The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1896-12-18
A PROFESSIONAL
ny CAROLINE SHELLY


through the straight-hanging lace cur
tains long after the door had opened
and shut on Twyetort's form.
"rhis is what I have dreamed OFF,
She sat down at the low writing ta-
bic in the corner and drew q sheet of
baper and a pen toward her. "Sleep
'sn it, think it over well, be had said,
'and write me tomorrow. What need
10 waltz lie should have his answer
now.
But she did not write at once, she
leaned her head on her hand while the
pen idly trailed, quite dry, across the
plotting pad, and her happy eyes
watched its progress. She might have
sat just 80 for her portrait, There
were hundreds Of photographs OF her
all over London in that position; it
was one she particularly affected;
new package lay unopened at her ell
bow taken in the very violet velvet
gown she was wearing, and her name
printed beneath - Maxima Sterling.
She had not changed it when she went
on the stage; she had no great family
escutcheon to stain, nor any formid-
able connection to overshadow by her
profession. Her father had been
circus owner, her mother the prettiest
woman bareback rider in the world,
yet it could scarcely be said that she
inherited her histrionic talent, for
what is there in common between
pirouetting on horses lack to a cir
Gus band, and holding q London au-
dience spell bound by the interpreta-
ton of London herOine2
''Maxima Sterling" she wrote
across the blotting pad in a big de-
termined hand, and then, "Maxima-
Lady Twyefort," and laughed aloud
at the oddity OF it The little gilt
clock on the chimney-piece chimed
four, and a ray of cold sunlight few
through the lace curtains over the for
gotten letter sheet She heaved a
sigh, the sigh of mortal waking from
fair dreams of Paradise to q realiztion
of the world again and began her
task. When the sunlight had left the
writing table, and crept out at the
window again and the hand of the
small clock pointed to five, she sealed
and directed it with her firm strong
touch. There was a servant coming
along the landing; he should mail il
directly. She stood there waiting -
tall, expectant - when the door
opened.
"Mr. Heathcote.
"Ah! admit him." and she smil-
ingly laid the letter face downward Oh
the writing table.
"It is good to see you this bitter
day, Teddy" she said, holding out he
hand. Her voice was soft and low and
resonant; it had been half her sue
cess in her professional career;
brought clear light now into thu
mans eyes as he came forward ant
took chair opposite to her at he
hearthstone.
always hospitable," he said, crate
fully, 'but you knew I would be here
\ Massie. Has ever more than a da
2 gone by that have not managed t
see you, since we first started uphi
together?"
''Not SO very uphill, dear boy
we've shared success, haven't we?"
''Nextseason we must star together,
he said, GIVE a splendid plan; whe
you have given me some tea I'll III
fold it.
Miss Sterling lay back in her chat
with hands clAsped behind her heaC
/, staring at the shadows chasing on
another across the tinted ceiling.
''AhI but lam tired Of it all, Tedd,
tired tired; thought was ami
tious; I am not. / don't care a ia
thing for fame or footlights Or