Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1903-02-27


says she shall have 1t first II he has TO
wait ten years for her. | think that's
dreadful. to waste your youth like that
But il it's the way to bring her up TO
him | suppose It's right"
Then she came down TO the actual
news OF the matter Ii appeared that
Miss Lee had played only small parts
and had had Indifferent success In
them. She had seemed likely to miss
an engagement altogether In the cur
rent season and had shed many tears
about II. but Wilton had kept her spir-
its up. Suddenly an unhoped for
chance had come 10 read a leading part
In competition with several other &c.
tresses Of much greater reputation.
II don't think she'll get It," said Mrs
McAndrew, but Mr.. Wilton says that
that doesn't make any difference. Its
a question Of doing your best, he says"
There may be something In that" |
admitted.
On the following afternoon had the
pleasure Of hearing Miss Lee again.
The ease with which sound travelled
through those black doors and heavy
curtains was amazing and proved TO
me what mouse for stiffness my land
lady must have been | was home rath-
er earlier than usual that day. and for
full hour | heard a most distressful
cutlery. When first came In, Miss Lee
seemed to be pleading that somebody
shouldn't be told OF something.
Don't tell Lionel! Don't tell Lilo
nel!' she reiterated. And Wilton was
all the time insisting that she didn't
take It hard enough.
Then they went back TO n hysterical
scene, and II ended In a case OF genu-
Inc hysteria. with Miss Lee weeping
! upon our landlady's bosom and declar-
ing that she would never. never, never
amount to anything: that she might az
well give up and marry Mr.. Wilton II
he could still care for her. And | could
| hear Mrs. McAndrew soothing her and
telling her that she spoke her lines
perfectly lovely" while Wilton paced
the floor with heavy tread and re-
morselessly called upon the poor girl TO
| brace up and try II again.
For my own part this and subsequent
rehearsals convinced me that Miss Lee
did not possess what the late Mr.. Nc
Andrew had called "the spark" By
my way Of thinking she was strained
and unnatural. and Wilton was all the
time trying to make her more so. He
would say constantly: Build 1t up!
Hold 1t up! Work! You've got TO suf-
fer in this part. That's what it's for.
That's what genius is for-to voice the
cry OF the human soul want to
hear your soul sobbing In agony. and
then I'll be satisfied"
This seemed unkind from a man who
loved her. but tender hearted Mrs. Nc.
Andrew approved the sentiment.
One day ventured to say to our
landlady that thought Miss Lee had
| mistaken her vocation. The effect was
remarkable and unexpected. Mrs. Nc.
Andrew looked at me with sort of
pitiful distrust. with panied sur.
prise, and from that time she never
mentioned Miss Lees efforts and aspi
rations.
A few days later the agony In the
front parlor seemed to eliminate, and
heard no more of it. judged that
Miss Lee had had her reading and had
been found wanting. She appeared al
the table always with look of de
spair. and there were dark lines under
her pretty eyes. Mrs. McAndrew
never passed her chair without laying
a caressing hand upon her shoulder
and 1t was only at such moments tina
the poor girl would smile.
AS for Wilton, he was darker, thin
ner. more upon edge" as the phras
is. than ever before. Sometimes wa
upon the point Of getting him into m,
room for a good long talk, but his man
ner was forbidding.
And then got a considerable shock
1t came from morning newspaper
wherein beheld two column pictur
OF Miss Lee, with some lines beneatl
1t to the effect that on the followin,
Monday she would replace certain
well known actress in certain newl
famous role. l recognized that role.
had heard 1t through the black doors
great many times.
took the earliest opportunity to con
graduate Miss Lee, Mrs. McAndrey
and Mr.. Wilton. but they were all in
trance.
1t will be guessed that l had a sea
in certain theater on Monday even
ing, and there sat Mrs. McAndrew an,
Wilton just ahead Of me. | could Sc
our landlady lay her hand upon hi
arm IN motherly fashion now an,
} then before the curtain went up. | ha,
caught the infection and was prayer
fully nervous l had very little ide
what was said on the stage until Mis-
Lee appeared, and then l came to nv
self. She looked very charming. l ha,
had no idea that her beauty woul,
| carry" 30 well, and the surprise wa