St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-03-23
ONE NIGHT ONLY.

Gentlemen, am at loss for words
In saying you have done me too much
honor tonight mean we are apt to for
get that the opportunity to take his tide
at the flood does not come to every
struggler. Now, mine-the speakers
voice had halted curiously for moment
well, it spells an actors story that is
perhaps without parallel. There--never,
never should I forget it-that day, I
mean, when as few Of us were wait
ing listlessly for instructions at the
new suburban theater our brusque old
manager painted in with face as white
as it was worried. And it was to me he
beokoned.
"Quickl This way, Strangr And
went after him into one of the dressing
rooms. "Here's gol' he blazed out.
see his arms waving now. "Here's the
place alive with posters and expectation,
the curtain bound to 60 up in five hours
to packed house, and no one in the
wide world to play Karl Angel. No
onel The opening night 1t means ruin
in a suburb like this" Up and down he
went striding, while gasped, for Karl
Angel, as you know, was the pick of
the parts in "The Unknown Knight. 4"
"Every one dying to hear Norman
Caffyn, and here comes note to say he
can't possibly take it tonight had an
upset or some fine thing. wire off to
Wentworth, the man understanding
him all along, and back comes the con-
founded reply that he's left home for
nobody knows where. Strang" He
stopped and faced me- "You're not the
pushing man thought"
"I'll play it," I said. The room had
seemed to whirl round, but believe
snapped my teeth on the words. At
last, yes, but mans heart may sink
very low while he waits on chance. He
knew well enough had studied the
role from the very first, but he had al
ways given this Wentworth the prefer
ence and poohpoohed my every desper-
ate attempt to rise superior to those
deadening minor parts.
"You will You mustl There's no
one else to take it. There, do your level
BEST and I shan t forget it; neither will
the public. Hang it, though, it means
half empty house tonight anyway,
with Caffyn out of the cast. I suppose
I'm bound to stick up notice. And
what about the things-the helmet,
mail shirt and all? Annoyingl / must
send-no, 60 yourself for them. You
CAL compare notes. Here his address
the Strand hotel. Hurry off. You're
quite sure Of yourself, Strange" he
fumed nervously, and I spun round
hotly. A thought had flashed through
me. Blake's estimation Of man 8 pow
ers was VIGOROUSLY worth having in
those days.
"Am I? Well, so sure, Mr.. Blake"
/ said, closing the door, "that if Mr..
Caffyn himself only consented no one
but our three selves need know there
has been any change for the one night.
Certainly l mean it. If that can alter
your fixed opinion of me, I'll play Nor
man Caffyn and Karl Angel, too, so
that you or any one else will never see
difference. / could be ill-any one
could take my part-and you can have
your full house and advertisement. Is
that agreed?"
Nonsense; you couldn't. Never
heard Of such thing" he whispered,
s staring at me. Perhaps there was some.
& thing in my determined front that day
that impressed him. "You would?
4 Well, if you think he-it's the opening
8 night too-there, I won't say either
way. You must see Caffyn. I'll give
4 you two hours. The ideal"
i Yes, the queer, daring ideal That
was at 3 o'clock. An hour later, with
the chance Of my lifetime thrust into
3 my hands, I had reached the city and
q was in train on my way to Peckham.
Short as was the time and thrilling the
occasion, meant to call home first and
tell my young wife what a wonderful
thing had happened. She, who had SO
Il often cheered me on, and frightened
4 hours as dark for her as for me, she
should know, and be at the theater that
night to see my first real bid for sue
cess Never nervous, could do it, I
knew-but to come on as Caffyn HIM
self, and play Karl Angel as he alone
was supposed to be able to play It'll In
our height size and pitch of voice, there
was not deal of difference-that was
why it had occurred to me to study his
part at the outset. But would Caffyn
dream Of allowing it? I could hardly
dare expect it. Whether or no, that
nights work would send me springing
up the slippery ladder, knew. Hurrah
Nance, Nancel" ! went up those
Is stairs three at a time-the prospect
4 seemed to have made another man Of
III me, and she-when she dropped that
everlasting needlework and swayed up
in maze, I remember / held her at
arms length. cts a guinea kiss to-
dayP' I laughed. And then, touched
! BY the look On her pale, dazed face-we
had had real struggle to beat back the
wolff Gained down. "I'm quite sane,
deariel You said my chance would
come; it has--the very night the new
theater opensl Say nothing to anybody,
but be there by s, and see if you know
the man who plays Karl Angel"
q A few more quick breaths of explana-
ton and then ran out-leaving her in
a tit of tears and laughter together-and
was hurrying westward to see Norman
E. hn /