The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-11-24

on tHb lOoTl huu plGAAhS eAbSSN AiSh
the nondescript mass, he turned over
the leaves.
Twelve plays OUT he mptIered to
himself; Five Of them probably lost"
Only that day he had sent his best and
latest comedy to the new English actor
who had arrived the day before. As
soon as it was rehearsed as he doubted
not 1t would bel he would send the 9TH
ers in rotation,
For months he bad expected success
to come with the dawn OF every new
day, and tonight, as he threw himself
on his bed, hungry and broken hearted,
he realized the mistake he had made in
living in a dream. He made firm reso-
lutions TO reform, but rs his fingers
clinched in newborn resolve his eyes
strayed across the way again. For the
second time that evening his heart
stood still. Behind the soft lace cur
t5ins Of tho Goldthwait mansion shad-
ows oil people fitted to and fro. The
house was inhabited again-but by
strangers, of course, he thought.
Thanksgiving day found Jack poorer
and hungrier than no had ever been be-
fore in his life. For forty:eight hours
no had not tasted food, but he deter
mined to breakfast in spite OF the al
most total emptiness OF his pocketbook.
He turned his face toward the lower
portion OF the city, determined TO
accept whatever work offered itself, but
1t was a holiday, and after eeyeral hours
spent in tramping the Quiet streets
Jack turned his face homGWard. As he
trudged up Broadway. n clatter oil the
stones behind attracted his attention
aud q driverless cab dashed into sight
An elderly man was eestiCulRting
wildly from the window. With a bound
Jack responded. In another moment
the runaway horse stood painting in tho
roadway, and Jacks sinewy hand wa
on the bit.
Zone dollar to drive me up to Del
monico's," shouted the man.
'But your driver?" asked Jack.
Drunk in . %saloon," was the re-
spouse. Without another word Jack
leaped up to tho cabby's seat and
whipped ups the horse, 1t was the first
time no had ever earned q dollar by
manual labor, and M he clinched his
teeth firmly a flush mounted to his
checks.
When the once familiar restaurant
came into sight Jack thought, with
moisture in his eyesyof the many times
he and Dora had lunched in the great
dining room. As he reined up before
il, hasgard and mld.bespattered, to.
tally different from his old sell, he
started with amazement. There, stand
ing on the sidewalk was the subject Of
his dream-not the Dora oil old with
short frock and curling hair streaming
in the wind, but the beautiful! woman
into which the years had changed her.
For a moment Jack could hardly re-
strain himself from rushing, forward
and declaring his IDENTITY But n
thought OF his clothes and his work
made him stop. He became as anxious
to hide his face as he had been a mo-
ment before to tell his hame.
Dora and her father passed into the
restaurant and Jack earned a second
dollar by getting 81 new driYeTfor his
passengers coupe. He passed and re-
passed the restaurant in an unsuccess-
full attempt to get another glimpse OF
the woman he loved before he even sat
isied his hunger.
1t was dark before he went back to
his little room and stationed himself
once more at his window to gaze at the
lights in the Goldthwait mansfon. He
was filed with 4 conflict of hve and
pride. He had no reason to believe
that Dora had not forgotten him, but
his love for her was as strong as ever.
He longed to go to her, but the knowl-
edge of his poverty and shabbiness kept
him back. s
The windows of.the great old dining
room were bright with light a1d their
raised curtains gave him acleAr' view Of
the place whore he and Dora had spent
many happy Thanksgiving reunions to-
gether. He saw her fitting about the
table as of old. putting the finishing
touches on the arrangement OF fruits
and flowers. He could SEE, her plainly.
She looked even iyounge% and more
beautiful than she bad thitl afternoon
in her heavy street wraps.
Halt an hour passed and some one
else came into the room-a tall, hand
some man. Dora seemed to forget her
household duties, for she hung on the
mans arm and seemed to plead with
him. AT last he sat down, and then
still another person came in it was Mr..
Goldthwait. They sat by the fire with
Dora between them. She was talking
earnestly, and the handsome stranger
seemed to be listening intently. occa-
sionally Jack could see that Mr.. Gold
thwait spoke. Then Dora would beam
with happy smiles. Suddenly she
jumped from her seat, and a moment
later when she returned she had in her
hands a f~1uttering manuscript.
She read it. The old smile played
about her lips. The gestures waved
the graceful hands. 1t maddened Jack.
He felt that he must be near her once
more-must hear her voice again.
A wisteria vine ran down from his
window. Clasping the strong, dry stalk,
Jack descended until he stood on the
fence 80 dear to his memory. Softly he
crept along until he reached the little
yeranda at the rear OF the Goldthwait
mansion. and peering through the win
dow he Toasted his eyes on the face OF
tina girl no loved.
Jack was overcome ne he saw again all
the little details Of tho room which once
had boon so familiar to him. he bowed
his head. He wushed against the glass
Of tho swinging window. The window
opened a tritie. Jack started back
frightened. but the air was still outside,
and the inmates Of tho room had not
noticed. How he could hear Dora's
voice. It said:
Now, Mr.. Langdon, lot me read the
climax to you before dinner is annouu-
ced."
actor to whom Jack had sent his play,
and ~ Dnrnla await vnica rand ON. lack