The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-24


only child" Mr.. Marsden gasped- 1T
really isn't hard line Of life, sir. Actors
are just as well thought OF as any other sort
OF people, and If they succeed they make
heaps Of money. Look a. Irving There's
Bob Coltsfoot. Sir Robert Coltsfoot's son.
stage. making Ei5 & week, he told me: and
he goes into just the same set he knew be-
fore he went into the profession"
Profession growied his father. Good
Lord! RaddIss his face and make. pub
lie spectacle Of himself in booth and calls
that profession"
And, besides" continued Jack, with q
shrewd idea OF the kind of argument most
likely 20 touch his father, ''ir requires no
capital. That's 3 great point. Why, il
cost you thousand 20 get me articled.
Clean waste, money gone, and no return.
Ii cost something, ! suppose. 10 III 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 regarding
the stage. and those who trod it-more es-
pecialIy the fairer half OF them-and Of
people who wasted their time and monev
IN encouraging suca yagaoonds, which it
might not De safe 70 repeat IN these days,
when the profession Is recognized as
kind Of Fifth Estate, and expressed his IN
alteraoie determination 10 cut JACK OF
with 9 shilling If he dared SO 10 outrage
his family
'oh no You won't" said Jack. .rYou'a
get used 10 IL. In fact. the things done.
I'm OF next week with Moore's comedy
company signed the engagement today.
Second Juvenile lead: IA week 10 start
with. Not so bad for beginner"
The old man swiftly sounded his mind
20 see If he had the moral courage TO turn
the young reprobaie into the street there
and then. He had not Jack was his
only SON and ne was old he dared not
face the prospect Of loneliness for the rest
OF his life. But he made final effort 10
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; cast you OF. Yoa
shan't have penny OF nay money or see
my face again"
Takes il harder than I expected, >"
thought Jack; but he'll come round /
must DO something for living, and
there's nothing else I'm 1T for or should
like half 80 we'll"
60 Jack went on the tour. As he had an
ticipated. he found the life very much 70
his taste, and, as the repertoire Of the
company was extensive and constantly
changing and he Was born comedian he
made rapid strides IN his chosen art He
wrote home 10 MS father once 3 week, IN
deferred by the old mans silence, and
sent him cuttings from the local papers Of
the towns he played in, IN which his ap-
peArance and talents were praised.
l. 50 happened that. in town in the
north Of Eng and, at which the company
appeared Jack had some cousins living
whose acquaintance he had never made.
the children of his fathers haif-brother,
who had been dead for some wears past
As IN duty bound, he called 70 pay mis-
respects 70 the family, little doubtful of
how country cousins we're likely 70 accept
. young man Of mis- profession, and found
himself, 70 his agreeable surprise, received
with delight by the younger members of
the family and With elvillty by his aunt,
an elderly lady of q tart flavor, with =
manner suggesting 3 mixture Of oil and
vinegar. The younger members of the
family had seen him in his first perform
ance 81 the iocA. theater, and. Ike the
simple country folks they were, were
greatly smitten WIKI the glory Of owning
an artistic relative JACKS light, easy
manner did the rest. and before he lett the
town the whole family was in love With
him, Miss Alicia Maple, 3 very charming
young lady OF "a, not least. JACK
sighed bitterly when the week came
- an end and he had TO go on
with the company, nor was he solitary in
bis sorrow; and nobody who had w.t.
messed his parting with Miss Alicia would
have wondered that, when the tour was
over and the company dlsbandel. JACK,
instead OF going straight back 70 London
20 seek another engagement, should have
eetaken himself sgaln 70 the town beauti-
Led By her presence. II was 3 rapid
courtshlp, and the rwc were plighted to
each other before even Mrs. Naples keen
eyes had detected any very serious symp-
toms OF passion on either side. With the
honesty OF their age, they made their en-
Eagement known 10 her, which, SIS Jack
remarked sGbseo ueutly. was inst where
the trouble began. Al first Mrs. Maple
was mere than gracious. Mr.. MarSden y as
wealthy, and Jack his only son.
You have. o. course she said. com
uunlcated.your intention 10 your father p
w by. no, " said Jack. Il thought nav
first cAty w&s 10 make you aware of the
circumstances"
Quite right" said Mrs. Maple. Quite
right and proper. but nv answer must
depend upon your fathers
JACK OF his aagers. and hem j and ha j.
lie Mas oNeF age, he knew ms own mind
buI sGit. If she thought 50 IL should Re
done. lie walked home. revolving in his
MIND the terms OF a letter 10 his father.
lie y a. genuinely and honestly in love.
and knew Gjs passion 10 Ire returned. sni
those are circumstances which viii make
very commonplace people fairly eloquent
with tongue Or pen. He was more than
doubtful sc 70 hoN his father would sat
remembering the strained terms on winch
they had parted, aud that doubt lent Ms
passion a nsN glow. aa3 he wrote with
feryencv. He painted Alicia IS the most
perfect OF created wor2sEs. a.. indeed. he
thought her. aud GWe8t sincerely On h5s
Uuwor. Illness 81 SuCE a wife The letter
despatched, Re spent sIeeplsss nigns