The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1891-06-27
STRANDED

Love me: Oh, no, Jack. If YOU did
you wouldn't oppose what is for my
highest interest You wouldn't want
me to waste the best years of my life
drudging among such common people
when | have talent which can lift me to
something better No, Jack, you don't
love NE; for love is unselfsh, and you
think only Of youref"
Jack Clavering-a strong hmbed,
Saxon haired young fellow-turned to
the window. and for a little while gazed
in silence upon the summer world out
side
But he saw neither the blue sky nor
the green earth. He did not hear the
south wind whispering among the bud
ding hlacs. nor the robins singing in the
apple trees pink with bloom
Those honest blue eyes were blind
with tears wrung from the bitterness of
his spoiled and cheated young manhood
The words of his needless, ambitious
young wife had stabbed him to the
heart
lyon think only of YOURSELF"
She-his adored Kate-could say that
when he would have laid down his life
for her sake!
He turned presently.
Hero as he was he had concealed
every sign Of what was warning within
him.
Il will not oppose you, Kate, if you
are really in earnest about the matter.
But it will make q great change in our
lives! Have you thought of that he
asked her.
Il have thought of everything" she
answered eagerly. Of course we must
cell this odious little house and lot, and
you can transfer your business to the
city while | am studying. And after
ward, when shall be esta blished on the
stage, you will go with me wherever |
GO
The life wouldn't suit me" he said.
''If you are determined upon a career as
an actress you must get along without
me altogether You will go the way
you have chosen. my Kate, and will 90
mine
For moment she looked grieved and
reluctant
But the new ambition was stronger
than the older love- and such separa-
ton did not seem so terrible after all.
She went to him and put her arms
around his neck.
"B1t the parting will be without an
ger, and it will not be for always" she
asked him
I'VE part without anger. certainly"
was his reply
And so il was settled.
And III few weeks Kate had begun
her new life in the city and Jack was
iourneying westward whittier he scarce
~ knew and hardly cared
The curtain had rolled down for the
Last time The play was over
There had been 10 applause, no recalls
The company had played that night to d
nearly empty house.
It Ead been the same night after
night. in town after town, and city after
city.
In rose satin and flmy lace, glitter
of Jewels. the worth of which would MOI
have purchased her a nights lodging. the
star swept her shining court train across
the stage on her way to her dressing
roOm.
One of her companions met her in thu
winga The girl was crying hysteric
ally.
"Oh, Katel" she sobbed, that wretch
has gonel He has disposed of every
thing be could, and he has gone and lief
rs to shirk for ourselves"
"You don't mean the manager" saiC
Kate, aghast-
II Just do mean the manager. tn
heartless scampl He has borrowed none.
on the stage properties-just enough t.
sway the instant he could get the re
ceipts in his hands tonight. And her
we are in this horrid place without S
much as dollar among us all.
II was all too true. Their manage
had forsaken them. leaving the unfort
innate company stranded in that remot
little western town,
While leaving the theater, in the e1
element Kate happened somehow
become separated from her companions
She walked on, thinking some Of ther
would overtake her. And presently sh
stopped on bridge spanning a mario,
stream which flowed in sluggish cu
rent through the rambling little city.
She had stood there long time wait
ing, gazing down into the dark rollin
water and absorbed with her responder
thoughts, before it occurred to her tbs
he others must have preceded her frol
he theater building.
And there was little probability tha
my Of them would come back to scare
fax her.