Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-10-01

holding long interviews with the a
ager. He no longer felt r%esentfnl at
hearing the text slurred at rehearsals
and only the cues given with distinct
ness. He was accustomed ID seeing the
PLAYERS 90 through the ''business" Ike
automatons, and climaxes his heart
stood still in creating arranged Win
mechanical exactness.
The skeleton of the players craft
without the simulated passion q hu-
mor-the hardship and disilluslon, were
all familiar now.
The days we're too short for all he
found to do, and somstimes IL was past
midnight before he thought OF return
ing to Chelsea square.
The interrupted avowal Of his love to
Virginia had not been finished. But In
a vague, happy way she understood
that even that must remain aoeyAnt 10
the success OF his play.
Outlines the thought that 1t might
fail gave him a soul sickness mat I'M
Filtered his food and kept sleep away:
1t was not enough TO hear IL praised
and feel its reality himself. The final
| verdict must come from the crowd, the
vague mass called the public, depending
upon its mood. What this Wouls De
who could foretell? He heard on every
hand Of plays toeming with promise
that had zone down like ships at sea
with flags lying and cargoes OF gems on
board, of other Of only doubtful value
that had made fortunes and established
regulations.
Doubt left no peace, and the first
| night of 1.-THE Worlds Way" found
him with every sense quivering ana
alert. Behind the Genes the air was
freighted with fever. Everybody was
whispering, peeping, specializing except
Tom, and he leaned against one OF the
wings waiting. He could do no more;
Opallike CLEANS Of excitement hickereu
in his eyes, nervous emo ran
through his blood, and behind an easy
smile his teeth we're clinched. He could
not breathe freely until the first act
was over.
Five minutes before the curtain went
up he peeped over the gasman's shout
der and looked eagerly at the upper
right hand box. He saw Mr.. Kent hrst'
standing we'll in front ~lelsurely survey
ing the house through an opera glass at
Familiarity as if boxes on first nights
were quite everyday matters.
A little more in shadow sat Virginia
Tom scarcely knew her in the new gray
gown and the ~feathered hat with oent
rim, How pretty she was! Happiness
was q tonic that had softened every
curve OF her face. Her eyes, dilated to
a starry radiance, rested dreamiIy 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 MIN
rose triumphant above every other feel
ing. Was 1t not good to know that one
in that crowded house was thinking
with tenderness of him, not as the new
dramatist making a bid for fame, but
Just as Tom" whose every hope was al
stake?
p Hsps as they went home he might
whisper those three words that hold
imprisoned in their small circle the har-
money Of the world. He might tell her
in the crowded car, or for a moment BE-
fore parting in the hall. 1t mattered
not how or where il only he received In
a word the assurance of the belief that
she loved him.
The first few moments following the
| tinkle OF the belle he never remembered
clearly. Save for the rustic OF 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 swaylng
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 or.
These we're the words fire laden, scorch-
ing, living-the passion that had put
on the garb OF reaity-the humor, sweet
surprising and irresistible. Sometimes
a gust OF laughter swept over the house,
intermittent applause that showed crit
ical appreciation, or dead, absorbed ST.
leGces.
But when the curtain fell a sound
like a thunderbolt leaped across the
f~ootlights aud made the scenery quake.
1t sank only TO revive again, its culmina-
ton. Alb, then he seemed lifted up.
The sound made him sick with delight.
His hour had struck.
The PLAYERS stood around him, a
flushed, triumphant group.
Its a CO."
"a hit"
event ~swimmingly, Every lire told.
1 never played to a warmer house.
Words like these and the persistent
applause followed him down the narrow
passage to the street. He wanted 10
feel alone for a little while the rapture
OF triumph. They lied who said that
hope was a fallacy, life a failure. The
world had widened and grown so fair.
The years teemed with rosy possibilities,
mystic, reckoning. His heart was full
with a rush Of Joy.
1t seemed to him there never was a
| fairer night than this, which marked
the FIRST important ascent In his lie.
Frost glittered on the pavements like
pale dust. The rays Of the moon olanch-
ed 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 q dream
where passion and triumph walked hand
| in hand, Virginia-he loved her so. She
was so Fnecessary TO him, He would
| make up for all she suffered now. All,
would be notP 1t would be sweet to
lavish upon her the dainties and elegan.
| cies 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 mis- spirit and 6eckon-