Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-12-30

gown and the feathercd hat with bent
rim. How pretty she wasI Happiness
was a tonic that had softenea every
curve of her face. Her eyes, dilated TO
/ starry radiance, rested dreamily On the
still undrawn curtain. Her cheeks were
a burning pink.
A tenderness swept over his heart, and
the thought of all she was to linn rose
1 triumphant above every other feeling.
Was it not good to know that one in
/ that crowded house was thinking with
tenderness of him, not as the new dram
atist making bid for fame. but just as
/ Tom" whose every hope was at stake?
Perhaps as they went heme he might
whisper those three words that hold i'm
prisoned III their small circle the har-
mony Of the world. He might tell her
in the crowded car, or for moment be-
fore parting il the hall. 1t nlattered
not how or where if only he received in
word the assurance of the belief that
she loved him.
The first few moments following the
tinkle of the bell he never remembered
clearly. Save for the rustic eff the
prompter's book there was absolute 81
lence behind the scenes. The house was
as still. On the hush voices swept to
him speaking the words he knew by
heart. The music commenced family
like the distant sob Of waves-a swaying
melody painful and sweet. Tom dared
to lift his eyes and watch the scene;
then by degrees the painful sense of
trepidation left him, for this was the
pregnant action he had dreamed of.
These wero the words fire laden, scorch-
ing, living-the passion that had put
on the garb of reality-thc humor, sweet,
surprising and irresistible. So,netimesa
gust of laughter swept over the house,
intermittent applause that showed crit
ical appreciation, or dead, absorbed 81
lences.
But when the curtain fell a sound
like thunderbolt leaped across the
footlights and made the scenery quake.
1t sank only to revive again, its claraor
swelling like storm at its culmina-
ton. All, then he seemed lifted up. The
sound made him sick with delight. His
hour had struck.
The players stood around him, flush
ed, triumphant group.
"It's GO
"A hit"
"Went swimmingly. Every line told.
never played to warmer house"
Words like these and the persistent
applause followed him down the mar
row passage to the street He wanted
to feel alone for little while the rap
ture of triumph. They lied who said
that hope was fallacy, life failure.
The world had widened and grown so
fair. The years tecmed with rosy pos
sibilities, mystic, reckoning, His heart
was full with a rush of joy,
1t seemed to him there never was
fairer night than this, which marked the
first important ascent in his life Frost
glittered on the pavements like pale
dust The rays of the moon blanched
window panes into squares of pearl and
sketched the outlines Of chimneys and
doorposts in fanciful black angles.
AS he strobe along his blood tingled
in the seductive confusion Of dream
where passion and triumph walked hand
in hand. Virginia--he loved her sol She
was SO necessary to him. He would make
up for all she suffered now. All, would
he not? 1t would be sweet to lavish
upon her the dainties and elegancies that
all women love. She should have done
with pinching and worry in that happy
time,
Wonderful visions these, which Tom
saw revealed in the moonlight. Stain
less, they buoyed his spirit and beckoned
him on.
When he reached the theater, the sec
ond act was over. He felt d little tired,
and his breath came fast, yet in his OK
altation he was scarcely conscious of
having walked,
At the box Office the manager stood
chatting with some friends. \ low,
thick laugh gurgled from his lips; his
face was radiant. Everything about
him told Of a crowded house and big box
Office receipts. He saw Tom and beck
pned TO him,
ftShy, are your no asked, with a roll
licking wag of his head an expanding
wave of his white hands.
He was large man, red faced, pale
haired. one who had always a genuine
welcome for himself, and whose every
action was climatic. If he We're only
offering cigarette, he plunged into his
pocket with an air of mystery and
brought forth n triumphant surprise.
"You stole away from Us all after
making the biggest hit I've seen in 10
years. Como, come, that will never do.
You want to pull yourself together,
youngster, and get cheeky. for you'll
have TO face the crowd by and by"
Face the crowd? You don't mean
Eyes, do. They'll call for you Then
you'll go out with a pretty speech, and
all the girls will fall in love with you.
The last is most important, by the way
1t will bring crowded matinees. The
women keep the theaters going, just as
they elect the presidents. They're the
ones you want to please. You'll please
'em, my boy; you'll please EN-
He laughed knowingly, his friends
joining. Then his face grew suddenly
sharp and serious, something hawklille
chasing the lazy good humor from his
expression.
Here's Delatole. Be nice to him.
and he'll make your fortune doubly
sure. heard him asking for you min
ute ago."
"Delatole? The critic on The Chal.
lenge;'
[To BE CONTINUED