Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1902-09-17

he either is ashamed OF his frlendB
profession, or else he wished to spare
your feelings. But shall not spare his.
1t is right for you to learn just what
company he keeps. Know then,
madam, that am an actor and play
wright"
Mrs. Benham's eyes frightened.
"You are not Mr.. William Gilbert, of
Shirley Hume fame, are you?" she
asked.
"The same, madam"
"This is an unexpected pleasure"
said the good lady. "We have heard
so much about you and your wonder
fully successful play. am surprised
that the professor has not mentioned
YOU"
$50 am l." said the newcomer. Il am
grieved. If theatre hadn't burned and
thrown us out of a three nights en-
gagement l couldn't be here. And just
think of it! If it hadn't been for Jim
never would have thought of making
the stage profession. He led me into
it. Jim is the best amateur actor our
old alma mater ever rooted, and he
gave me the first part l ever learned
in little farce he wrote himself. Did
you not, JIM?
A smile struggled across the profess
sor's face. 1t deepened. and then he
laughed merrily. And William Gilbert
IL, q ho1
mother. And then Mabel caught the
eminent actors merry eye.
81 beg your pardon, professor" said
Mrs. Benham, "but you don't mind our
laughing, do you?'
mot in the least" replied the pro-
fessor, with a cheerful grin. 81 take it
as compliment to my actor friend.
It's his business to make people laugh,
you know"
II declare" said the actor as they
left the table, 81 haven't enjoyed a
dinner so much in 1 don't know when.
Here I've been on the road for five
months and haven't dared to crack a
make-believe smile, much less the real
article. 1 tell you it's relief to get
the risible muscles in working order
again. I'd have walked all the way
from Chicago for an evening like this"
They were back in the parlor, and as
the actor-playwright finished his little
speech Mabel caught his eye.
I'm afraid" she said, that the pro-
fessor has permitted your presence to
make him forget promise he gave to
mamma this morning"
"And what was that, may ask?" in
quired Gilbert
"He promised he would finish his
talk on "Unorganized Charity as
Wrecker Of Spontaneous Sympathy
during the dinner tonight"
Dear, dear; does he run EN- in
serial style?" inquired Gilbert in tone
of mock solicitude. But, there, it's too
late now to cry over wrecked SYM
pathy The professor and will walk
down to the hotel, get my travelling
bag, enjoy a good cigar and presently
reappear and make an evening of it.
Do I hear any objection?"
Does the professor really smoker"
said Mabel with lifted eyebrows.
"Pray don't be astonished at any,
thing concerning my cloudy past that
this alleged boyhood friend considers
it pleasant to reveal" said the pro-
fessor.
rha
They came back in the best of spirits.
The professor was laughing merrily as
they entered, and mother and daughter
in the parlor, awaiting their return,
smiled at the unwonted sound.
Then ensured a most delightful even
ing. Gilbert took possession of the
piano and proved himself a player Of
remarkable resources. And the profess
sor sang some astonishingly amusing
songs, for which Gilbert told funny
dialect stories, and he and The profess
sor had a shrieking sidewalk con-
versation in an awful German patois.
"You didn't know you were enter
tanning vaudeville angel unawares,
said Gilbert as he glanced at his watch.
What! Why, it's midnight! Here, this
precocious phenomenon must be taken
to bed. Say good night to the ladies"
And they shook hands all around.
AS Mabel let her hand rest in the
professors she softly said: L think
your are ever SO much nicer when you
are your real self.
When the two men came down to
breakfast the next morning the profess
sor was wearing a collar with bent
corners and dark blue tie.
"Mr. Gilbert presented me with
these" he said when he saw the ladies'
amused glances. "I'm wearing them for
his sake"
How little it takes to make some
men look handsome" said Gilbert as
he stared at the professor with his
head very much at one side. ~ will be
back here for week in May" he pres
emily added, "and I hope to see still
further improvement in my honest but
misguided friend. l will send you
box, madam, if you will agree to pro-
vide a chaperon for James Another
thing. There is but one sure way to
prevent his lapsing back to his frozen
fossil state"
"And that is?"
"To keep him thawed out."-Cleve-
land Plain Dealer.
PEARLS OF THOUGHT.