The state herald., 1893-09-22

~ soothes remembered loves to rest
AS quiet as deaths wnxen lid
They laid It on Nitocrls breast,
Beneath her slender pyramid.
THE UNDERSTUDY.
One day, many months before DoF-
othy left tho stage in the abrupt
manner which used to rufiie the
manager SO afterwards, she had
come walking into the office leading
smaller and much more untidy
little girl than herself by one grimy
hand.
Here's my understudy; Mr..
Phillips" announced the little
actress, land her names Katherine. :"
And though the manager had
stormod good deal and declared he
would not stand it, Dorothy's word
had stood. and Katherine became her
veritable shadow. Who're tho small
actress had found her. no one ever
discovered; but judging from the
ragged frock which scarcely covered
her plump body. and the dust.tilled
curls, 1t must have been in some
alley. far removed from the fashion
able quarter OF the city. But be-
tween Dorothy herself and her foster
mother and dresser, they soon turned
the smaller child into clean, sweet,
b'g-eyed girl. Inside of week she
knew everyone ia the company, in
Guiding tho pets OF the women; inside
OF q month she could go through her
lines in "Fauntleroy" with the best
OF them. and with an astonishing grace
and ease. Undoubtedly the little
ragamuffin either possessed the tai
ent herself or else had inherited it
from her relatives; and, having shown
that talent, she dropped into the
company as naturally rs If she had
been acting since she wore long
dresses.
When Barry Markham, that cle-
giant, blase young man who conde,
scended to grace the stage with his
distinguished personalities were
the comedians sarcastic words con
corning him-joined the Fauntleroy
company, every woman in that ag-
gregation said in her inner heart she
would bring him to her feet; for
added to most enchanting manner
and bearing. there was an air OF de-
licious mystery about him which was
really quite irresistible. No one
knew anything definite OF him,
though tho old woman whispered
once or twice to the leading lady
that she knew he must be a real
swell. running away from something:
and tho advance man, who dropped
back once u week to have game OF
poker with the first heavy, was half
way sure he had seen him through
tho window at an ''upper-ten" recep-
ton. But this was mere guessing;
the facts were only these: He never
smiled; he never gossiped with the
others he dressed well. but taste
fully-something the others did not;
he played the earl as II his life de-
pended upon his success; and he tool,
life very, very. seriously. The one
thing which made him seem real and
tangible to the other men was that
he drank a good deal-night drink
ing, too-:hough he never got too
much; but although he asked them to
Join him, whenever they happened
In the same place, IL was with the
air ola baron paying for the wine for
his tenants All in all, he was a
charmingly handsome and thor
oughly delightful mystery.
Until he saw Katherine for tho first
time, Then he became n vcritablo
puzzle. llo met her one afternoon
as he was stumbling along the abom-
inably dark and noisome alley lead
ing TO the stage-door. and. for n mo-
ment, the tall. serious actor stood
staring down at the little girl as II
he had seen II ghost TO be sure. she
was anything but ghostly, being quite
rs plump and rosy as when Dorothy
had brought her into the company
and the yellow hair which needed no
addition when sho ''went on tum.
blcd about her face In very attrac.
tive and material manner; but the
actor continued to stare, until il
occurred to him that he was blocking
the way and possibly tho little lady.
who was waiting so patiently with
the swcetly childish smile upon her
sunny faco which made every one
her friend. might want TO go on
With u hoarse al beg your pardon. "
he took of his hat grayely and step.
ped inside. She looked up at him
quito ms gravcly and said; "'rhanls
you. sir. "as she passed. After which
he wandered down.strcct toward his
hotel. and went by three saloons
without stopping in one, Which un-
doubleday proved tho disturbed con.
dition of Mr.. Barry Markhnm's mind.
From that day forth he was n dit.
icrcnt man. lilo drank less. no talked
more he took TO haunting back al.
lcys and strceis-aftor he had learned
kathcrinc's very limited history
and he convorsed With all the inhab.
itants OF these nnsayory portions of
tho city who Ind reached tho middle
milc'post OF lie. Every day saw him
'doing the slums,' as tho others
said; but. from his drawn. sad face
whom Ito returned from his trips. IL
was evidently not for tho plonsura
he found there. II what ho learned
there made him sad. however. he
made up for II when ho came back.
for once ncnr tho little girl who had
Interested him so. he forgot his
troubles. whatever they were. mud
warmed his cold heart In tho sun.
shine Of her happy smiles. And Il
would have taken n cold Hcart, In.
deed. To Withstand tho strnlyhifo