Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1894-01-26
HIS CHANCE AT LAST.

their faces were identical, their figure,
The same. Fortune, however, had placed
them in totally distinct channels. Theil
mother i'll her day (for she had been deat
these twenty years. was an actress Of
fare ability, and people had crowded thu
Heaters night after night to follow heI
impressive acting.
Both her sons had inherited her tai
| ents in no small measure, and two wear:
previous to her death they had launched
out in their first struggle to win fresh
laurels for the name around which all
that was gifted had gathered. Talents
alas! may live and shine, yet they NAV
live and scarcely flicker. Today these
two men were brothers only in name
Inc gifts of the one had been recognized
by tickle public, the abilities of the
other never even had thought.
Clement Walforl. His name was on
everybody's lips. The critics gave him
columns in the papers, theatrical man.
ayers almost knelt at his feet and paid
eagerly the money he demanded to Sc.
cure his services; society held open its
doors, and the great actor entered at his
ease. And Henry: \ struggler-noth.
ing more; disappointed struggler.
Clever, but unknown; gifted, but I'M
heard OF. His brothers success NAV
have cut him, but it never discouraged
him. He labored on, still hopeful,
While the popular man was rich in
London, the other was lowering on the
very edges of poverty. There were
times when he had been forced to write
to his brother letter asking for help,
but no reply ever came The poor mans
wife had even knocked at the great
actors door, but the response from a
servants lips was that 'FMr, Walford
was engaged"
And so the brothers lived. The one
utterly oblivious to the ties of relation
ship, the other hoping for recognition
and reconciliation at last. Clement Wal
ford 5 triumph was at hand. Hitherto
ohakespeare's characters had with him
remained untouched, but paragraphs in
the newspapers had Just appeared an
nouncing the fact that it was his inten-
ton TO appear at an early date as
Hamlet. Everybody, from manager to
public, was sanguine Of a great success;
1t was the topic of the clubs. the CONVEX
satlon of the critics. Clement Walford
himself felt inwardly comfortable and
satisfied that failure with him couId
never be. Success! Success! Success,
tie harped on that word at night, saw
the dream of his life realized as he
walked the streets to rehearsal and
heard the enthusiasm of the people, and
watched them clamoring there. even in
the empty theater, as scene by scene was
gone through at rehearsal on the stage.
In all this he was alone with himself,
He thought Of Clement Walford and of
INN alone. y brother! He had none.
The other had had the same chances
why did he not take them? If a man.
even his own flesh and blood, snapped
his fingers at his opportunities. was it
for him to put them in his grasp?
0--Ihe night drew near The day before
the perf0rnIsance had arrived and the
last rehearsal had .l}een held. Clement
Walford returned to his rocams IL Il
stood before the gilded mantelpiece and
looked INTO the glass. He started back!
He felt giddy. Again he looked into
the mirror with straining eye. He had
never seen such deathly pallor on his
face before. He smiled at his foolish
ness. He attempted to reach chair.
but found his feet would scarcely carry
him. Make what effort he might his
head was dropping on to his breast; he
felt his hands trembling and looked at
them to see if it was true.
'Engagement-stra nXietv-n er
vousness-oyerdoing it," he cried; "a
brink of water-brandy- set Inc
right. Where's the bellrope? All! there
it is, and crawling toward the cord, |
across the room, he just managed to
reach it when he fell to the ground.
When he awolle he lay in bed, the doc |
tor standing by, He lifted his eyes to-
ward those Of the doctor.
"Why-why am | here? How long
have been here? Is this-is this the |
first night" he asked.
You have been here for few hours. |
hat is all, was the doctors reply. Lie
quite still-keep your hands in bed,
low."
THANK God! Thank God" the man
said. Il was afraid it was the first night.
What's the matter with me? What's the
natter with me? Why don't you an
,wer? Don't look at me like that: an
'wer mel
You have been doing too much late
Y; you are not strong"
Not strong"'
"And nothing but perfect rest will
pring you around again." the doctor
aid. You have"-
"What? what? Tell me quickly"
"You have broken blood vessel"
The man looked at the doctor for a
Then he rose in his bed. His
'oice was scarcely discernible; it was
old and harsh; it was not the voice of
man whose tone had fascinated all its
He looked the medical man
wildly in the face, He asked quietly at
irSt
DO you know what tomorrow night
S? No; of course you don't. But do.
t is the first night of Hamlet and |
hall be there-there, with the house be-
ore me, hanging on every word utter.
10 YOU think this bed will hold me from
ny triumph, do you think you, or the
warming of any man, will prevent me