Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-03-19
HIS CHANCE AT LAST.

tntng 10 ichu ono 10 gee tnht they cOulu
both lay claim to the same birthday;
their faces were identical. their figures
the slime. Fortune. however. had placed
them in totally distinct channels. Their
mother in her day (for she had been dead
these twenty years. was ON actress Of
rare ability, ard people had crowded the
theaters night after night TO follow her
impressive acting.
Both her sons had inherited her tai
cnts in no small measure. and two years
previous to her death they had launched
out in their first struggle 10 win fresh
laurels for the name around which all
that was gifted had gathered. Talents,
alas! 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 fickle public. the abilities of the
other never even had thought.
Clement Walfordl His name was on
everybody's lips. The critics gave him
columns in the papers, theatrical man.
ayers almost knelt ut his feet and paid
eagerly the money he demanded to Sc
cure his services; society held open its
doors. and the great actor entered at his
ease. And Henry? A struggler-noth-
ing more; a disappointed struggler.
Clever, but unknown; gifted, but un-
heard of. His brothers success may
have cut him, but 1t never discouraged
him. Ho labored on. still hopeful.
Whilo 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 tho great
actors door, but the response from a
servants lips was that "Mr. Walford
was engaged"
And 80 the brothers lived. The one
utterly oblivious TO the ties Of relation
ship. the other hoping for recognition
and reconciliation ut last. Clement Wal
| forl'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 1t was his inten-
ton TO appear at an early date as
Hamlet. Everybody. from manager to
| public. was sanguine Of q great success:
It was tho topic of the clubs. the conver-
sation of the critics. Clement Walford
himself felt inwardly comfortable and
satisfied tho failure with him could
never be. Success! Success! Success!
He barped OH that word ut 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 thsater, as scene by scene was
gone through at rehearsal on the stage
| In nil 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? II man,
even his own flesh and blood, snapped
his fingers ut his opportunities, was it
for him 20 put them in his grasp
Tne 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. Ho had
never seen such deathly pallor on his
| face before. He smiled at his foolish
ness. He attempted to reach chair
but 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 al
them to see if 1t was true.
Dt--strain--nnxiety - ner-
vousness--overdoing it," he cried; IN
drink of water-brandy-will set me
right. Where's the bellrope? An! there
II is," and crawling toward the cord,
across the room, he just managed to
reach it when he fell to the ground.
When no awoke he lay in bed, the doc
tor standing by. He lifted his eyes to-
ward those of the doctor.
"Why-why am ! here? How long
have been herei Is this-is this tho
first nighti" he asked.
You have been here for few hours.
that is all, was the doctors reply. "Lie
quite still--keep your hands in bed.
now"
Thank God! Thank God" tho man
said. Il WAS afraid il was the first night
What's the matter with mey What's the
matter with me? Why don't you an
swer? Don't look Mt me like that; an
swcr mer'
You have been doing too much late
ly; YOU are not strong"
mot strongw
And nothing but perfect rest will
bring you around again." tho doctor
said. "You have"--
What? what? Tell me quicklyr
You have broken blood vesselr'
The man looked at tho doctor for a
moment. Then he rose In his bed His
voice was scarcely discernible; II was
cold and harsh: 1t was not the voice Of
man whose tone had fascinated all its
hearers. He looked the medical man
wildly in the face. Ho asked quietly at
first:
DO you know what tomorrow night
is? No; Of course you don't. But do.
II Is tho first night Of Hamlet and |
shall be here--there, with the house DO.
fore me, hanging on every word utter.
Do you think this bed will hold mo from
my triumph. do you think you, or the
warning Of any man, will prevent me