The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-08-28

y
he wouldn't"
The old conceit gave way to new sem
sation, however, later in the evening.
when his befogged mind began TO take in
the full meaning of his discharge. 1t did
not occur to him even then that the sea-
son was well advanced that companies
were closing everywhere and that his
chances for getting work were exceeding
~ slim. He did not worry at the fact
that he had saved nothing, and that his
whole worldly possessions were the suit
he wore daily and some stray coppers
that reposed in one of his pockets. But he
looked around the half circle of blackened
faces near him with eyes that had seen
little else for thirty years, and stroked
tho tangled hair of his wig fondly. His
numbed senses were beginning to permit
him to feel the agony of his position
Only short time before he had been
where Western sat, on the extreme end.
with the music of his songs ringing in
his ears and the laughing crowd in front
of him waiting for his humor to amuse
them. He had been the essential part of
the gaiety and brilliance about him. But
age and drink had brought him down TO
sitting in the middle while someone else
with half his former ability held his old
place 1t was his own fault, but Crawford
blamed only the smiling, tickle audiences
that enjoyed the jests of the new man
quite at much as they had his own.
The end was coming. After awhile
the lights of the circle would go out to
him forever and he would wander about
the street penniless and friendless. The
days that had passed would never come
again-he had been left behind He was
himself at last and the sob that nearly
choked him had nothing to do with the
| cheap whisky he had taken during the
| afternoon. Only the crowd beyond the
| footlights were too interested in Western
| to notice the bent figure near him and,
| besides, the CLINT of burnt cork hid every
| thing but fixed smile that had become
| part of the minstrefs self.
When il was all over and Crawford
had exchanged the satin breeches that
| belonged to the company for his torn
gray ones he met the manager in the
| front of the house. Here's what I owe
| you,' said that worthy; and good-by."
| 'Good-by," said Crawford.
Once outside he looked at the green
back he held and noted that it was a
| five-dollar bill. The sum due him was
three times that But he strolled on aim
| lessly until he reached a fashionable sa-
| loon near and CHANGING inside saw West
ern seated near the door with a bottle
of champagne at his side. The old envy
came back then and Crawford felt that
| OH iiS lfOuDitS were III some way or dn-
other the fruit of the man who was en-
joying the comfort that he himself had
not enjoyed for some time. And then
he determined that, since 1t would soon
be over at best, ne would show his rival
that he could still afford the luxuries OF
his old life. There was a drug store
near by and from its clerk Crawford
purchased ten grains of morphia using
for the purpose a prescription he had
innn fIpan h.
to the saloon and sauntered majestically
In. Western looked up and turned bach
TO his wine without a word. "A quar-
bottle Crawford told the waiter in
tones that could be heard all over The
room.
But after ne had taken one g.ass. had
pdid d quarter for a cigar and had given
ms remaining dollar 10 a barefoot urchir
who had tried ito sell him some matches
the minstrel forgot about his desire 70
appear grand and sat quietly watching
the bubbles rise To the surface in F1is
glass until all had gone and the wine
was quite fiat and tasteless. The room
was soon deserted but Crawford did not
move. he was dreaming Of his old sell
and of his days off power in the company
The music in nearby place was an ac.
compartment TO a song of his own anG
the laughter that came with ii was hi:
greeting. For a moment the world faC
turned back and the broken-down feI
low who sat stroking his gray head wa.
again the hero of an hour When tn,
music finally stopped he Started nervous
} ly and booked around him. Then with
out moments hesitation, ne sifted hi:
. powder into the wine, even stopping Il
brush after II some particles mis- un
steady hand had Let fan on the table
, Finally he took the draught at a gull
and leaned back in his chair satisfied
The orchestra began familiar air AM
he croncd the words to 1t softly. Tn,
cold night air blew into the room ant
the stars went out one by one. Then tn,
Old mans hand dropped to his side anC
: his head fell4forward. He was asleep.