Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1891-02-20
CHOICE OF AN ACTRESS.

man, she always expected to marry. !
say expected, instead Of hoped, because
she had constantly too many admirers
to doubt her opportunities-to her mind
it was simply a question Of meeting the
right one
She felt sure that when the right man
came she would be willing to give up
everything for him; indeed, she contem.
plated with a certain serene satisfaction
the coming of a time when her triumphs
and ambitions and fame and freedom
would be exchanged for the proud eervi-
tude Of wifehood.
Stil she wasn't in n hurry to meet the
right man. He would come when he
did come-and when he did come IL
couldn't be helped, and she would be
glad. Upon various occasions she had
thought him come.
Upon these occasions she had expert
enced q distinct sensation Of f~retfulness.
She had conscientiOusly given the nd
mirer a fair chance to prove himself the
right man, bat had always been down
right glad when he had failed to do 50.
The admirer always made some mistake
fatal TO his interests.
Perhaps he lost his head, and went
down on his knees; that always immedi-
ately settled it. She was much too proud
and too humble a woman to be, willing
to marry a man who went down on his
knees about it.
Or he lost his head, and threatened 80
shoot himself, or drink himself to death,
or jump in the bay.
Now and then she was moved with re-
greet at the storm which she had raised.
and expostulated Ia a kindly fashion
with her victim, but more often she
shrugged her white shoulders, saying, if
not to the man. at least to herself, that
the man who was foolish enough 20 want
to shoot himself because a woman did
not love him, had better shoot himself.
Some men were doggsdly meelr-of
these she was a bit afraid-yet so far
these meek, doggel wooers had presently
developed into bores, which, she felt.
lessened the danger. l say danger, be-
che regarded the possibility of
marrying any man but the right man a
danger.
Sooner or later, in the course of every
admirers attention she made a stanch
effort TO dismiss or escape him.
She argued to herself that escape from
the right man would be impossible, and
that escape from any other was to be re-
garded as wisdom. and hailed as good
fortune.
She never went out Of her way to at.
tract men-in the first place she had no
need to, and besides she really did not
care to increase the chances of coming
across this more or less to be dreaded
right man.
She kept pretty closely to her work,
enjoyed the footlights, spent her money
freely, rejoiced in her independence, and
thought herself q lucky girl.
OF course she had admirers. She con
sidered that a natural result of her posi-
ton, profession, sex and attractions.
She permitted men who loved her Ger
tain privileges-they might kiss hei
hand. come to the theatre and see hel
play, and give her flowers and feel mis-.
cradle about her.
Any one oil them, she realized, might
develop into the right man, 50 she treat
ed them all conscientiously. She never
misled them or led them on, and since
she was frank with them and never dis
courteous, she felt sac had II right to be-
exacting about their manners, and she
always was.
Upon the three or four occasions wher
a mans devotion had stirred in her &
certain degree of interest she had rigidlJ
demanded time to find out and to make
up her mind.
To find out meant to satisfy herself
that the nan in question and the 'righ
man" were Of one "identity." To make
mp her mind meant to decide whether
right man or not, she would have himl
The candidate having always failed t,
stand this test, shehad, directly she wa.
so assured, dismissed him promptly an,
gently.
By what subtle sign Of authority shl
would recognize the right man she di,
not know. He would be big, she wa
III Of that, and very gentle; he woulI
meet her mentally, understand her
satisfy her morally and tenderly, maste
her physically.
he would be above all her little "arts
and caprices, but he would admire them
he would be too digliied 10 go down o.
his knees from not being able to help it
yet qulCe lond enough OF her to do it
For ~ l.rt, ale would never wish il
and .e Goallbs very meek and gentl
and ooeIent, and glad to be so; but
but, meanwhile she was free, and OF tina
she wa5 A.4l, TOO.
Realy, ler life vas delightful; sh
lifted ar white ARMS into her prett,
lace w.alftr md .-led to herself a
size se,i 4ir her l.tle rest before re
firing. Aer parior was warm, and tn
light l.eued Or coiorel shades; a bit o
sa44a lwool among tae logs sent a spic.
fragrance DO wi.l tle heat, She rubbed
her healumong lecushionsa and laugheI
again ~ Ael.-L.
III wasa notion Of her own, this hal
hour rest l..ors rc.iring. For the SAX
ofi5sls came homes ~ once from
-prs and sitting Vi
cupid, beside
spoil her ZOO
VI u.If uOu
laa ASA the crack
y and hermilI
rnenmnur Vvar