The record-union., 1892-06-18
HIS own DAD.


so, and it ought to have known. 1t said
SO with emphasis, and also with una
nlmlty, for it consists of one person only,
Jacks father. Marsden senior was a
Grabbed, knotty-looking elderly gentle
man, the sort of man who looks as if he
could never have been young, but as il
he must have been Grabbed and knotty
in his cradle. He was supposed to be
worth prodigious lot of money, as he
ought to have been, for he had passed
his life in making it, and had never been
known to part with penny if he could
help it. 1t was a speculation of supreme
interest and difficulty to himself and his
acquaintances how it could have hap
pened that such a fellow as Jack could
be born Of such father.
Like all men with genius for failure,
Jack began to show his bent early in
lie. Ills mother, a fearful and despond-
ent lady, painfully aware of her unworth-
mess to be the helpmate of such social
and financial paragon as Marsden senior,
never had more than an apologize fond
ness Tor her offspring, humbly believing
those traits of character which resulted
in making him a failure were traceable
to her, and that if Jack had had another
mother he might have been worthier of
his other parent.
himself as failure in one or two walks
OF life. He was taken into his fathers
ofhce, with the promise of partnership
to awake his dormant enthusiasm in
business pursuits, and atterWard arti-
cled to a solicitor. 1t is said that, after
standing him for six months, the solici-
tor offered him 4l00 down to break his
lndentureS and go to Australia; it is GER
tain at the end of that time Jack Quilted
the study of law. As a final attempt to
start him in life he was sent to sea. He
llked that better, but after few voyages
the monOtony of a sailors life disguised
him, and he announced his intention of
abandoning it-"chucking it," was his
actual expression.
And how, if you please" demanded
his father. do you propose to live?'
Pm going on the STAGE" said Jack.
II he had declared his intention of TAX
ing to pocketpicking or arson for IiveIi-
hood 1t could hardly have had a pro-
founder or more awful effect upon Mars
den senior.
Everybody says I should make a
splendid actor" said Jack, land Pm sure
should like the life. l shall never make
a business man, sir. Figures won't stick
in my head, and / hate the confinement.
a
Tor? You've got plenty, and Pm your
only child" Mr.. Marsden gasped. sit
really isn't hard line of life, sir. Ac-
tors are just as well thought of as any
other sort of people, and if they succeed
they make heaps of money. Look at
irving! There's Bob ColUsfoot, Sir Rob-
ert Coltsfoot's son. 1 was at school with
hlm;; He's on the stage, making 9I6 a
week, he told me, and he goes into lust
the same set he knew before he went into
the profeSsioni"
Profession, ,"growled his father. Good
Lord! Raddles his face and makes pub
lie spectacle OF himself in a booth and
calls that professionr'
And, besides" continued Jack, with
a shrewd idea of the kind of argument
most likely to touch his father. sit re-
Why, 1t cost you thousand to get me
articled. Clean waste-money gone and
no return. 1t cost something, | suppose.
to lit me out for sea. That's gone. too.
But [ can walk bang on the stage as
am"
BY this time the old man had recovered
from the shock. He said things regard
ing the stage and those who trod it-more
the fairer half of them-and of
people who wasted their time and money
in encouraging such vagabonds, which it
might not be safe to repeat in these days,
when the profession is recognized as a
kind OF fifth estate, and expressed his un-
alterable determination to cut Jack off
with a shilling if he dared so to outrage
his family.
"Oh, no, you WON'T" said Jack. lyon
will get used to it. In fact, the things
done. Pm off next week with Moore's
Comedy Company; signed the engage
ment to-day. Second Juvenile lead; "a
a week to start with. Not so bad for a
beginner
The old man swiftly sounded his mind
to see if he had the moral courage to
turn the young reprobate into the street
then and there. He had not. Jack was
his only son, and he was old. He dared
not face the prospect of loneliness for the
rest of his life. But he made a final effort
to assert himself.
Understand, SIR" he told Jack, ''that
the very moment you disgrace yourself
by crossing public stage I've done with
you. renounce you; L cast you off. You
shan't have penny of my money or see
my face again.
''Takes it harder than 1 expected. -
thought Jack, but he'll come round. /
must do something for a living, and there
is nothing else Pm fit for or should like
half so WELL"
So Jack went on tour. AS he had an
ticipated he found the life very much TO
his taste, and as the repertoire OF the COM
pany was extensive and constantly chang
ing, and he was born comedian, he
made rapid strides in his chosen art. He
wrote home to his father once a week.
by the old mans silence,
and sent him cuttings from the local
papers OF the towns he PLAYED in. in
which his appearance and talents were
praised.
1t so happened that in town in the
north OF England, at which the COMPANY
appeared, Jack had some cousins living,
whose acquaintance he had never made
the children of his fathers half-brother.
who had been dead for some years past.
As in duty bound he called to pay his re-
spects to the family, a little doubtful of
now country cousins were likely to ac-
cept young man of his profession. and
found himself, to his agreeable surprise
received with delight by the Younger
members OF the family, and with civility
by his aunt, an old lady Of tart flavor.
with manner suggesting a mixture of
oil and vinegar. The younger members
OF the family had seen him in his first
performance at the local theater and. like
the simple country folks they were. were
greatly smitten with the glory of OWNING
an artistic relative. Jacks light. easY
manner did the rest, and before he left
town the whole family was in love with
him, Miss Alicia Maple, very charming
young lady of l9, not least. Jack sighed
bitterly when the week came to an end,
and he had go on with the company. nor
was he solitary in his sorrow; and no.
body who had witnessed his parting with
Miss Alicia would have wondered that.
when the tour was over and the company
Jack, instead of going straight
back to London to seek another engage
nent, should have betaken himself again
to the town beautiied by her presence.
1t was a rapid courtship, and the two
were plighted to each other before even
Mrs. Naples keen eyes had detected any
serious symptoms Of passion on either
SIDE, With the honesty of their age they
made their engagement known to her
which, as Jack remarked subse3