The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1903-04-18
SHE COULDN'T SAY IT
lOriginaLl

ten years. DUf very easy curing llic
second Nevertheless he. had so often
looked forward to n day Of rest that
now he was independent he resolved
to retire
To his surprise his wife did not share
In his enthusiasm over his prospect or
rest
What does this mean. IdaT he
said For years you have been fear.
Ing | would break down from over
work, and now that | propose 10 retire
yoII are dissatisfied However your
past encouragement and advice have
been too much to me TO warrant my
sighting your opinion. Give me yorf
reasons aud If they are convincing !
will remain in harness"
But the poor woman could NOT give
her reasons They were only in her
feelings. inluitjOns. the germs of res-
sons So she made no reply aud the
great actor. after n dozen or more fare
wells, gave up his profession. Long
Island Is u fnvorite place for actors
country houscs to which they 20 for
rest in the summer when u4osI of the
theatcrs are closed, aud the pair bought
choice sr0t there overlooking the
ocean aud built an artistic residence
Here they lived happily from May til
November. then went To the city for
the winter For two or three years
Raifurd enjoyed his rest thoroughly
He did absolutely nothing. Then he
began 10 read There were thousands
Of books of which he had never seen
the inside. and II seemed 10 him that
he had found paradise. Half dozen
years were spent IN this pastimc, with
occasional trips 10 the south In winter
Then. having exhausted those subjects
In which he naturally took an interest
he concluded to make tour of the
world His travels kept him amused
for several years longer: then. return
Ing 10 his country seat. he settled down
once more 20 n quiet life.
1t was then that his wife first began
to see signs Of dissatisfaction, He had
rcsolutcly kept away from the theurrr.
fearing that its influence upon him
would he like that of u glass of liquor
to drrnkHrd Now, after reading In
the newspapers of the stars of the day.
some of whom during his prime had
been east In the lowest parts zone or
two were supcrs,, 10 began tn got ndg
city
"'rO think" he exclaimed uur morn
ing to his wife,. that I.raburn should
he considered fine actor, In my time
he was tried In an absurd play he wrote
himself and made mn absurd failure"
Perhaps he was ahead of his time"
said the wife dcmurclt
"Nonsrnsc' He was not born to act
and never can act The stage has de
generated In those days we had real
plays London Assurance, She Stoops
| to Conquer aud tn" newer ones were
still plays, such ms The Colleen Buwn
/ and lloscdale' Now performers are
simply shows 10 attract the crowd"
/ lie frttcd and fumcd till one day n
4 New York manager. one who WAS es-
/ pccialt given 10 getting up shows 10
nttrar, the crowd" hpthought himself
/ that h. might turn m honest penny 10y
bringing the famous Kaifprd hnck to
the stage lie visited the retired actor
now fifteen years older Than when he
had last trod the boards, aud IN hon
eyed words Informed him of what Raj
ford had Informed his wife that the
stage was running down and the pub.
lie longcd for u return TO better things
Rnford was captured gnd signed con
tract for one night
For n month before the performance
he talked TO his wife about how he
would show the people the great zap
through which they had gradually
passed from the old to the new Ida
listened To- him but said nothing Then
he s"uldrd hcr Tor her want of Sympa
thy and finally drew tears. Having
succeeded IN this. he embraced her.
gently chidiug her FOR at one tine wish.
Ing him TO rrmain on the stage and at
another opposing his return To It, Since
she was uo better able 10 give her rea
SONS than before, she stll maintained
silence
The night Of the great performance
came. liattord had chosen the play uf
"Roscdalr,' In the principal part of
which Lester Waluck had been SCI pop.
ular While Kaitord was dressing the
manager came 20 him to say that there
would not bo a very FUN house owing
10 half dozru incidents which would
atfcct any performance slight shock
passed over the actor
Had he hrcn forgotten?
Never mind, he would show those
who We're there what hr could do.
When the curtain went up, the seats
were but half filled It urrvrd the star
TO action lnto the style In which he
had been accustomed De- threw an in.
tcuSity which rendered IL nuurr marked
even than before. marr Oil fashioned
The audience sat silent rs the grave
stones OF a cemetery and before the
play was half finished Ruifurd wished
they We're Sr1yrNoneS lu one scene
where the hero is awakened by vii.
lain ready to murder him No hoped to
retrieve himself 10y Splrudtd coolucss
He succcrdrd. hut lis hc would have
succeeded fifteen or twenty years he.
fore
Rats" cried voice from the gal-
lcry. You're actin. Give MS the real
thing"
This WAS too much Raiforl rot up
and STROBE into the wings the curtain
was ruug down anil il was announced
that the play wpud not proceed The
audience would receive their money at
the bnN pfN.yg TI#. ra#f,rl f,,b ,,r,,