The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1902-03-15

thing she could find, and pretty sool
the bed got up and stood on the ceiling
and didn't care at ALL
"When 1t came time to go to the the
alter BRENDA, It's dsgraccful. but
was $3.50 drunk that couldn't wall
straight the lending lady got me u
and told the juvenile man to walk IN,
around the block, and he walked mt
around about fifty times in the snow
We were In a little Minnesota town
and it had showed for week. Whc,
lie took me TO the tlieater, | was per
fectly sober and didn't care for any.
thing. had no troubles whatever.
walked up to the stage manager, and
said cheerfully, Well. what TO we play
tonight? He tod me, and couldn't
remember ever to have heard of 1t, but
got out my part and studied it while
! was making up
when | went on, knew abont half
or my first scene, which was the lou
Scst one had in the play. But l didn't
care. I'd always been troubled with
stage fright more or less. but not this
tllnc-iiot a fright. When l forgot, |
waited calmly for the prumpter, who
was off left, having fit. By andspy
Dad to go across right and sit down by
a table. knew ! couldn't hear the
prompter there. so l walked over and
got the table and dragged 1t clear across
the stage, and the audience applauded
because did 1t SO naturally.
"Thcn | went crazy. and what hrp.
pened afterward scarcely know. But
when ! came off nftcr the thrilling eli.
max Of the scene fell into the lead.
ing lady's arms, and she Rugged me up
tight. She said: you never played SO
well as that before. You were like
Julia Marlowe.' And she kissed me on
both checks. Julia AIarlowe was my
idol then, and cried with heavenly
joy on the leading lady's neck. That's
all true. just as it happened. Brenda,
and ! never had stage fright after.
ward"
Poor little Elsie" said Brenda, kiss.
ing her. ut was hard school where
you were taught"
ut was" said Elsie. !"Yct think |
wouldn't have amounted to much any
way. How could any mortal mar fail
to see the difference between you and
meW
"My child" said Brenda. mo man
can. Why, the brass knobs OH the
posts Of this bed know the difference be.
tween you and me-tle vital. essential
difference. They love you In their lit
tie brass hearts. Everybody loves you.
DIR. Kendall. for cold blooded sawyer
Of bones who could amputate my head
without trace Of emotion, takes your
hand with the eternal reverence of
man for woman, and when he gives
you pain | can see his own heart
shrink. But he treats me us if were
Il gentleman whom he had met at the
club"
Elsie opened her eyes so wide that
they seemed to light the room rs she
stared at Brenda. whose checks were
flushed by her unusual earncstncss.
81 am glad to hear you speak like
that" she said.
Brenda rose and walked across to
the window. Then she returned to the
bed and took Elsie's hand.
81 am going to open my heart to
YOU" she said. at was not because
Clarence Alden preferred you to me
that lost my self control - last
day, cared nothing for you, despised
you; ! admitted no comparison. 1t |
was because. though the intensity Of
his own nature for time deceived |
him. he never really loved me at all. |
Nobody ever loved me. am called
good looking, even beauty, in the
society columns of the papers. and I
AM SO rich that have attracted many |
men. But not one of them was able to
present even cre1itable counterfeit
Of love Though some Of them could
almost anything else. from
good breeding to the national cur
r"ncy) until Mr.. Alden entered the
lists That's hardly fair to him; he
was sincere but mistaken"
yet didn't have at all the feeling
That ! have now" she continued. ut
was only that last day that became
mostly at myself. 1t is since
have come here, since have known
YOU, the most womanly Of Gods crea.
lures, that have had some true com.
Drehcnsion Of my own lack, some hon
ast sorrow for it,"
only since you have been here"
said Elsie. How remarkable! But,
Brenda, 1t is sweet Of you TO talk this
way to me, and am so glad, so very
glad! How long have you known DR..
What a queer question" said Bren.
Ia. "About two years, but we haven't {
net n dozen times. BY the way, be is !
,oing to be married"
HE Is going 10 be married" exclaim.
d Elsie. 'ro whomi'
II don't know" Brenda replied.
iolu SOtilSl"Ht hC sdIu llC OtuS1 !
ay. Judge there's a difficulty. don't ;
now the lady's name"
"Wcll," said Elsie. letting her head 4
Ink back on the pillow as one relieved, /
you will when it happens"
"lf you mean that lie cares anything
or me, you are quite mistaken" said
Brenda. Ills manner when he Is in
his room should show that am
othing-a piece of furniture. DO you
now, 1t has inspired me with some.
hing like tealousy-jealousy merely Of
he difference between you and me,
'hich Is the theme we started with"
"Ill show you what DR.. Kendall 4
links Of that difference" said Elsie
Wait till be comes In here again. III
lggest that you're going away, and
len you watch him. He'll know that
m going to stay till I'm carted away I
ut watch him."
"You must not do It," said Brenda
ut Elsie insisted that she should. and
icy were still having cheerful little
uarrel about it when they were inter
lpted by Kendalls familiar rap.
The doctor entered. looking very seri