Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-06-04
4 CHILD OF The STAGE.
- ID Rrnce Chestorman. Jrl

.~c trtCntly at the fapldly-changihS
as the train sped on SIS way.
,,.,,b rain was beating against the
and the child's hands were often
...1 I'm rubbing the window-pane. that
., might not be obstructcd by the
..rs which gathered on II. The oc-
..s OF the coach were for the most
...n. and the drca~y day, that was
l., dying seemed TO depress their
. for they were lounging listlessly in
..,r seats and several were half asleep.
,.. ...io girl looking wistfully out Of the
I'm who was the sole occupant OF
.rt. appeared TO be the only one in
,,'.-hlled coach who manifested any
ems. in her surroundings. She sat
.,.-, quite unno,ioed by any one, but
~. seemed very contented.
rr. eald was quite frail girl, prob
.iH f.u years OF age. and the most
,-riIrl Of her features were the large,
'.-. Owes that looked so wistfully about
t.~ There was a touch OF sadness in
,t.n shat was almost pathetic In one
q. Young. Indeed, her expression was
rrt That ~ a child and the happy laugh
pr fIat should have shone in her eyes
MAS strangely lacking. and In It's place
,,a .Cok of longing which caused ones
,..r art TO go out to the little mald.
Ill. -lcc was very fair. but there was
, ....thy glow I'm the wan cheeks 10 tell
o.. f.. rOmping games of Childhood, anu
t-. r0s seemed never made for laughter.
D Was a thin. sad little race though
,.t..l a beautiful one, and just now the
Golden locks Of her hair were Woluly OUT
d.. place. and strayed In a VIA l'S' nv.
....f her forehead ana down hci
...rIders. She plainly showed the lack
III yomau's hand TO put those tangled
golden curls in order. a.. cor
inc door in the front end of the car
opencd. and a middle-aged man mace ms
WY TO the seat in when sat me emu
mia Girl turned her eyes from the WIN
dow and saw him as ne approached an"
"a little glad cry escaped her lips
"Father. how long you have been III
coming" and there was look VI n','u
uroach in her eyes as her sa~e mt ''''''
Of the man. 20 .,hi,o l.,
the emoklng-car.' he s'lu ny way VI
He seated himself by the child and
taoked modify about him. Then the
rirrs voice again drew his attention
How long will II be before we get to
Prtsburg." she asked.
..About an hour yet. IL was a long jump.
Dot" Doe replied. Then, in tone in
which there was some concern, Are you
tired little grip
A l0ng-dTaWn sigh was the answer ana
The golden head rested against his Shout
der. while the blue eyes looked up into
fre hard lines of the mans face. "A lit
Gle Bit" she said and she tried not TO
show how weary the little body was.
Poor child. She was too frail and deli
cate TO well endure the life of the stage,
with its many hardships, but she was too
brave a little soul TO complain A mo-
frcr's care she had not known since a
wee tot She was far from being childish
lr her ways. and at a time when she
should have been as light-hearted as any
ti.e girl of TO- she was almost womanly.
This naturally resulted from her being
.r1wn much upon her own resources, as
t- as personal care was concerned, for
rtugh the fatner was very kind and
- nj TO do well by the child, yet he
could never take the plYce Of mother.
And worse than ALL he did not realize
that the young life which he had in his
Gaze was hanging by a very fine thread,
indeed and that daily the cord was being
weakened. lie knew the child was deli
ost. as she had been from her birth, but
heidi rot know that IL was the life she
leI which was slowly sapping all Of the
fndt was IN hel. anu CAUSING INC
pale face 10 grow whittier every day. He
Used the talents Of the child to help them
cam their daily bread, but though he did
tls no selfish motive was the cause.
Io casual observer he may not have
appeared a very loving parent. but the
child was the one object for which ne
lived. Morose he may have appeared to
those with whom he was thrown in con-
TACT. and not a suitable guardian Tor the
delicate girl, but his affection for her
was intense. and the child knew better
than any one how much this strange,
silent man loved her. Queer companions
they seemed TO the world-this man who
appeared TO have forsworn the company
~ his fellows. and TO live so utterly
within himself, and the pretty. sad-fdced
.uild who chung so lovingly TO him, but
for all that they were both quite happy
With each other. And 1t was because
,1e man could not bear to part from the
rt'1 that the two were sharing together
,se NE Of the vaudeville stage. 1t may
have been selfish in him to throw blight
.rer the girls life by thus robbing her OF
rls. innocent Joys that only come with
hrv childhood. and take their departure
"A. ,o soon. but the lonely man, who had
.5 lies but this frail flower, that was
argushing for the want Of proper care,
had never viewed the matter in this light
ADD. me girl never fhlhA'ittA'i'~s A4NA -
ed by any sign which he could read that
sae was wearing her young life out.
The rain drops continued TO beat on
the window pane, and the train sped on
with it's monotonOus clashing, until the
childs eyclids grew heavy, and the
muffied roar which fell upon her ears
without iutermission lulled her to sleep,
with her head resting on her fathers
"a m gl4cning
If his great. hard hands And the man
sat in one position, fearing TO move lest
The golden head that nestled near him
should be disturbed and the weary child
should awaken. lie gazed at her often
while she thus slept, and there was
world OF love IN his eyes as he allowed
u. hand 90 touch very gently the curls
N.t caressed the fair forehead
Darkness came on, the lamps In the
. were III. and a few Of the passengers
uifed their watches and began 10
.r.tch their arms and yawn, while they
rubbed their eyes and endeaVOred TO
i..c. the gloom outside 10 ascertain the
slate o. the weather, though the mist
Hst hung on the windows made 1t eVl-
..t That the air was still heavy with
nurc. But the child slept on, ana
%. eht commotiOn did not disturb her
I, .4use her 10 move. Half an hOur
at the lights Of Pittsburg showed In
90. stance. the car-door banged, the
Drct0r passed through the coach. can
ls 0It that city as the next stop, ana
te usual hustle followed as the ured
gers reached above them in the
Racks for their belongings, and began 10
tua 1u coats and wraps. Then the man
gently raised the child's head from his
t0al.r ana with a few softly-spoken
r0used her. The large eyes were
i1. ., wonder at FIRST the confusion about
ta. having startled her for the moment