The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1893-09-09
together; they even had a drive IN q

together; they even had a drive In q
beautiful carriage with two horses, and
the driver clad In some ones CASTOR
livery, now and then; and they were
very, very happy. The tall, handsome
young man and the smiling, sweet-faced
little girl were very fond of each other,
and the company wondered why-anu
took it out in wondering.
Matters came to crisis one after
noon soon after Dorothy took her per-
| emptory departure. The manager was
in anything but II good temper, owing
partly to that affair and partly to the
new play now being gone over, and
which seemed determined to go wrong
from the first. The cast had started
out being SLOW and when he stormed,
as he always did when angry, they
became sullcn and indifferent. Mark
ham was late-off on one of his SUM
ming tours, said the leading man-and
when, to cap the climax. Katherine Tor
got her lines completely. and could not
remember them when angrily prompted
by the manager, Mr.. Phillips lost con-
troll of himself entirely, and. plungins
at her. he struck the troubled patent
little face cruel blow with his open
hand.
Take that. you little fool.' he cried,
with Il curse, while the others stood
staring ut him in incredulous aston
ishment; you haven't brains enough 10
live. Get Off the stage. | tell you, ana
don't you come back till you can say
those lines from first 10 last do y UNI
derstandy And II | catch you--'
He stopped suddenly, and his i'm
pleasant face grew fairly livid; stand
ing in the wing was the towering form
a.
agcr In such Il way as 10 make him
SILVER.
With little cry of love and trust,
between her sobs of pain katherine
ran to him with outstretched hands.
and. stopping, he gathered her into his
strong arms and held her closely 10
him. SIZE laid one soft cheek, still red
with the mark of the managers heavy
hand, upon his breast. and began kiss
ing the hand she loved SO much and
which held her tightly now. one of the
women pressed her handkerchief 10
her eyes quickly and looked away. For
II minute Markham held the loving
baby 10 him, and then he put her gen
tly down upon pile of grass mats in
the wing. Then he shook of the big
top coat he always Wore, stripped his
gloves quietly from his hands, and, lay
ing them all down beside Katherine,
he crossed the stage TO where the man
agcr stood For the first time he spoke
and his voice. though low and calm,
fell upon Mr.. Phillips ears like the
ring of cold steel.
Put mp your hands"
The manager turned n shade palcr
and started to speak.
Put up your hands, said Markham
n little louder doing so himself The
manager. hardly knowing what he was
doing, doubled his fists and held them
In front of him. The next moment he
was staggering across the green stage
carpet as IL he Ind been shot. He
was II powerful man. and, with II roar
of rage. he recovered himself suddenly
and hurled himself upon the actor But
Markham had been gentleman and an
athlete. and h" was ready for him.
onc-two-thrcc blows only, bur so ter
riiically rcientiiic We're they. SO entire
square and hard, that no more We're
needed. TIL" manager fell against the
back drop in II sensclcss mass, and
Markham. with n grim smile. picked
mp his coat aud hat and put them on
again He turned to the others. ms
two silent stage hands carried tho
bleeding manager 10 the nearest dress
ing room. and said slowly:
II sincerely beg the Indies pardon for
this disgraccful scene. but 1t was quite
unavoidable. I have just learned this
afternoon that my-my wife is dead.
prayed. is my daughter. That is all.
He turned and. taking the little girl
into his arms once more, he bowed to
the others, and, picking his way
through dust covered piles of rope
and tarnishcl iinery, past worn-out
drops and worn-out furniture. and into
the little alley where he had first met
the little one who was clinging about
his neck now and smiling through her
tears again. As they passed under the
dim light which Haired and danced in its
wire cage above the door, he stopped
and pressed his lips again and again 10
those of his baby; and. though she
knew he was happy, there was some
thing like tears in his eyes, and his
voice trcmbled triflc when, n moment
later. he called cab to take them TO
the hotel.
You have seen Markham and his
daughter play "Fauntlcroyf" Then you
have seen the best Little Lord and
the most natural earl on the stage, for
the love they show for each other.
toward the end of the little play, does
not have to he acted ut all.
Everard Jack Appleton. in the Ar
gonaut.