The Saint Paul globe., 1899-04-23

track for the stage. He is super. He
carries spear very awkwardly. He sings
badly.
He. had a forlorn. hope that he might
, md success on the stage as he had on
the cycle track There was something Of
duplicate of the company In which his
wife was starring so luminously in Eng
land. fes9
And row Fred Titus has given mp even
that hope Of preferment. He is going to
| London, lured by the frailest hope of all,
that Of being reconciled to his beautiful
wife, England's latest American idol
Edna Petty was the daughter Of E. G.
Petty, a letter carrier in Syracuse. She
was pretty and demure and had some
talent for singing, but more for dancing.
She was permitted to come to New York
to study for the stage.
She was sixteen years old that May day
/ when Mrs. Petty, stout. matronIy, ambi-
tious. brought her to New York She had
never seen the big city. 1t frightened
her. She cried on her mothers shoulder
when that good woman set out Cor Syra-
cuse.
Mrs. Petty had found a Comfortable
and respectable" boarding house for her
daughter. The landlady had a daughter
of the same age as Miss Petty. The girls
were friends at first. Later they became
cilclulcb IL WAS ILL OH ACCOUNT OIL lTGQ
Titus.
The cyclist was in the heyday of his
glory. He had just won the hour record
at the Springfield meet. He could ride
faster in one hour than any Wheelman in
America. He was the idol of the hour,
of the year-certainiy of the girls. He
had bestowed some Of his cherished at
tentions upon Edna Pettys landlady's
daughter. The landladys daughter was
proud ard happy.
Fred Titus met Miss Petty He trans
ferred his attentions to the letter car
rfers daughter. The girls quarrelled
The quarrel extended to their mothers
Fred Titus and Edna Petty settled the
difficulty after fashion of young people
who are In love. They married
They lived in g pretty fiat on Nine
teenth street. Fred Titus went on win
ming honors on the track. He opened a
bicycle store on the Boulevard Edna
Titus went ON with the music and dane
ing lessons. Occasionally she ''substi-
tuted" In church choir Fred Titus al
ways went to church to hear his wife
sing. That was very happy time, five
years ago. Edna May was known to
fame only as Fred Titus wife. Both she
and the cyclist king were quite content
with that.
The singing and dancing lessons pro-
gressed very well. Mrs. Titus wearied Of
using her sweet voice only. She wanted
to use those nimble feet of hers as we'll
THE dancing lessons have cost SO much
we ought to get our money back, Fred,
dear. she said.
So Mrs Titus made her debut. 1t was
In a tiny bit Of a part In Santa Maria,''
at Hammerstein's. Then she Joined
Hoyt's Farcical Comedy company in IA
Contented Woman
Then she Joined the chorus of ."The
RpI1o oF Vr.rlr OF tho 10 ~,
The star whom Mr.. Lederer had en-
gagged for the leading part disappointed
him at the last moment. She had Joined
fortunes with another manager. Mr.
Lederer was in despair. He looked hur-
riedly over the chorus to find girl who
might fill the part for a night or two
or until he could find some one to play
it,"
He noted the pink-and-white, vestal-
like prettiness of Fred Titus wife,
'Who Is she?" he asked the stage man.
ager.
Nobody much" was the truthful re-
ply.
Shell look the part. That's all we can
possibly expect, groaned Mr.. Lederer.
Fred Titus's wife heard the little dia-
logue. She blushed. partly from timidity,
partly from anger.
The difference between a wise woman
and a fool is that the wise woman grasps
her opportunity. Fred Titus wife proved
that she was not fool. But fools are
ever the happier.
The rest of the story Is record of
Edna Mays successes They followed
each other as a shower of meteors
No new star was engaged for eThe
Belle of New York" Edna Mays Violet
Grey was good enough for the best.
admirable! Charming! Bewitching:'
said the critics.
Then "The Belle of New York. sailed
away to capture London. Fred Titus