The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-18
ONE WOMAN WHO FAILED.
Some Disappointed Hopes and q Strange
Chance.

After the death last summer OF a
young actress at a seashore resort In
Maine a report was c~irculated that she
had committed suicide. The report was
denied, and then the general public
forgot all about her, for she vas known
only through her appearances in ar un-
important part in one OF the previous
seasons successes.
While the general public knew moth
ing more of her than this. to a small
circle she was known as a musician OF
unusual powers and an artist of no
mean ability. She could play the piano
well enough to achieve anything but
greatness. Her attachments in paint
ing were measured in the same way.
In both of these arts she might have
reached a place beyond the powers Of
the average student: but the quality
that would have raised her to the real
heights and made her labors worth the
while was denied to her. 1t was when
she realized finally that an exceptional
career in music was denied to her that
she turned to the stage That had al
ways been one OF her ambitions. she
hoped that her talents as an actress
might win for her the career that
seemed impossible in music. That h
had real aptitude for the stage her
work in one small character showed.
But that she possessed the genius
which would la satisfied her long
ings was never demonstrated She
needed genius, for, with her talents, she
did not have beauty. So Ii seemed
probable that she would meet on the
stage the Same failure to attain the
highest success which a followed her
efforts in music as well as painting.
The first indication OF this came
promptly. At the close of her first sea-
son she found herself without an en-
gagement for the next. She had done
her little part we'll, but 1t was not diff
| cult to do. She was not beautiful.
| moreover, and looked ten years older
than she really was. So she left the
city for a few weeks in the country.
with the knowledge that she would
have to return and face the difficulties
of beginning her career again.
One hope remained to her, and she
cherished that in the face OF the diff
culties which had made her life a dis
appointment. She was in love. 1t was
known to a few of her friends that she
was devoted to a young man with
whom she was frequently seen. That
| they were engaged to be married had
| never even been reported. There was
nothing in their demeanor when to-
gether to indicate that they were more
tina friends. Certainly his manner
toward her indicated nothing more
thar friendly regard. But some OF her
intimates knew that her feelings for
him were of a deeply afectionate ma
ture. She had ven told n or two Of
them hat nothing would be left for
her in life II he should marry.
He came to the seashore town, where,
with two friends. h had gone for a
few weeks Of the summer. After he
had been there for a while her manner
became melancholy. The two friends
with her observed that h seemed
sadder than she had ever been e
- - -.r
and spoke with greater dependency
han ever of her prospects,. nee she
spoke of suicide. but not in q way that
led her friends to suspect that she had
any real idea of such a step.
At last, though, a suspicion OF her
intentions did occur to them one day.
She had been absent since the early
morning. The man referred to had
gone out to sail and she had started
for a walk in the woods. When night
came and she was still absent their
suspicious were strong. At 10 O'Clock
they confided their fears to others. and
six searching parties set out to scour
the country. They returned without
having found her. Shortly after they
came home word reached them that
her body had been found, and IL was
brought to the hotel by the nan to
whom she had been so evote In life.
The curious chance which led him
to where she lay dead in the forest
would have seemed strained and far
fetched In fiction. He had been SAIL
ing most Of the day and at night en-
deavored to get back into the bay. But
time and tide were against him and
the boat drifted several miles from the
entrance to the bay. He realized thai
he would have either TO stay on the
water all night or make his way into
another bay some short distance down
the coast. He was able to get into
that bay and succeeded IN sailing up
the little arm OF the ocean TO its end
Upon landing he found himself sever
al miles away from his hotel. II was
dark and he soon lost his way IN the
woods. As he was about to turn back
TO the water he spied a figure on the
gr.und When he approached he rec