The daily morning Alaskan., 1903-11-10
SHE CUULDN'T SAY IT
toriginall


 had made a fortune on tha stage. It had been a hard struggletfo the hrst ten years but very eaay during the second. Nevertheless he had so often looked forward to a day of rest that now he was Independent be resolved to retire.
 To his surprise hls wife did not share fin bis enthusiasm over bis prospect Of rest
 "what does this mean. IdaT be uaid. "For years you have been fear Ing would break down from over work. and now that propose to retire you are dissatisfied. However, your past encouragement and advice have been too much to me to warrant my nlighdng your opinion Give me your reasons and if they are convincing ] will remain in harness"
 But the poor woman could not give her reasons. They were only in her feelings. munitions, the germs of req sons. So she made no reply, and the great actor, after a dozen or more fare wells. gave up hls profession. Long Island is a favorito place for actors country houses. to which they go for rest in the summer. when most of the theaters are closed, and the pair bought a choice spot there overlooking the ocean and built an artistic residence Here they lived happily from May till November. then went to the city for the winter. For two or three years Raiford enjoyed hia rest thoroughly He did absolutely nothing. Then he began to read. There were thousands of books of which be had never seen the Inside. and it seemed to him that be had found paradise. Half a dozen years were spent in this pastlme, with occasional trips to the south in winter Then. having exhausted those subjectl in which be naturally took an interest be concluded to make tour Of the world. His travels kept him amused for several years longer; then. return Ing to his country seat. he settled down once more to a quiet life
 It was then that his wife first began to see signs of dissatisfaction. He had resolutely kept away from the theater fearing that It's Influence upon him would be Ike that Of a glass of liquor to a drhnkard Now. after reading in the newspapers of the stars of the day, some of whom during his prime had been cast in the lowest parts lone or two were supersl. be began to get ddg- ety.
 "To think" he exclaimed one morn Ing to bis wife, that Bradburn should be considered a hne actor In my tmt be was tried ir an absurd play be wrote himself and made an absurd failure"
 Perhaps be was ahead of his time said the wife demurely
 Nonsense, He was not born to act and never can act The stage has de generated Ln those days we had real piays-Londou Assurance She Stoops to ConQuer-and the newer ones were stu plays such as The Colleen Bawn' and 'Rosedale Now performers are simply shows to attract the crowd
 He fretted and fumed till one day @ New York manager, one who was es- pecially given to getting up shows to attract the crowd" bethOuRht himself that be might tun an honest penny by bringing the famous Raiford back to the stage. He viBlted the retired actor, now fifteen years older than when he had last trod the boards. and in hon. eyed words informed him or what Rai- ford had informed bis wlfe-that the stage was running down and the pub lie longed for a return to better things. Ralford was captured and signed a con tract for one night
 For a month before the performance ho talked to hh wife about how he would show the people the great gap through which they had gradually passed from the old to the new. Ida listened to him. but said nothing Then be scolded her for her want of sympa- thy and finally drew tears Having succeeded in this. he embraced her, ! gently chiding her for at one time wish | Ing him to remain on the stage and at another opposing bis return to it. Since ! Hhe was no better able to give her req ! sons than before, she still maintained ! silence.
 The night Of the great performance l came. Raiford had chosen the play of l "Rosedale." in the principal part of which Lester Wallack had been SO pop l ular. While Ralford was dressing the l manager came to him to say that there would not be a very full house owing to half a dozen Incidents which would aRect any performance A slight shock passed over the actor.
 Had be been forgotten7
 Never mind; be would show those who were there what he could do.
 When the curtain went up, the seats were but half filled. It nerved the star to action. Into the style to which be had been accustomed be threw an in- tensiy which rendered it more marked ! even than before. more old fashioned. l The audience sat silent as the grave stones of a cemetery. and before the play was half finished Ralford wished they were gravestones. In one scene ! where the hero Is awakened by a vil lain ready to murder him he hoped to retrieve himself by a splendid coOlness ! He succeeded. but as be would have succeeded fifteen or twenty years be- fore.
 "Ratsc' cried a voice from the gal