Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1902-01-09
,ad come most strangely to the place,

demanding to see Gilbert Rickerby;
and although Gilbert Rickerby was, as
far as the world was concerned, de-
Gently buried and done with, Leath-
wood had always a 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 so 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 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
in no hurry to grasp the situation, be-
S'ond seeing pretty clearly that he was
comfort able where he was. and could
| go and come as he liked. For this feel
ing one 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 was glad to rest for
| little time by the waysile. and contem-
| plate. with THAI serenity which was
alike part of the man and his profess
sion, the past-big with failures-and
the future-equally big with hope. Per
haps she showed pretty clearly what
his feelings We're on that matter in a
conversation with Mrs. Taggett on the
morning of that eventful day which
brought MIR. George Reeks to Kicker
by's Folly.
| My love, we are, in n certain sense,
in clover. We toll not neither do we
| spin; and although there is nothing
particularly glorious about our 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 in our
affairs gives us opportunity to think
| 20 plan for ourselves. as we never yet
| had an opportunity for planning any
thing"
"Yes-that's all very well. Anthony"
| responded Mrs. Taggett, but you must
not forget that we are living in
strange mans house. and on charity"
Charity, Medora!" Mr.. Taggett APP
| peared much panied at the employing
| of such a word in connection with him.
self. There is no 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"
| And which generally send him to
Sleep" interpolated Mrs. Taggett, with
a laugh.
THAT is his fault, and not mine" said
| Taggett, severely. And you must re-
member, Medora, that in this world
each man grasps for himself the chance
that tickle Fortune offers him; this is
our chance; we rest, after unmerited
rrivations; We fill ourselves with the
fruits of the earth-and no payment
asked. which is aonsideraticn.-and we
store our minds with those glorious sit
uatiuns which WILL in the near future,
cause dull world to gasp and rub its
eyes. In a word, Medora, the whole
plan of my proposed drama is changed;
the lift-koy is 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 relnorse in the conservatory
and dying in toiures On wicker chair.
Double set, my love, with passage
down the center and practicable
| doors.')
We'll, I'm sure Anthony. hope
something will be done with tine drama
one Of these days. When I married
you-fve 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
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 may say
so. we've never got anywhere at ALL
"MeIora, I have come to the conclu-
sion that the gods have gifted me with
too much imagination. If you laugh,
hear, or seem to bear Immediately, an
echoing laugh above us from the gall
lery; if you weep. hear sob from a
Iortly lady in the pit in sheer sympa-
thy. Ny own. phrs ses are attuned to
a word, Medora, we are not real save
vnen we are hungry and cold; for the
rest we are but puppets. as this ac-
cursed profession has taught us to be.
believe 7 made love to you in attitudes
and rehearsed my speeches beforehand,
and even took my cue from you, as
have done SO often off the STAGE
Mrs. Taggett sighed. I'm afraid it's
true she said, "But still AnthOny
unreal as it is. always feel want to
get back to it-want to smell the old,
musty smell, and shiver in the cold
draughts. l wish we could get out OF
this place and make a start some
where
my love, Tam already on the look
out for n company which requires a
leading man-preDared to do anything
from Hamlet to the Pantaloon; and
whose wife is prepared to take even a
subordinate part, SO that she may he
near him. In fact, my love, with the
desire to keep my eyes open for any,