The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-07-25

large number Of them had written that it
was his duty 10 come home at his earliest
possible convenience.
When Gavan told me this he said:
"Apd it's the truth; have been away a
long while. Once the first nights over
with, i turn my back on New York. If the
play makes hit my future will be easier
for it, trust. If it fails, 1 will have to
abandon writing for the present. My mother
needs me. fear i have been just little
bit selfish in staying away, but it did seem
| to be for the best, and thought some luck
would turn up almost every day"
could see that he was very much exer-
| cised about his mothers condition.
You know she MAY be lot worse than
they say. / have no idea that they would
| go into detail even if it were serious mat
ter, and mother herself would be the last
person in the world to expect information of
| that sort from so am all in the dark as to
the real state of the case. i have my hear
ing in few days, and then home go to her."
| The eventual night came. l was late,
having been detained at my Office, and the
| first act was ended when / reached the the
| ater, but | was in time for what had most
wished to witness, for, as / entered, ] saw
Gavan bow his thanks to those in front from
the stage.
This saw through the blur of lights and
the mist that SWAN before my eyes.
All was over and the curtain had gone
down on the last act when l made my way
around back and joined him.
"Come," he said, as L took his hand and
smoke the foolish words one says on such
occasions in the vain effort to add another
color to the rainbow.
Come, let us 60 home. / am tired-and
I am satisfied. He was silent until we
reached his door.
You will come in9 Don't leave me
yet"
And followed him up to his room.
lie had again relapsed into silence, but |
could see that he was happy.
Finally he reused himself from his reverie
| to say:
| will remain little longer? / wish to talk
| to you. It's such a comfort to have you here.
| You are always so good.
said / would stay all night if he de-
| sired it, For myself, l could not think OF
sleep. ] was too excited.
He was soon in bed, and 1 drew up O
| chair close beside him.
Then he began to talk Of his mother, to tell
| me what ne would do for her. " For fancy
the turning point is past" he said. :" /
| signed contracts tonight for more work, and
| now money goes to bind the bargain. They
| are not the barren formality they were when
| / put my name to the first one two years
ago But shall go home and see how
mother is before / do anything else, and
take nice rest of u month OF so. 1t will do
me world of good. | can afford it, for the
plays big hit. There can be no mistake
about it. Now that success has come,
somehow it's not quite all anticipated. A
| part Of the satisfaction it should yield has
been loss in the struggle, and part of my
ambition as well. But l have served my
apprenticeship to, art. l have starved, hop
ing against hope, for three years. / shall
be content with the money it will mean.
After all, it narrows, down to this We be-
| gin with different aims-that is, before we
have exhausted ourselves in trying to over
come the ignorance and prejudice of others. u
| When left him he was sleeping with his
head upon his arm. The boyish roundness
seemed to have returned to his face aud the
anxious look was gone. He was as l re-
membered him in the old days at Mis-.
| Tautons. if5
The night was at an end when I went
into the street.
Boys were calling the morning papers, and
| the city was wide awake.