The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1897-11-10

fault is in the work" And then he
would close his jaws in a determined
sort of way, and have heard him NUT
ter al these times: Il viii do it yet"
About month before the evening
Of which | am speaking, Froebel and /
were taking dinner in a little French
cafe knew of-soup, fish, two entrees.
the roti, dessert and a bottle of vim or
dinaire for so cents-very good. too. /
assure you-and after dinner the old
man had read me one of his plays. II
seemed to be wonderfully bright and
original, and, as he recited the various
scenes, could not understand why
such play should not make a success.
But they refused 4. to-day" said
Froebel, sadly. TT has made the
rounds, as so many of my plays have
made the rounds before, snd-no one
wants it"
had read many of the old mans
plays and had not read one that did
not like. At the dinner in the little
cafe discussed them with their author.
and we argued as to their merits and
dement's. The old man frightened up
considerably under the influence of my
belief in him and confidence in his abil.
ity, and after the cigars he sat silent
for some time. Suddenly he stood up,
and, looking at me earnestly, said:
II believe I've got it. 1t is my imag-
ination that is defective All that
have ever written has been the fancy of
| xov hrofn Nv oh raafarc houa Aaar
my own creations; theis words I have
spoken, their actions have imagined.
l have failed for lack OF knowledge of
nature-of human nature. l will write
another play--one more. l will con-
struct it from the incidents of my own
life. will be the principal character.
l know what 1 would dounder certain
conditions; / kn ow wha. l have done.
Thus l can make my characters act as
know they have acted they will be
absolutely true to life. What do you
think of it?"
1 was not there to discourage the old
man, but to hearten him Up. l told him
that l thought it was splendid idea
indeed, thought it was. The old man
grew enthusiastic and wanted to go
home at once to begin onthe new play
the play that was to succeed at last.
Since that evening / lad seen very
little of Bernard Froebd. l had been
very busy, having regular employment
with the magazines. Therefore, al
though / knew that the old mans
finances must be at low ebb, it was
with considerable of shock that came
to realize that he was probably starv
ing.
r I could not work. my Thoughts
strayed necessarily to the old man up
stairs. / had had good supper; it wa
hard to realize that Troebel was lack
ing food. l could not endure thu
thought. l went downstairs and ou
of the house. / hurried to a near-b,
a restaurant and procured a nice gam
pie, a pat Of butter, some rolls and
bottle of wine. Armed with this wen
Y to Froebel's room.
found the door locked. This was un
usual. To my knock the old man cam
close to the door and asked: 'Who
there?"
at is l, Froebel; letme in," ! cried.
} "Unless it's important | wish you
I excuse me-" he said, still keeping th
door shut. I'm very busy"
"oh, open, mani" cried; "Ive SOM
thing to say to you"
a Slowly he opened the door, and, bea
a ing my burden of eutables, shameface,
r ly 1 entered. BY the light of smob
t kerosene lamp l noticed that tIoebel
e eyes were red. He looked as if he migl
$ have been weeping.
e "It's my birthday to-day" said, Wi
), an attempt at laugh, ''and | want
celebrate. l forgot all about it uni
It Just now, and then l felt it was n
h fitting for me to celebrate alone. 3
if sides, sold an article to-day, so we
k. downstairs, bought some grub and car
e up here to enjoy your company. Cor
on, old man, let us eat and drink al
N be merry"
t. "Thanks-no-I do-not-care-to
n eat You-will-excuse-m he sa
a. haltingly, and with many a stran
glance toward the food II have
e. ready-had-my - ah = supper. A
ed dhearty-supper-thank-you."
knew he lied to save his self
t. spect, but what could / do? The ;
man was trembling with weakness a
"a hunger. My presence seemed to VOL
him. To save the awkward situatio
he said, hurriedly:
an "How's the new play getting along
~. This was familiar ground, and 81
he the old man had sorted the manuscr
ais and in a weak voice and with man
he cough was reading passages from
ed play to me. l cannot give the p
be scene for scene, but, as | remember i
ny was to be in four acts. 1t was, with V
ng slight variation, the story OF the
His man't life-a very simple, kindly,
yht able life. The action was unstudied
tie natural; there was no hint of m
ny drama, no element of comedy-a qr
yht quaint, simple play that touched
finer chords of human sympathy
ac- brought tears close TO the eyes.
lad As the old man read on | could
ird agine saw him OH the stage, acting
ago part of his principal character, his 6
,er- hairs, his furrowed face, his hal
The voice, his pathetic story. all appea
/ of to the hearts and sympathies of his
en- dience, and, as he laid the manusc
!: down, choked back the sob that
lew in my throat.
nd Il have not begun the last act J
he said Frccbel. "I-do-not-know-
for to end--it."
:" why, I'll tell you!" I cried, wi
son. burst of hopeful confidence. I'm
no last act make good fortune come 10
felt hero-yourself. Have the play acce
for and great success, and have ri
ylad pour in upon the long-disappoi
~ 1acf ba oo n