Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-03-14
past which could Fever bs rsdadlsd -

past which could Fever b rskiadl1d y
revived.
Once, when he came homo, b. fpapa
that the play had been sent bask b
the manager a. useless 70 him. h
scarcely noticed IT, 10 glanced p ~
rejection form indiderently, and toasel
the manuscript into . drawer snoat
the limbo Of forgotten thingh
One day was 70 like anothsr, ~
months 70 void Of event, and II cane
upon him with . shock one nisht 70
realize that Ethel would soon hsvs
been dead . year. Was II possiblsf--
twelve months agol Yes, on tho ~
and 1t was now the alst he won't
heavily to his desk, just where DO bad
sat before, and wrote the In msmoriaua
notice he had vowed TO write. The
dearly beloved wife Of Paul Weguelinl'
The tears ran down his face. Every
year, sweetheart" he muttered, husk'
lily, every year till we meet each other
again"
People commented on his faithful
ness to memory-so few men ~
faithful to the living. In the Office he
was sometimes invited TO spend ~
evening at q friends house or at . Tho.
ster He invariably declined. Hestill
wore deep mourning. Acquaintance
began to call II affectstion, but they
wronged him. He had but one relsxa.
ton, and that had come TO him rather
than been sought. As the boy grew
IN affection that surprised himsslf
awoke In Paul Weguelin's breast, and
the only hours In which he regAinsd
something Of his former cheerfulness
were when be was playing with his
child.
From one step to another. When
the youngster was two years old Paul
came, by chance, upon the play he had
thrown aside In despair. He took itup
and reread II. II was good-good A
little Of bis old interest In II sprane
into being again. Surprising no wers
TO submit 1t somewhere else?
He forwarded 1t to theater the iot
lowing day. 1t came back . month
later, but he was In earnest again
now, and he sent 1t to another house.
The latest management was . long
time replying, but when an answer did
come, twas, TO some extent, favorable
Assuming that certain alterations were
made In 1t, the drama might poadbly
he put on.
lie was not excited; he was damaged
at himself in perceiving how dull and
inert the prospect left him. he con-
trasted his absence Of emotion with
what he would have felt at tho time
when Ethel was with him-Ethel, Who
had died crying that she would not I've
to see the play produced. Neverths-
less he went to see the manager, and
had the suggested amendments deAp'
itely explained They took several
weeks to effect, and when they were
completed, some changes LIP the man,
agerial intentions left the fate Of Tie
play doubtful still.
II remained doubtful while summer
merged into autumn and autumn
turned to winter snows. And thor a
last II was accepted absolutely. Paul
Weguelin's name began TO creep iuSo
the newspapers The drama went Into
rehearsal. The authors pulses bAat !
shade more quickly and HE fellow
clerks wrung his hand and aaksd ~
"orders" with sstonishnent ''wslt
large" on their countenancss
"Great Scott, old fellow You ,
dramatistl You aid keep II Close. Wsll
IEcongratulate you, I'm sure. ! sup
pose you'll be chuckina the city direct
iy and be a heavy swell up westY'
1t was pleasant He could not deny
that he enjoyed 1t; his tobacco taalsd
better; he knew al last what II WA 10
be excited again. The rehearsalA
when he was able to attend them, even
banished the memory Of Ethel from
his mind. But this distressed him wheA
he observed 1t, and he made pilgrim
age TO her grave which was for The
first time perfunctory.
When the curtain went up on the
first night he stood at the back Of the
dress circle with ashen cheeks and .
heart that thumped as II 1t would sui
focate him. His llnes-his lines-were
being spoken on the stage, and the
audience laughed and clapped their
hands at them. The act drop fell u
rose; the applause grew more vocit'
erous. The piece was success, IN
unmistakable triumph. lie was called
OF the end and loudly cheered.
lie asked no more Of fate; his cup WAS
full.
Someone insisted on carrying him Of
with a party to supper. There were
champagne and merriment. he made
q speech; 1t was witty speech, every.
body banged the table. Perhaps b.
had drunk q little more than he WA
accustomed to, but-what did II mat
ter2 The champagne was good, and
the play was good, too. BY Jove, they
were all good-all good fellows u
gether Just as he made the last ~
mark his tongue changed, and with 1
brief word he SGT down hastily.
II occurred to him at this moment
that the date was the Fed. The third
In memoriam announcement should
have appeared that morning and h
had forgotten to send it-F. G. Phil
lips, in 81. Paul.
How He Was Reared. -Landlsdy-
~ do think Mr.. Star IL the most c&yN
I..,,.<c o.x~ ncu, H. 1xn~a. klA