The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-05-09

couragencnt, but the majority OK
pressed themselves after this fashion:
such trcmors are incurable. AS ma
ture has formed us bold or timid, cold
or ardent grave ~ gay. SO we must re-
main. Whoever saw an ambitious man
cured Of his ambition, or 81 miser of his
nYaricc?n
-Se.-~.----- .,-.i.-~s or -une company OBJ
jcctet! to the fatalisIn of these observa-
tons, and one said: IF YOU ask for u
converted. miscr, can show you one.
Here he is. l am one"
The man who said this was q popular
dramatst, noted for generosity. Ills
statement was received with ejacula-
tions of NONSENSE" Impossible"
'Do yon expect us to believe that?"
Indeed" answered he, quite seriously,
Il speak the truth. | was miscr, al
though now, l trust, am such no
longer. If you would care to hear it,
l Will relate to you the story of my con-
version. 1t was effected by childs
tear An present Immediately crowd
ed around him. and heard from hi.. lips
the following recital:
I'm 1884," said the dramatist, 81 had
just given to the theatcr of the Porto
Saint Martin one OF the most successful
Of my pieces. One day about that time
two letters reached me by the same
post Both were from Marseillcs. Ono
was from q theatrical manager, inform
ing nc that he intended bringing out
nay new piece there and that he desired
my presence at the final rehearsals Of
the drama. With regard to remunera-
ton for my trouble I might make my
ter, very brief one, ran thus: Mon
sienr, the wife and daughter of your
brother are dying of want. Some hun
dreds of francs will save them, and
doubt not that you will hasten to visit
connections so near to you and make ar.
rangemcnts for their present and future
comfort. This letter bore the signature
OF DR., Lambert, of Marseillcs
AS have already told yon, was a
miscr in the worst sense of the word.
The physicians letter, far from moving
me to pity, merely renewed certain
angry feelings which had formerly cx-
listed in my mind toward my sistcr-in-
law. When, some years back, nv
brave sailor brother, who had since
been drowned, had written to tell me
of his approaching marriage with n
fisherman's daughter, l, in my misera-
BILE pride and miserliness, had replied
that in marrying pennilcss girl con-
sidered that he was doing most fool
ish and degrading action. I was even
wretch enough to advise him to break
off the match if that were still possible.
My brother, like the honorable man he
was, welded the girl he loved. NV Sis
ter-in-law, who was higl:-spirited Brc-
ton, never forgot my letter, and de.
spised its writer. When she lost her
husband and found herself in need it
was long ere she could bring herself to
apply to me. But the sight of her only
chlld wasting away from sheer want
had at last broken down her pride.
AS the engagement at the Marseilles
theater seemed likely TO prove a highly
profitable one. /, as SOU might c,;ne.t.
lost no time in accepting the offer /
wrote Oft to the manager at once, and
followed my letter in person with as
little delay as possible. When arrived
at inc principal hotel of Marseillcs I
encountered there, in the act of inouir
ing ior ME, the doctor who had written
III my sister-in-law's behalf. AS /
had not replied to his letter, the good
man had said in his simplicity: He will
be here in person. and had looked for
me every day. You have lost no time.
SIR said lie. Doubtless you thought.
and rightly, that did You delay, death
might forcstall you'll Ali / am, indeed,
lad To seq vo,,