Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-05-12
A MEMORIAL NIGHT.

Those were trying moments for Mar
ella Sterling as she stood there in the
wings Of the stage at the Star Theater.
She was waiting for her cue to go on
and sing. 1t was particularly trying,
since she lacked confidence, that essen
tial to successful achievement, and
that song was to decide her triumph
or failure in the profession she had
adopted. Tears filled her eyes as she
thought of what was before her. Not
only did she think of the present and
wonder what the future had in store
for her, but her mind also reverted to
the past, when life had seemed so rosy
hued, and when, to her thinking, the
days that were to be presaged con
tinuation Of uninterrupted joys.
Visions Of once happy home arose
before her minds eyes. The dear
father whom she had loved SO tender
fly, whose every word and desire was
law to her; that father for whose sake
she had made the greatest sacrifice of
her life-the remuneration Of her dear
est friend, to whom she had hoped
some day to be something more than
friend; her home, her mother, the little
sisters and brothers-thought of all
these now occupied her mind. But
suddenly everything had changed. The
father had been taken away, leaving
his family wholly unproyided for, and
to Marcia, she Of the beautiful voice.
fell the task Of providing the daily
bread.
That EXPLAINED why she was at the.
tbeater waiting tremblingly, and look.
ing sweet, yet pathetic, clad in her
flowing black gown, and with a single
white rose nesting amid the strands OF
her dark hair.
But even as she mutely prayed and.
soliloquized the orchestra struck up
few bars Of recitative, the curtain
was raised, the manager bade her go
forth and learn her fate, and, scarcely
knowing how it was accomplished, she
found herself in the center of the stage,
close down to the footlights, before a
vast concourse of people who knew
nothing of the tempest that was rag
ing in her heart.
Softly she began to sing-a little I'M
certain at first, but gradually winning
her ground, note by note until, wholly
unmindful Of her whereabouts and
those before her, she abandoned herself
to an outburst of passionate melody,
pouring out her whole soul in mes
sage Of love and entreaty.
The house rang with The plaudits Of
the audience, and Marcia retired, smil-
ing with happiness, for she knew that
she had won the victory. Once more
she felt that she must sing There
was something yet in her heart that
must be set free, and when an encore
number was insisted upon she willing
~ complied. With sob in her voice
she sang of Robin Affair."" and
thought of her own Robin, the Robin
of her first and only love, who was
she knew not where. To him she sent
her vocal message of affection-to her
Robin whom she had dismissed at the
dictate of duty, but whom she yet
loved, and would Away, though time
were hers forever and though wooers
might come in myraids
O, that some kindly emissary might
take her appeal direct from her heart
to him! II by some power of divina-
ton he might learn of how she cher.
ished his memory! Heretofore she had
not dared to trust herself to look into
the faces Of those who constituted her
audience, but now her eyes glanced
over orchestra and parquet, and from
boxes to balcony. She was in quest
of some one, but he for whom she
sought so eagerly was missing. Well,
1t was all over. The manager was en-
thusiastic. He would call upon her on
the morrow and confer with her con-
corning contract for season under
| his direction. That verdict caused her
to smile tears. Why should she be
longer sad since she had reached the
| goal Of her ambition? A contract
meant the wherewithal for the sub
sistence of those who upon her were
dependent. She could now furnish
food for her dear ones, and she, in the
meantime, would remain hungry at
heart.
AS she was seated in q carriage and
was about to be driven from the thea