Montgomery County sentinel., 1891-07-10
my of them would como back to search

It was a calamity in which each one
must help herself or himself.
And doubtless they had all by now
settled themselves somewhere for the
night, at least.
They had all Of them, even the little
soubrette who had sobbed 90 disconso-
lately, been members Of the profession
longer than she.
They were used to its ups and downs.
its shifts and expedients. And most of
them had experienced exactly the same
predicament before.
Now, in her distress and perplexities,
Kate concluded that they had forgotten
all about her.
"There isn't one of them who cares
enough for me to miss me, to wonder
what | will do. or what will come of
me, she thought, as she stood there on
the bridge alone in the night gloom.
"And this is the career once fancied
so full of pleasure ! This is the end of
my dazzling hopes. my lofty ambitions.
Well, to night is but the emblem Of it
all In love- in everything which makes
ones life sweet and blessed, | am in
deed-stranded.
Perhaps it was only natural in such
time that she should recall her older
home.
How pretty it was, how dear, that
simple little cottage in tho quiet village |!
The old apple tree where the robins
used to sing so riotously must now be
pink with bloom.
And the peach tree how beautiful
it was in blossom when the petals used
to fall in showers against her tiny bay
window
Had the new owners driven the swal-
lows away from the caves ?-the wren
from her nest in the moldering stem of
the dead and branchless locust
Perhaps they had pulled down the
dear little house altogether and erected
some grander structure in its stead.
Suddenly she stretched out her arms
yearningly. She lifted her sad face to
the cold. unanswering stars.
''But, oh |" she murmured, "if | could
only rest my tired head beneath that
dear old roof tonight think | could die
content
A listless, uncertain tread upon the
planks of the bridge at that moment
distracted her thoughts and aroused
her to the imprudence of her position.
She must not remain there. She
must GO. But where?
How strange, how pitiful it seemed
that in all the wide world she had no
place to lay her head
The footsteps came closer. With
half frightened glance she saw q tall
man, broad shouldored, roughly dressed,
with a great shaggy yellow beard, and
with pair of piercing eyes which seem
ed to look her through and through.
He had passed and repassed n num-
Der of times, but she had been too en-
crossed with her sorrowful reflection to
notice him before.
He walked directly to her.
lIo grasped the rail of the bridge with
both hands, and she marveled vaguely
to see that he was trembling
"You arc one of the unfortunate
theatrical company! Can | be of any
service to you i" he asked her, abruptly.
"Who are you 7" she cried in alarm,
as she shrunk back from him.
His reply was uttered in a strange,
rapid and vehement whisper.
II am like yourself" he said. "Some
years ago | had u happy home and
wife | adorod. She went away from
me, and since then in hJpe and happ-
ness | have been stranded"
For an instant she stood as if sui.
denly turned to stone. ALI the life
within her seemed concentrated in her
great, dark, burning eyes
"You, Jack Oh, God is IL you!'
she exclaimed, at length. "You, who
used to be so proud about yourself, SO
brave of spirit, like this?'
"Do you care ?" he asked her.
"Do | care 2" she repeated passion
ately. IL care so much that would
give my very soul if could undo what
have done | have failed in my
career, but | might have succeeded,
Jack, could have had your love. |
could do nothing without your love.
jack"
She was crying now, softly, hopeless
ly, not daring TO believe that she was
still dear TO him.
He put his roughly clad arms about
her and drew her unresisting head to
his bosom-against that shaggy, tan
eled beard which with his careless at
tire she had fancied a sign Of, Heaven
knows how much, destitution and vaga-
bondage!
"You have always had my love,
sweetheart. Do you think could ever
have ceased loving such an adorable
woman as you are, Kate? Our trouble
was all my fault, too--all my contempti-
bic obstinacy," said he.
"Oh, Jack, how good you are to say
that, when you know ii isn't true, she
murmured. with her arms around his
neck and her lips upon his
"Well, darling, we will begin over
again have never sold the little cot
tage Il couldn't, because we had once
/ Deen bo Happy bueIS huu uhNC he"S
big fortune in the mines back here.
SO you shall live where you like and
wear diamonds and cloth of gold, if you
choose. Or, il you would rather stay
on the stage, you can have company
of your own and theatre of your own,
if you desire. And you need not fear
ever again being stranded"
"No, Jack. Neither of us need fear
ever again being stranded" she answer
ed solemnly, and with meaning he
could not mistake.
But Kate left the stage altogether.
She had talent, and in time would no
doubt have succeeded more than toler..
bly,.
But" she says. 'it isn't that l love
the profession less, it is that love my
home aud my husband more"
Adversely exasperates fools, defects
cowarda draws ont the faculties of the