The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1902-02-01
WHEN A
WOMAN'S
D.. ALONE
J. II. Connolly
C0py1ight, 1901, by J. II, Connolly.
Observation-Disclosures

dent. And if mere curiosity about Il
fruit led her astray. how much more in
danger are Aor modern daughters, who
air may offer bad advice to the lone
some woman, and If the wind is still
some one more tangible is pretty sure
to whisper suggestions which are little
likely to be good. SO ii really was no
more than might have been expected
when the paradisac intcrludc was re-
enacted in Il mOdcrniZcd and modified
form, with Mrs. Maud Converse in the
role of Eve and Mr.. Staunton Wylkes
as the serpent.
Mrs. Converse was as good q little
woman rs ever lived and dearly loved
her husband Arthur, but marriage had
made some radical changes in her life
to which she had not Yet adjusted her.
self, the greatest of which, as it seemed
to her, was that now, for the first time
she knew what it was TO be lonely. Her
family was large and hcr circle of &C.
quaintancCS wide, SO That there had
been few blanks in her social diary III
ried man who necessarily spent nine
tenths of his time selling hardware by
sample to western merchants. He was
not unreasonable. "Amusc yourself
while l am away" he told her. Receive
your friends, go to the thcatcr, attend
parties. Don't NOPE in the house and
get the blues" He did not even object
to her continuance in the Siddons ANA
teur Dramatic club.
Mr. Stault0n WylioS lived by his
wits ut other peoples expense and pro-
fesscd to be Il dramatic manager"
In the amateur club lie was looked up
to as one supposed to know much
about real thCatcrS, and Il considerable
portion of his uncertain revenues was
derived from his success in profitably
engineering the ambition of amateur
actresses who wished to become pro-
fessionals. The Siddons club was only
one of his various hunting grounds,
and Mrs. Converse but one Of several
ladies he had planned to exploit. As
Maud FCnton, dependent upon Il father
who certainly would never be the IAN
gel of n show, he gave her little attcn-
ton, but as the wife of Il successful
salesman, already a Junior partner in
the house he represented, well to do,
indulgcnt and liberal, Mrs. Converse
became an object of serious interest.
She thought herself ambitious of be-
coming famous actress but was sim
ply lacking something to divert her
loneliness, and her EiStriOnic cnthusi-
asm had no deeper foundation than
Mr.. WylkcS' cunning batteries and art
full promises. That was enough, howcv-
er, when he had once succeeded in in
teresting her. 1t was agreed between
them that she should prepare herself
for a public debut in certain tragic
role, while he prepared the public to
expect and be interested in her. and
when Mr.. Arthur Converse returned
home he would provide the funds for
preparing thcater and company.
Meanwhile Mr.. Wyllics would work
the press" for $50 per week, supplied
by Mrs. Converse. merely to cover cX-
penScs."
\ couple Of days later ar. Wylkcs'
first paragraph tloated out to the pub
lie. Mrs. Maud Converse one. of the
leaders of society had inherited over
million from her uncle. Cyril Amber.
son, rich Guatcmalan coffee planter.
and contemplated applying Il great
part of that sum to the production of a
grand and seldom seen Shakcspcarcan
tragedy in a style of unprecedented
magnificCncC.
Mrs. Converse almost tainted when
she read it. Having had no clear idea
of what her press agent was really 60
ing to do, the mythical uncle mag
mary fortune, suppoSititiouS social pu-
sitiOn and avoWcd intent overwhelmed
her. Beyond her name and address
nothing was true, and if Arthur should
see it would would lie say: What wuuiI
any of her friends say She was more
than half inclined to disavow the story
and abandon her enterprise. But be
fore she could make up her mind Wis
itor was announced.
Mr.. John Britain. Il very correct and
digniticd looking elderly gentleman Of
unimpeachable manners. apologized for
his intrusion, citing that published par
agraph as his excuse and told her, "Cyr.
IL Anderson was my dear old friend,
but | have not heard from him for sew
eral years, and | came to learn if you
could tell me anything Of the crcum-
stances Of his death, which. as you
may imagine is n great shock to me-"
She stared at him in blank amaze
ment. Could it really be possible that
there had been a Cyril Anderson in
Guatemala? This respectable old gen
tleman certainly did not look like jok-
er or a swindlcr Should she confess
to him that the story was all lie? If
she did, he, knowing Cyril Anderson,
would not believe her, and perhaps
some loyalty was due to WILKES.
Confusedly she replied: "Unfortu-
nately, can tell you no more than you
have read. Details have not yet reach
ed me, and I never knew him personal
ly. 1t is all a surprise to me-"
/ ncI- If n is tr,,, that ,,o,, ,>,o