The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-04-12
AN ACTRESS
CHOlCE-~
She Married and Left the
Stage. And then 4
the Story.
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she always expected to marry. | say ex-
pected instead OF hoped because she had
constantly too many admirers to doubt
her opportunities-tO her mind it was
simply a question of meeting the right
one.
She felt sure that when the right man
came she would be willing to give up ev-
erything for him; indeed she contemplat-
ed with a certain serene satisfaction the
coming of time when her triumphs and
ambitions and fame and freedom would
be exchanged for the proud serytude of
wifeho0d.
Still she wasn't in hurry to meet the
right man. He would come when he did
come-and when he did come it couldn't
be helped, and she would be glad Upon
various occasions she had thought him
come
Upon these occasions she had expert.
enced a distinct sensation of fretfulnc4s.
She had conscientiously given the adj
miger a fair chance to prove himself the
right man, but had always been down
right glad when he had failed to do so.
The admirer always made some mistake
fatal to his interests.
Perhaps he lost his head and went
down on his knees; that always immedi-
atcly settled it. She was much too proud
and too humble woman to be willing to
marry man who went down on his
knees about it.
Or he lost his head and threatened to
shoot himself or drink himself to death
or jump in the bay.
committed r,o,, lorol L.. -.
tain privileges-they might kiss her hand,
come to the thcater and see her play and
give her flowers and feel miserable about
her
Any one OF them, she realized, might
develop into the right man. so she treated
them all conscientously. She never mis-
led them or led them on, and since she
was frank with them and never discour-
toous she felt she had a right to be exact
Ing about their manners, and she always
was
Upon the three or four occasions when
mans devotion had stirred in her GER
tain degree of interest she had rigidly de-
manded time to find out and to make up
her mind.
To find out meant to satisfy herself
that the man in question and the right
man" were of one identity" To make
up her mind meant to decide whether.
right man or not, she would have him.
The candidate having always failed to
stand this test, she had. directly she was
so assured. dismissed him promptly and
gently
BY what subtle sign of authority she
would recognize the right man she did not
know. He would be big-she was sure OF
that-and very gentle; he would meet her
mentally, 'understand'' her satisfy her
morally and tenderly, master her physic-
ally.
He would be above all her little "arts"
and caprices. but he would admire them;
he would be too dignifed to go down on
his knees from not being able to help it,
yet quite fond enough Of her to do it.
For her part, she would never wish it.
and she would be very meek and gentle
and obcdient and glad to be so. but-but,
meanwhile she was free, and of that she
was glad too
Really. her life was delightful: she lift
ed her white arms into her pretty lace
wrapper and laughed TO herself as she
settled for her little rest before retiring.
Her parlor was warm. and the light soft
enod by colored shades; a bit Of sandal
wood among the logs sent spicy fra
GRANGE out with the heat. She rubbed her
head among the cushions and laughed
a-ain to herself.
1t was a notion of her own, this half
honr rest before retiring. For the sake
of il she usually came home at once from
the thcater.
Going out to suppers and sitting up and
drinking wine We're stupid; besides such
course would s, spoil her good looks.
A warm, all by herself half hour in her
pretty room, with the cracking Of her fl e
for company and her milk punch and bis
cult for rerreshment. was much nicer.
It was nice to feel that the comfort
around her was all Of her own making
and to know herself in the midst of il TO
be very pretty and very sweet aad alone,
IL spite Of the ones she could check of On
htr pink fingers as at that worry m8lcnt
Who were miserable for sight IF her.
As rule men had sought her ont and
made themselves rs charming as they
found possible and were permitted but
Oiag nemmon attracted her.
iie was big undpniaby gentleman
ana 10y nature apparently savage. lie
l'II promptly in love with her and his
't"""litN ilNtl'u utT UtlCutlUD III an III
ssirnt way which she made no EFFORT to
d opnose. For the first time mans pas
\ SSon for her seemed to invest the man
fWilh strength.
10 face his savagcry and do as she
pl"aSed in spite of his fierce Jealousy she
found an eXhiaration; to command
creature so much bigger than herself and
4 10 feel his strength and not his weakness
otrHcd was an excitement
4o lock into his savage, sombcr eyes
ana melt them with the smile in her own
was worth doing. and Intoxicating.
Onc day he asked her to be his wife,
A adding that unless she gave him some
dGr4n'te answer he would see her no more.
NLe was much interested.
Gould YOU leave me and not see me
asan?' size asked
Yes"
Would you shoot yoursclf?"
Sh" felt aggrievcd. After pause she
aF'ed. DO you love me?'
sos His teeth wpra set. his face
was pale, and he looked at her as IL ne
hated her.
Her breath quickened. "Why do you
hurry me soT'