Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1903-02-27
! THE SPARK
| OF GENIUS
BY HOWARD FIELDING
Copyright. iar. by Charles W. Hooke

drew's. One feels like Sir Some
body. or at least as II one had the right
to put a few letters after ones name.
In fact, I'm a recent communication TO
Mrs. McAnirew inclosing the amount
of her weekly charge for the aecommo-
dations | signed myself John Chan
dler. G. r. p.
Our landlsdy is a widow OF middle
age. a good hearted, simple minded wo-
man who lives ever as IL In the sight
of the late Mr.. McAndrew and will die
gladly when her time comes 10 join
him. He was a very superior man, she
saws. and 30 highly educated that she
could not understand more than half OF
his conversation. but she loved every
word. She occupies the small front par
lor, which Is separated from my room
By folding doors with heavy. somber
curtains. and had supposed that this
barrier was impervious to sound, but
one afternoon when ! was dressing for
dinner | heard a womans voice, loud.
strained and angry, forcing Its way
through doors and curtains.
How dare you! How dare your 1t
cried.
Twas just putting on my coat, and
paused with an arm through one OF the
sleeves. Again that voice was uplift-
ed, even more strenuously: How dare
you! How dare you"
Now. upon question OF the rights
and safety Of such good woman as
Mrs. McAndrew ! would fight man
nine feet high. or two OF them II nee
essary. | slid into my coat and through
the curtain seemingly with single
movement, and my hand was appraised
to smite the heavy doors when | heard
our landlady's calm voice very close,
as II within yard OF me.
81 think that was very good" she
said.
"We'll go back" said masculine
voice which | recognized rs that OF
Horace Wilton, a young man who lives
on the top floor. You didn't tell Ii
onel? You didn't tell me?''
"Oh. I'll answer you no moreT' ex-
claimed some one whom | now knew
not TO be Mrs. McAndrew. Believe
what you please Of me. want no
more Of your help. Let me go! Let
me go!'
Keep It up! Keep it up" said
Wilton eIcitedly. Don't drop down.
Let me 60! Let me go" Frantic;
you understand. Now try again"
let the curtain fall and stepped
back into the middle OF my room.
dazed. Not even the violent scene
which had supposed to be In progress
In the hushed and sacred precincts be-
yond those doors would have surprised
me nearly 80 much as the reality. A
theatrical rehearsal In my landlady's
parlor
The bell which rings when dinner Is
ready sent forth its summons. / step
ped out into the hall Just In time to
meet Mrs. McAndrew. Behind her
saw Wilton and very pretty girl
who sits beside him at the table She
does not live In our house. but comes
here for her meals. had understood
that Wilton and Miss Lee were en-
gagged, but had never given any espe-
cial thought TO the subject OF the
young lady's occupation. She had been
among US only a week or two, and she
was 20 quiet and modest that she sue
ceeded In almost effacing herself. de-
spite her good looks. found 1t impos-
sible to believe that she was an actress.
that 1t was she whom had just heard
declaiminE hysterical lines under the
direction Of Wilton and with the COM
plicity, even with the praise. OF Mrs.
McAndrew. Such was the fact, how
ever. Her eyes were still red from the
shedding OF emotional tears, and no
decd during dinner time that she would
be shaken now and then by tremors
Of excitement.
Wilton Is thin. tall, intense sort Of
fellow, quite handsome In his own Pc
culiar way and very much Of a gentle
man. After dinner he took occasion to
say that lie hoped had not been dis
turbed, and Miss Lee added her own
hope that hadn't heard anything, be-
cause she had done It SO badly. I
hshed up some sort of a compliment
which did not seem to impress her, but
when confessed my surprise at learn
Ing what her profession was she
flashed sharp glance of interest upon
me out Of her pretty brown eyes, 1t
was the kind Of look that goes through
q fellows head.
You'll be more surprised, | think"
said she, III you ever learn that I'm a
good one"
The insight and the truth OF this re-
mark staggered me. 1t was a fact that
l had not been impressed by the little
that had heard. 1t had sounded
strained and forced. Moreover, Miss
Lee was not my notion Of an actress
The morrow was Sunday. and Mrs
McAndrew favored me with a brie1
call In the afternoon, and we talked O,
Miss Lee.
You'd never think she was an nc
tress. would your said she. Its sucl
pity. asked Mr.. Wilton why he lie
her 30 on the stage. They're engaged
you know"
what did he say" | inquired witt
considerable curiosity.
HE. suid that she had genius" re
piled Mrs. McAndrew in a quaint,
reverential tone.
"NOw what does this woman know
about geniusr' said to myself. "Wha
can she possibly care about it?"
"Mr. Wilton has genius, don't 70,
think SOP she continued. And l wa
pleased to reply heartily that l ha,
read some Of the gentleman's storie
and believed that he was On bis xyo,