Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1891-02-28
~GERALDINE'S FAILURE.
The Lesson Learned by Experience
on the Real Stage.
Bravo. bravo"

Ilt4t NdN NcCA4t4HA> etf-GASt WIN
hands as well as voices.
My dear. that girl is a born actress.
How different private theatricals are
nowadays, When I was a girl
R~eally-thcy will have her on again
then
The curtains dividing the audience
from the mimic stage were once more
drawn a little apart to admit a pretty
girl with dark, ripping hair and spark
ling eyes, who advanced to make her
bow in recognition Of the plaudit,
which rang through the room.
WHO is shc?" asked a visitor.
a Miss Geraldine Norton. was
whispered back. Hasn't any money.
lives with an aunt who rather dislikes
private theatricals. Might set her face
against them utterly, only, luckily for
the girl, She is engaged 20 a well-to-do
young fellow-sydney Ascot-else she'd
have to be a governesp"
rs he here?'
oh, yes Behind the scenes. Ha,
ha, ha,"
Sydney Ascot was behind the scenes.
Indeed, at the wings. with his back
against the wall. his arms folded, he
had witnessed, with the gravest of
faces. the triumph Of his betrothed, in
The Bellies Stratagem."
BY love, sgd doesn't She do il
wcll?" exclaimed a friend. standing at
his side. why, man, what a solemn
countenance' Aren't you pleased"
''Pleascd.' was the response. Il
wishto Heaven they'd-they'd hiss her.
by Jove-why?'
because such applause is enough tc
turn a girls head and give her false no.
tons. She'll believe She is a genius.
All this will make her restless tc
achieve MOI public g%lories, and be dis
tontented that She can't; while vor
know, as well as |, Ted. what a vastly
different affair is the real thing from
the imitation. The successful amateur
imagineS he or She has but to step from
the mimic to the real stage to score ar
equal victory, and. oh. the disapppoint
ment. Geraldine is too fond of acting
as it is"
Here She comes" remarked Tee
Downes, who deemed it best to sin
away round the wing.
sob, sgd, what did you think of me?'
exclaimed his betrothed, dancing up t.
him. WAS it not delightful? And t,
know it's all over. Oh, if it were onl,
every, every night. But you don't sa,
what you thought of me?'
Il thought you cxcellent-for an anna
teur."
The girls cheeks flushed a little deep
er; a hurt expression settled on he,
| features.
You are not very enthusiastic, a
any rate" she said, her lip curling
you shall hear what the others ar,
saying-that I'm born for an actress"
"Their praise is very injudicious, m,
love, if it makes you think that you,
acting here would be accepted at one,
on the real stage. There would be
lot of hard work, of drilling, of heart
burning disappointment, my darling
before you could obtain even half a sue
cess in a second-ratc part"
Complimentary, certainly" she ex
claimed, with a short laugh.
"There is a true saying" he smiled
"'Save me from my friends Their ap
plause has sent many a young aspiran
on the stage to sup cruel disappoint
ment. There, darling, you are very
clever rs an amateur. BE wise. ant
think mine the truest praise. Thanl
Heaven, little wife, you have not to ex
perienoe the falseness of any other"
'If l were not going to marry you,
she exclaimed, with a toss, 81 would q,
on the stage tomorrow. | love it
adore it!'
because they applauded you," h
smiled. Surprising they had Kissed
People are Kissed on the real stage, yo,
know"
She flashed an angry glance at hin
from her dark eyes.
81 love acting better than any thing,
she said, pointedly. ~ don't believ,
what you say. l think you cruel, un
just to say it; and / begin to fancy W,
may not be as happy together as W,
thought. At any rate, we shall dis
agree on this point"
.Geraldine!m