The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1902-01-11

demanding to see Gilbert Rickerby:
and although Gilbert Rickerby was, az
far as the world was concerned, de-
Gently buried and done with, Leath-
wood had always q dreadful fear
knocking at his heart that some man or
woman might start up out Of the past
to show forth the fraud Of the thing;
that. OF all the doors he had 30 careful
ly closed, one might be left sufficiently
open to let in suspicion. Thus It was
that he allowed Taggett and his wife
to remain there for q few days, until
as Mr.. Taggett expressed it-"they had
time to grasp the situation and look
about them"
Truth to tell, Anthony Taggett was
yond seeing pretty clearly that he was
comfortable where he was. and could
go and come az he liked. For this feel
ing n must not be too ready to blame
him; he had had a hard struggle with
the world, and fought his way pretty
cheerfully, ali things considered: small
wonder that he raj glad to rest for a
little time by the wayside, and contem-
plate, with that serenity which was
alike a part of the man and his profess
sion, the past-big with fa~ilures---and
the future-equally big with hope. Per-
haps she showed pretty clearly what
his feelings were on that matter IN a
conversation with Mrs. Taggett on the
morning of that eventful day which
brought Mr.. George Reeks to Kicker
by's Folly.
my love, we are, in q certain sense,
in clover. We toll not, neither do we
spin; and although there is nothing
particularly glorious about u raj
ment"-he held out the skirts Of his
shabby coat and inspected them mar
rowly-"that is a matter which may be
remedied in the near future. More than
all, my dear Medora, this pause III
affairs gives us opportunity to think
20 plan for ourselves. as we never yet
had an opportunity for planning any
thing ,3
"Yes-that's all very well, Anthony"
responded Mrs. Taggett, ''but you must
not forget that VIZ are living in a
strange mans house, and on charity"
Charity, Medora!" Mr.. Taggett ap-
peared much panied at the employing
of such a word in connection with him
self. There is nj question of charity;
the man who condescends to act for a
space as my host, receives in return the
benefit of such views of life and men
and manners as I care to give him"
Sleep" interpolated Mrs. Taggett, with
q laugh.
.That is his fault, and not mine." said
Taggett, severely. "And you must re-
member, Medora, that in this world
~ lS-.~>1R A1.~ . - - ~
tina tickle Fortune offers him; this is
our chance; we rest, after unmerited
privations; we fill ourselves with the
fruits Of the earth-and no payment
asked, which is a Gonsideraticn-and we
store our minds with those glorious sit
uations which will, in the near future,
cause a dull world to gasp and rub Its.
eyes. In a word, Medora, the whole
plan of my proposed drama is changed;
the. lift-hoy Is a thing Of the past; the
pantechicon goes by the board, and the
first act opens in a double house, with
a murder in the back drawing ROOM,
and the villain drinking himself to
death from emorse in the conservatory
and dying in toturec On a wicker chair.
Double set, my love, with passage
down the center and practicable
doors.'D
well, I'm sure Anthony, I hope
something will be done with the drama
one of these days. When I married
you-five years ago-your first act
started outide a village public house;
then, during the honeymoon, you got
inside the public house, with real beer,
drawn by the barmaid; a little later,
and we got up the village street, and
started al! over again, at the black
smiths, with a real horse and a forge,
and real sparks going up the chimney;.
Incidental music to suggest the 'Har-
monious Blacksmith Then we became
aristocratic; and we opened with a
dance at the old manor-house on the
hill, with the squire cursing his son
(real cursesD and the girl who loved
him weeping in the freight; snow eff
feet outside. In fact, Anthony, we've
gradually got everywhere with that
drama of yours; and yet, If 1 may say
so, we've never got anywhere at all"
. "MeLora, I have come to the conclu-
sion that the gods have gifted me with
too much imagination. II YOU laugh, i
hear, or seem to bear Immediately, an
echoing laugh above us from the gal
lery; If you weep, I hear a sob from a
rortly lady in the pit in sheer sympa-
thy. My own phrases are attuned to
suit the better paris of The house. In
a word, Medora, we are not real save
wnen we are hungry and cold; for the
rest we are but puppets. as This ac-
cursed profession has taught us to be.
I believe ] made love to you in attitudes
and rehearsed my speeches beforehand.
and even took my u from you, as !
have done SO often Off the stage"
Mrs. Taggett sighed. I'm afraid it's
true,' she said. but stili, Anthony.
unreal as 1t is. I always feel I want to
get back to it-want to smell the old,
musty smell, and shiver in the cold
draughts. I wish. we could get out OF
this place and make. q start some
where"
~ my love, ] am already on the look
out for O company which requires g
leading man-prepared to do anything
from Hamlet to. the Pantaloon; and
whose wife ist preparedt to take even q
subordinate part, 80 that she may be
near him. In fact. my love, with the
desire to- keep my eyes open for any
thing that may be going. I was about TO
take q stroll beyond the confines Of the
place which shelters us. And Is 4 find
q mar who wants q drama, and wants
IT at once, he shall find me, for my
part, so full ofNdeas, that I shall be
prepared to suggest things which will
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