Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-03-05

Geraldine! Geraldiner' cried a young
girl, running up Come here, dear,
old Mrs Hudson says she must be in
troduced TO you Every ones talking
of your success"
Geraldine nodded triumphantly, and
glanced back at her betrothed, as much
as to say: There, you see," as she
hurried off.
''She is one of the sweetest, dearest
of girls" reflected Sydney, as he slow
ly followed; land they will spoil her
If they only knew what getting on the
stage means, they would be careful
not to turn girls or male idiots heads
by their folly. | will see Geraldine's
aunt. Thank Heaven, shall soon be
my darling's guardian and protector"
Geraldine slept very little that night,
being too excited with her success.
Sydney Ascot slept, perhaps, not quite
so much, for thinking of her.
The following afternoon he carried
out his intention of seeing Miss Frob-
shere, the aunt of his betrothed.
my dear Sydney!" exclaimed the old
lady, ''the girls just lost her head about
it l wish all the private theatricals
were at the bottom of the sea, that do.
If girl, or n young man, is only
praised enough by friends, they think
they have but to step upon the real
stage to become at once Charlotte
Cushman or an Edwin Booth. There is
no fever like the acting fever. Why"
added the old lady, to Sydney's surprise,
81 even caught the disease little in my
young days; only my parents, Heaven
bless them, stamped it out
II don't mind private theatricals,"
put in Sydney, gravely; ''save where it
leads to false ideas, and"
My dear boy, you can't separate the
one from the other. Now there Is a
letter come from the Griggses to Ger
aldine, wanting her to play Polly
Eccles in Caste and since not a sylla-
bic can get out of her. tried by
the m ost enticing subject My love- 1
said, 1 was thinking about your trous-
seau.' ooh, aunt she interrupted,
don't disturb me. want to learn this
part. The Griggses have given me such
short notice Here she is"
AS she spoke, Geraldine came slowly
into the room, through the conserv-
atory. Her eyes were fixed upon one
of Samuel French's little yellow play
books, her lips moved. Miss Frobshere
shrugged her shoulders.
"Ah, Sydney" exclaimed his be-
trothed, looking up, her eyes dancing,
81 hope you don't want me to go out?
l really must get this by heart. Oh, it's
such nice part-I wish you'd give me
my cues"
"All right" he rejoined, taking the
book.
What good fellowy" and she began.
"Well, what do you think, eh?"
''Why, I've seen Ada Rehan-a born
actress" he said, quietly; land must
own you don't quite understand the
character. Of course it may please your
friends of last night"
Geraldine snatched the book from his
hand.
'If you can not approve, you need
not insult, she said, coldly, haughtily.
HE is right, Dine. What he says is
for your good, " put in Miss Frobshere.
''My dear aunt, at present being de-
pendent upon you, you of course may
say what you please, 4" replied Geraldine,
as, with the stately step of Fanny
Davenport, she quilted the room.
She did not appear again while
Sydney was there. He went away
down-hearted. That golden future,
which he had regarded as so securely
his, seemed vanishing in the dim dis
lance.
The next morning, while he sat at
breakfast, hurried note reached him
from Miss Frobshere.
"Come to me at once" it ran. 81 am
distracted. Geraldine has gone!'
Gone!
For few seconds he sat motionless,
unable to realize the words. Then he
sprang up, and was soon fastening to
the villa. 1t was quite true. Geraldine
had gone to bed early the previous
evening, and next morning her aunt
had waited breakfast for her half an
hour; then had sent to her room, to find
its occupant flown. In vain they
searched-not a clew could they dis
cover. They both guessed the truth.
and the letter each recei yed that after
noon confirmed 1t. Sydney's was to this
effect:
MY DEAREsT:-I am, I feel, about to cause
you great pain; but can not avoid il. I re-
lease you; ask you to release me. We think
so differently on some points, that I feel we
should never be happy as man and wife The
fault would be mine-I own it. am conscious
OF histrionic talents within me, which would be
endless misery and regret, did I suppress
them. l can not suppress them. I know you
arc Of different opinion. One day you may have
to acknowledge that my friends OF last night
were right, and you were wrong. In plain
words am going on the stage, and mean to
be-if not an Ada Rehan, at least q success
There!-it must rest with you how we meet
in the future; for I love you, and shall never
love another so we'll II ever again.
Yours a1ectionately,
GERALDINE
''Is it to be, wonder, adieu or az revofr4''
81 will find her." cried poor Sydney.
Heaven help her! she knows not what
she has done. Ignorant, trustful, am
bilious, she will become the dupe of
every theatrical agent, every impostor
if not worse. How, too, will she live2
She has no money ="
eyes, she has," put in Miss Frob-
shere. Her savings bank book has
gone. She has over thousand dollars
there-she'll draw it all out"
''It will be enough for her to live on,
thank God, until find her!" CALCULATED
Sydney-''unt1 we can persuade her to
communicate with u.s.
But such a result did not arrive. No
notice was taken of the advertisements
he put in the papers nearly every day,