The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1900-03-24

in theatrical pariance the supornu-
ulerary who speaks no lines, but mere
Ly appears upon the stage plays Il
shrinking" part. Usually he is seen
only few minutes, and he himself be-
holds but little of the performance Il
fragment of a scene, the backs of the
principals as they declaim to the audi
snce, action without meaning to him,
since he knows not the context. He
could not tell the story of the drama of
which lie is SO small yet an essential
part.
Such being the fact, let me introduce
TO you Mr.. Wallace r. Tinkham. Do
not fancy that Mr.. Tinkham is con-
aectcd with the theatrical profession.
Ee keeps store in Rutlodge, VT, tie
best store in the place, quite good
enough, in fact, for a city.
A few years ago, when human exist
2nce was not so strenuous, Mr.. Think
ham would have been called an ordina-
~ man. His life moves evenly along,
and he is happy ii a quiet way, proud,
too, OF his commercial reputation and
OF his wife and children and well or
dered home.
Mr.. Tinkham had been in New York
Cor q couple OF days buying stock for
b store. His huS.Ecs;s done. with the
exception Of on@ small matter which
must be completed on the ,uD."oW. he
found himself With an evening on lis
hands, and he decided to go to Z thea
ter.
All the plays mentioned in 4 list OF
amusemCnts in IN afternoon paper
were equally unknown TO him. 80 hr Sc
lected '"The Christian" for the sake Of
its name. He WA; fortunate enough 30
secure a good seat on the ccater a.>.o,
and there he bestowed his ample form
much earlier than was necessary ana
awaited with serene patience the risin"
Of the curtain.
At last the orchestra began TO play.
and Mr.. Tinkham, whose mind had
been in Rutlcdgc, VT. became suddenly
conscious that his body was in New
York. He experienced an almost boy
iSh sensation of pleasure; it was so sol
dom that he went TO the thcater. lie
wished that his wife and children were
there, especially his daughter, who al
ways enjoyed everything so much.
Then the play opened, and Mr.. Tnls-
ham was transported to the Isle Of
Man.
About this time two persons were
ushcred to seats behind Mr. Tinl;ham.
but he was so intent upon the drama
that he was unconscious of their ar
rival They were a man and 4 woman,
obviously New Workers both. The man
was tall, dark and neryous--so merry
Gus. in fact that the quality is rightly
included in a description of his person
al appearance. His face was not hand
some, but It bore the stamp of fierce
carncstress, which lent a fascination to
its Irregular lines. He had Il habit of
holding his head eagerly forward, as il
he We're restrained only by n cord fas-
tened to the back Of his collar-thc at
titude Of hound held in leash. His
hair had turned gray in an irregular
fashion that came near being disiig
uremcnt: it was SO palpably the result
of ha&ty living.
The woman was young and of very
attractive, high bred appearance, mar
red only by a restlessncss not like and
yet akin to that Of her companion. Her
dress was not especially conspicuous,
but the value of Ill that she wore, in
ciHding her jewels, was about equal 10
the expense of Mr.. TinIiham's house
hold for seven years. and he lived we'll
=,