Mrs. Rayburn that 1 would return as
soon as my business in toASn was concluded. |
''When got back to the club found as |
expected, the programme lying in the |
rack. inside an envelope addressed to me- |
Scrubby's analysis of the production, play |
and acting, was distinctly unfavorable, his |
marginal notes having such bitterly acrid |
favor that concluded it must all have been |
very bad indeed; and so / followed suit with |
good interest cutting ND everything and |