The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1901-04-19

the last act!-and her affirmative reply
she made in even less.
At the end of the play he met her at
forth into the street together.
They were sitting alone in one of the
parlors Of her hotel, she with her hat on
and her purse and two unmailed letters
in one hand. As they walked the few
blocks from the theater he had uncon-
sciously- watched her every word and
stage, instead of giving to her manner
isms and Alterations, had developed her
simplicity. Yet it hardly seemed posi-
BILE to him that the slender girl whom
he had known at 10 had grown into a
woman of such splendid lines.
Her eyes fell upon the letters that lay
between the two sections of her purse.
"Oh, | see | forgot to drop these in a
box. I wrote them in my dressing room
this evening. T believe I'll let you mail
them, if you will. You see they are ad-
dressed to two dramatic papers: l am
ordering the usual card inserted in each.
Miss Gertrude Maitland, at liberty
AT liberty is our delicate way of in
forming managers that we are out Of a
joh.'
1T seems rather odd to find you an
on the stage" he said. But what do
you expect? What are you going to
demand?"
Nothing. I shall take the best that
is offered
"Then you are not going to stand for
first lady or nothing?"
She shook her head and smiled frank
ly-the same frank smile that had
charmed him in earlier days.
II have no expectation of being lead
ing woman the coming season, or any
season. l hardly desire the position. 1t
isn't in me to fill it. Don't think I am
morbid; I'm not. l once had ambition
you know that-and would have done
very we'll had l had talent in proportion.
But am not an artist; am just an arti-
san"
"But perhaps if You We're given big
opportunity you would find that you have
unsupported powers?"
Again she shook her head. II have had
chances-good ones. No one could ask
for better You see have Ca a,sq =" face.
clothes, and l know how to carry myself
on the stage. Don't think am enumer-
ating these to you as charms of person!
l am not They are merely parts of my
trade equipment. Managers saw them
and made chances for me. did not fail,
| ocre."
Somehow Bentley liked the perfectly
mate of herself. She was as simple and
as charming as Of old
But what of the future?'' he asked.
THE future?' She looked dreamily
through the. the open windeW :., into the broad
street: I'm 70 now7aei i very young I'M :.
in one he shows promise Of it at Is. /
have not. So since I am not going to
rise I see my future clearly. At 40 I
| shall have grown rather stout. shall
then have chaperon parts. and be- the pro
sale and stately aunt. At 60 l shall be
the fine old gray-haired lady Of the stage;
somebody's mother OF: grandmother-the
l don't know. Possibly 20 will find me
still playing
! you intend to stick to the stage to
the end?'
Il probably shall have to if I live
seems no hardship ards to continue s on to the
very end" He was still sounding her,
but was giving as much attention to her
| face as to her words. At the moment
he had recognized her on the stage the
old tenderness that he thought he had
stifed had found new life and since had
been growing toward the fervor of seven
years before. T., -,
but I have no burning, enthusiastic
love for my work. she returned. "At
least not since learned that l am not q
genius-not even a person of talent. !
am just working woman. l am: not q
stenographer or a newspaper woman or
ANYTHING else for the reason that can
make three or four times as much on the
stage IL. I..-s 1851. Sz 1s= * .z5s2
Her face had become grave as she
talked. She now gave Bentley a frank,
womanly smile. .s:
III must seem to you to have grown
into a soulless. unenthusiastic woman.
she said. But / am not don't think
I was intended for the stage
No. / don't think you were" Bentley
agreed, with q meaning not in exact ac-
icordance with hers. .s=
All the same, i am on it, 50 don't for
get TO mail the letters, Allan z
It thrilled him strangely to haye her
c1ll him Allan, as she had used to do he
fore. He rose and moved to her side.