The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-03-19
BIS CHANCE AT LAST.

unlikei In appearance there was every.
thing to lead one to see that they could
both lay claim to the same birthday;
their faces were identical, their figures
fhesame. Fortune, however, had placed
them In totally distinct channels. Their
mother in her day (for she had been dead
these twenty years. was an actress of
rare ability, and people had crowded the
theaters night after night to follow her
impressive acting,
Both her sons had inherited her tai
ents in no small measure, and two years
previous to her death they had launched
out in their first struggle to win fresh
laurels for the name around which all
that was gifted had gathered. Talents,
alasi may live and shine, yet they may
live and scarcely flicker. Today these
two men were brothers only in name.
The gifts Of the one had been recognized
by tickle public, the abilities Of the
other never even had thought.
Clement Walfordi His name was on
everybody's lips. The critics gave him
columns III the papers, theatrical man
ayers almost knelt at his feet and paid
eagerly the money he demanded to So
cure his services; society held open its
doors, and the great actor entered at his
ease. And Henry? A struggler moth
ing more; o disappointed struggler.
Clever, but unknown; gifted, but nm
heard Of. His brothers success may
have cut him, but it never discouraged
him. He labored on, still hopeful.
While the popular man was rich in
London, the other was lowering on the
very edges Of poverty There were
times when he had been forced to write
TO his brother letter asking for help,
but no reply ever came The poor mans
wife had even knocked at the great
actors door, but the response from a
servants lips was that MIR. Walford
was engaged"
And so the brothers lived. The one
utterly oblivious to the ties Of relation
ship, the other hoping for recognition
and reconciliation at last. Clement Wal
ford's triumph was at hand Hitherto
Shakespeare's characters had with him
remained untouched, but paragraphs in
the newspapers had just appeared an
nouncing the fact that it was his inten-
tion to appear at an early date as
Hamlet. Everybody, from manager to
public, was sanguine Of great success;
Il was the topic Of the clubs, the CONVEX
sstion Of the critics. Clement Walford
himself felt inwardly comfortable and
satisfied that failure with him could
never be. Successl SUGGEST Successl
He harped on that word at night, saw
the dream Of his life realized as he
walked the streets to rehearsal and
heard the enthusiasm of the people, and
watched them clamoring there, even in
the empty theater, as scene by scene was
gone through at rehearsal on the stage.
In all this he was alone with himself.
He thought Of Clement Walford and of
him alone. A brother! He had none.
The other had had the same chances
why did he not take them? If man.
oven his own flesh and blood, snapped
I his fingers at his opportunities, was it
for him to put them in his grasp?
The night drew near. The day before
the performance had arrived and the
last rehearsal had been held. Clement
Walford returned to his rooms. He
stood before the gilded mantelpiece and
looked into the glass. He started back! |
He felt giddy. Again he looked into |
the mirror with straining eye. He had
never seen such death1y pallor on his
face before. He smiled at his foolish
ness. Re attempted to reach a chair,
hpt found his feet would scarcely carry
him. Make what effort he might his
head was dropping on to his breast; he
felt his hands trembling and looked at
them to see if it was true.
Engagement strain anxiety W. ner-
yousness OVERRIDING it," he cried; "a
drink of er-brandy-will set me
right. Where's the bellrope? All! there
1t is" and crawling toward the cord,
across the room, he just managed to
reach it when he fell to the ground.
When he awoke he lay in bed, the doc
tor standing by. He lifted his eyes to-
ward those Of the doctor.
"Why-why am l here? How long
have been here? Is this-is this The
first nightg' he asked
"You have been here for a fewhours
that is all, was the doctors reply. .sLie
quite still-keep your hands in bed,
now
Thank Godl Thank God" the man
said. Il was afraid it was the first night.
What's the matter with me? What's the
matter with me? Why don't you an
swer? Don't look at me like that; an
swer mer'
''You have been doing too much late
"; You are not strong"
mot strongv'
t.And, nothing but perfect rest will
bring you around again." the doctor
said. You have
What? what? Tell me quickly.
You have broken blood vessely'
The man looked at the doctor for Il
moment Then he rose in his bed. His
voice was scarcely discernible; it was
cold and harsh; it was not the voice Of
man whose tone had fascinated all it's
hearers. He looked the medical man
wildly in the face. He asked quietly nj