The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1895-06-21

But, yslt see, it wouldn't do to add to
the expenses Of the company just now,
With business so bad, and all, would it,
my dear? Why, you might be con-
hntd in a twelye-month, and laid by
f1r half the year ever after, with a
troop of young children. Where would
we be then?'
The ext day was Saturday. AS
, usual went into the treasury to draw
my money, and found the old fellow
With rather a red face, and a hesita-
ton in his Ranner.
He told me sae whole story, just as I
nave told it to you. And then he gave
me my dismissal.
Look here" he said, handing me the
money. you are a capital young fell
low, Lucraft, and a likely actor. There's
merit in you. But | can't have you
spelling my Juliet for the stage. So
I'm going to put her up without you.
After a bit l dare say l shall find an
other Romeo. You get away to Lon
don II find another engagement
there's a weeks pay in advance-and
when Juliet is married. or when O
get rich, or when anything happens to
make things different, why, you. see,
we shall all be glad to see you back.
60 and make your farewells to Juliet,
n don't be more sentimental than
you can help. Goodbye, my boy, and
good luck to YOU"
Good luck! Had he known the kind
or luck which awaited me!
| sought my girl, and found her cry
ing. | remember that we forgot all
the fine verses of Shakespeare, and
just put II faces clos, to each other
II cried together.
1t did seem hard upon both of us.
We We're really and truly in love, and
that in a good, honest, determined way.
10 me there was no other girl in the
world except Juliet. To her there was
no other man besides Luke Lucraft.
we had come to an understanding for
three months, and had been quietly
dropping deeper and deeper in love
during all that time.
And now we We're to part.
Don't forget me-, dear Luke she
sobbed. There are lots of prettier and
finer girls in the world than I am,
who will try to take away your love
from me. | wish l could kill the crea-
tures!" she added, stamping her foot.
Juliet always had a high and genel-
Gus spirit. l like women to have a
high spirit.
And will you have no admirers, Ju-
liet?' ] replied. why. half the town"
we were in Lancaster then--"half the
town is at your feet already. l inter-
cepted two love-letters yesterday, and
L kicked the grocer's apprentice the
day before for trying to get Mrs.
Mould to give you a billet-doux from
himself. Come, dear, we will trust one
another. ! will try and prove myself
a man-get an engagement, make Il
name on he London stage, and come
back With money and offer to act Ro.
ineo to your Juliet at Drury Lane.
Think Of that. my dearest, and dry
your eyes. Your father does not OBJ
ject to me, you know; he only wants me
to make an income. Come. Juliet, let
us say goodbye. 1t is only for a short
time, and l shall come back with all
sorts of reasons in my pocket for per-
suading your fathers consent"
SO we parted, with many more prom
ises of trust and fidelity, and after
breaking a SiXpenny-bit between us.
Juliet's piece is buried with her; mine
is hanging at my heart, and will be,
before long, buried with me beside
her.
Oh! the weary journey to London in
those days, especially outside the coach.
and for a poor man not encountered
with too many wraps. However. l
arrived at length, and found myself in
the streets that are supposed to be
paved with gold, with a couple of SOY
ereigns in my pockets.
But | was brimfull of hope. Lon
don was a kindly ~step-mother, who re-
ceived adopted sons by the thousand.
and led them to fame and wealth. l
thought Of Garrick, of Dick Whiting
ton, and all the rest who came up to
town poorer. far poorer than myself,
and took comfort. l secured a lodging
at a modest rent. and made my way
to Drury Lane-the stage door.
1 found no opening at Drury Lane;
| not ever a vacancy for a supernumer-
airy. There were not many London
| theaters in 1923, and l found the same
thing everywhere-more applications
| than places to give.
l tried the Greenwich and the Rich
mond theaters With the same ill sue
cess.
Then I ~endeavored to get a country
engagement. but l even failed there. I
had no friends to recommend me and
my single experience with Kerrans'
strolling troupe did not tell so much in
my favor as I had hoped.
My ambition naturally took a town
fight. l had intended to make my APP
pearance on the metropolitan stage as
Romeo. my fayorite part. and at once
| to take the town by storm. l was pre-.
! pared to give them an intelligent aud