Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1896-03-03

way " ANAN| NNN tJN1f 0
ner Of speaking which smithefs' IN his
mood, liked He wa much attracted 20
The little soamstress. He Thought par
haps be would marry her.
II he had seen her the week before.
aho might have impressed him less, in
deed not at all But his personal Affairs
suddenly had taken such q turn that he
questioned the toracity Of all women
and rather hoped that he might die on
have q serious illness.
80 it came about that he hunRered 70
know such q woman os he felt Ernestine
Gilbert to DO. That she was but o be-
Rinnsr on the ladder Of fame rather
added 70 his interest and piqued his
vanity. he believed she had talent, and
Il would Be his proud privilege 70 help
her develop it.
These dramatic fellows are well gifted
with imagination. and smithers was
yopng.
Thus be wrote Of the production good
humoredly, even Enthusiastically, az q
piece which should be seen BY all who
are interested in the vital questions Of
the day.
he omitted 70 speak in terms Of
praise Of che performance Of the leading
woman, the ample blond, and this
piQued her. If Smithers honestly had
explained this omission 70 himself, he
would have said that he was annoyed
because his Beamstress, with her I'M
doubted womanliness and talent. was
forced to play so inconsequential a part,
while the leading lady, who might or
might not be- qualified, had matters her
own way.
Others guessed that Miss Gilbert was
poor, lived in a hall bedroom, had a
hard time to get along, and that she
knew few men. She would Do much
gratihed to find that a person Of his
standing took an interest in her. he re-
solved to call. The stage doorkeepeK
gave him her address Next day he went
Il was az unusal proceeding, but Smith
ers argued that it would be less embar-
raising for him 10 see her at her home
than to send his card to her at the the
alter. Theatrical people are so Jealous Of
each other. They would put base mo
tives upon his attentions.
Miss Gilbert was In. And abe pleased
him. ~1ngenuously she confided TO him
her e~nthusiasms, and he was charmed
BIS call did not seem to surprise her,
bat Smithers aecounted for that BY her
inexperience.
She had been in the city but a COM
paratively short time, had come from
the country, filed with ambition 70 do
great things. Her manner, half shy,
half scornfulo of smithers' sage cautions,
was delightful. He learned Of her ante
cedents that they were modest country
folk who wished she would come home.
Smithers made the object Of his visit
that Of telling her that he, an expert
enced critic, believed in her talent and
would be glad to do anything he could
for her. She asked him earnestly TO call
again. BE solemnly promised to do 90
Smithers was not quite sure before
paying the visit, this the first, that he
was not about to make an ass Of himself.
"What II abe turns out TO be a silly or
scheming creature like the othersf'
he knew at q glance when she enter
cd the parlor Of the boarding house that
he had made no mistake. She was good
and sweet, talented and-yes, and
pretty; very.
II he had missed something Of SAVIOR
faire in her manner; If he wished, the
least in the world, that she had ques-
toned his right to call upon her, become
downright angry-not half SCAT his
daring, were he, Smithers, to advise
her, a stranger, he put such thoughts
from his mind as foolish. "Sbe is q
little crude, but she has the makings Of
a wife any man might be proud of. I
shall ask her to render me the happiest
man in the world in about five weeks. "
And 80 he probably would have done
had he not changed his mind and had
not another woman come into his life.
Il was the leading lady, she who played
the adventures IN 1.-THE Fullness Of
Life"
He previously had had an indefinite
prejudice against blends and sedulously
had avoided meeting such prominent
women ON the stage as he knew his du-
ties would require him to estimate. 10
had thought that 10 know them socially
would prejudice his Judgment Of their
work o.
But Eleanor lane had sent for him.
She was a widow, a shrewd woman and
really a good one. The idea that q
woman must be an undesirable ao-.
q~uaintance because abe has business
ability is false. Miss Lane had brains,
talent and beauty.
She explained TO HI. Smithers when
he called Ia answer to her invitation
that she had always wanted to meet
him and particularly after his kind no.
tice Of tho play in which she was at
tho time appearing. Smithers had not,
&c will be remembered, mentioned Miss
Lane in his criticism. Il was with Eoant
courtesy that he acknowledged her COM
pliments, and when he left be compared
her advances with Ernestine Gilbert's
maidenly modesty.
Meantime Eleanor Lanes vanity had
been hurt by the indifference, first pro-
fessicnal. now personal, Of the critic,
and she resolved 10 bring him to her feet.
Smithers dropped In 10 the tbeater
one evening not long after 10 a his
admiration for Miss Gilbert's talent
But IL seemed 10 him that she was
rather absurdly lacking IN force. Why
did she appsar 30 bashful2 He noticed
thst Miss lane played with remarkable
Vigor and wondered why he had not no
ticed IL before.
After Mr.. Smithers' next call upon
Miss Gilbert she went TO her room and
cried II was what be had not said that
brought the tears. He had paid but the
most formal visit. bad not spoken Of her
future or Of her present, except to ask II
"