Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-08-22

unctuous drop OF the voice, the sanity
pose Of the hands, seemed to reveal a
new actor. They talked Of the London
stage for him. 1t was only talk. for the
piece came to an end, and he was given
another part. in which great things were
expected of him, and, behold, he was q
stick!
He paid no visit at all during this
time upon Maggie. She remained in her
fat and expected him. But he did not
come. Once or twice he wrote for mon
ey, but got none Men like Paul, when
, they get shabby, cease to present them
selves in person. They write begging
letters. Maggie visited her friends. Men
came and proposed to her, thing
which happens very often to maidens
who are both rich and beautiful. She
refused everybody and returned to her
, fat and waited for tidings. OF the mig
ger troop episode she heard nothing,
nor Of the stage business. both of which
had been carried on under different
names. She had read the Paul life in.
! cident. Since then there was silence,
except for the begging letters. But she
knew that he would come back some
| day-some time-aId she waited. She
had been in love with ghost-with the
original ideal after whom Paul made
up-with the soul, expelled to make
room for the devil. She waited for that
| soul to return to the poor demoniac
body
His next step was return to the
stage of the music hall as lion tenor
In this capacity he returned to the SEN
timental ditties Of the niger company,
and when he was encored sang {" Twas
In Trafalgar's Bay" and MY Pretty
Jane" and ''Goodby, Sweetheart 4"
And hero he continued for a space of
twelvcmonth. For salary he did pretty
well, sometimes making ego pounds a
week and sometimes less. He possessed
so much dignity that he did not become
lion ComiQue, nor did he put ON fam
CT costumes, nor did he sing "Ri-tiddy-
iddy-;ddy ri-ti-ti" The domestic af.
fections - "Grardmother's Chair"
"Grandfathcr's Clock 1.-THE Chord
That Cracked" and such themes-pleas-
ed his audience. His handsome face and
his sentimental eyes, which now suggest
ed the raptures Of lawful and connubial
love, pleased the people. who always
| like songs of the domestic affections
better than anything else you can give
them.
| As for his private life during this
period, it was that Of the prodigal son.
His money was spent in riotous living.
Over and over again he would have been
turned cut and told Of for swineherd
by his associates save for the fact that
next week he was always going to draw
another eco or so.
While he was singing an encore one
| night he became aware that there was q
man in the hall who knew him. In fact,
it was his old friend, Homerton Smith,
who was in the front and had found
him. This man sent round his card and
followed it.
$50. Paul." he said, "this is what
you are doing, is it?''
This is what 1 am doing. As you
see, 3" Paul replied shortly.
Eyes, you've got a very fine voice.
Don't you think yea might make ia
more profitable use Of it?''
perhaps you have something more
profitable to suggest.
"Well-perhaps. Will you come to
my chambers and talk? 1t is long time
since we met last
Paul hesitated. There might be uues-
| lions, reference to conscience, honor
and other deficiencies. His friend look
ed serious. There was that last check
cnfin. he nodded his head and they
drove away together.
"You will take q soda and whisky,
OF course, said his friend, land a CT
gar: HIRE you are, ard now He
threw himself into a chair and plunged
at once into things disagreeable.
Your life, take it, is rough, Paul,
isn't 1t: Quite SO. Rather. And COM
panions of the lower kind, presumably.
not quite SO cultivated as your old
friends of the cathedral and the church
perhaps. Too much drink, should say.
Views OF life rather lower than YOU
used to maintain. Your face, Paul,
shows the fact. 1t is coarsening and
worsening. You are still a handsome
man, but something has been lost"
"One cannot always be young"
mo. The last time we met was at
the club. You called there and found
me with Euston Jones, who is q Jour.