Montgomery County sentinel., 1891-07-10
MiscellauenMs.
{" Stranded"

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 me, for love is unselfish, and you
think only of yourself"
Jack Clavering-a strong-limbed,
Saxon haired young fellow, turned to
the window, and for 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 llacs, nor the robins singing in
the apple trees pink with bloom.
Those honest blue eyes we're blind
with tears wrung from the bitterness of
his spoiled and cheated young manhood.
Tho words of his needless, ambitious
young wife had stabbed him to the
heart.
"You think only of yoursclf!"
| DHe-HlS uuoTcu hute-cOulu say Ilab
when he would have laid down his life
for her sake
He turned presently.
Hero as he was, he had concealed ev-
cry sign of what was warning within
him
II will not oppose you, Kate, if you
are really in earnest about tho matter,
But it will make great change in our
lives Have you ever thought of that %
he asked her.
Il have thought of everything" she
answered eagerly. OF course we must
sell this odious little house and lot, and
you can transfer your business to the
city while am studying. And after
ward, when | shall be established on
the stage, you will 60 with me wherever
I 60"
"The life wouldn't suit me-" he said i.
"If you are determined upon career
as an actress you must get along with
out me altogether. You will go the way
you have chosen, my Kate, and | will
go mine"
For a moment sho looked grievcd and
reluctant.
But the new ambition was stronger
than the other love, and such separa-
ton did not seem so terrible after all
She went to him and put her arms
around his neck.
"But the parting will be without an.
ger, and it will not be for always ?" she
asked him.
"We part without anger, certainly,
was his reply.
And 80 it was settled.
And in few weeks Kate had begun
her new life in the city and Jack was
journeying westward, whittier he scrace.
ly knew and hardly cared.
X Il
The curtain had rolled down for the
last time. The play was over.
There had been no applause, no re-
calls The company had played that
night to a nearly empty house.
It had been the same, night aftel
night, in town after town, and city aftel
city.
In rose satin and flmy lace, glitter
of Jewels, the worth Of which would no
have purchased her nights lodging
the star swept her shining court trair
across the stage on her way to her dress
ing room.
One of her companions met her il
the wings. The girl was crying hystcr
ically.
"Oh, Kate p she sObbed, "that wretcl
: has gone He has disposed of every
thing he could, and he has gone ant
left us to sbirk for our ourselves"
"You don't mean the manager p sale
Kate, aghast
"I Just do mean the manager, thu
heartless scamp! He had borrowed
money on the stage properties -jus
enough to take him home, suppose
and he went away the instant he coult
get the receipts in his hands tonight
And here we are in this horrid place
without so much as dollar among u
ALL"
1t was all too true. Their manager
had forsaken them, leaving the unfor
tunate company stranded in that remote
little Western town.
While leaving the theater, in the ex
, citement, Kate happened somehow b
> become separated from her companions
!: She walked on, thinking some o
/ them would overtake her. And pres
0 emily she stopped on a bridge spanning
a narrow stream which flowed in a slug
gish current through the rambling it'll
city.
: She had stood there long time wait
r ing, gazing down into the dark rollinJ
!. water and absorbed with Der desponden