The daily morning Alaskan., 1903-09-03
SHE COULDN'T SAY IT
fOriginai.l

second. Nevertheless he had SO often looked forward to q day of rest that [ now he was independent he resolved to retire.
 To bis surprise his wife did not sharv fin his enthusiasm over his prospect of rest.
 What does this mean. Idar bs said. "For years you have been fear ing I would break down from over- work, and now that I propose to retirs you are dissatisfied. However. yout past encouragement and advice have been too much to me to warrant my sighting your opinion. Give me your reasons and If they arc convincing I 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 his profession. Long Island is a favorite place for actors country houses, to which they go for rest fin the summer, when most of the theaters are closed. and the pair bought a choice spot there overlooking the ocean and bnilt 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 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 it seemed to him thai he had found paradise. Half a dozen years were spent in thls pastime. with occasional trips to 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 to a quiet life.
 It was then that his wife first began 10 see signs of dissatisfaction. He had resolutely kept away from the theater. fearing that it's influence upon him would be like that of a glass of liquor to a drunkard. Now, after reading in the newspapers of the stars of the day. some of whom during bis prime had been cast fin the lowest parts lone or two were supers), he began to get fdg. ety.
 "To think" he exclaimed one morn T3a. N., hta xr+lfA haN ah be considered fine actor! In my time be was tried in m absurd play he wrote himself and made an absurd failure"
 Perhaps he 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. In those days we had real plays-London Assurancc,' 'Sae Stoops to Conquer'-and the newer ones were still plays, such as The Colleen Bawn' and 'Rosedale.' Now performers are simply shows to attract the crowd"
 He fretted and fumed till one day e New York manager, one who was es- pecially given to getting up shows to attract the crowd" bethought himself that he might, turn an honest penny by bringing the famous Raiford back to the stage. He visited the retired actor, now fifteen years older than when ho had last trod the boards, and in hon. eyed words informed him of what Raj ford had informed his wife-that tho stage was running down and the pub lie longed for return to better things. Raiford was captured and signed con- tract for one night.
 For a month before the performance he talked to his wife about how ho 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 his return to it. Since she was no better able to give her req sons than before, she still maintained silence.
 The night of the great performance came. Raiford had chosen the play of "Rosedale," fin the principal part of which Lester Wallack had been so pop ular. While Raiford was dressing the manager came to him to say that there would not be very full house owing to half q dozen incidents which would affect any performance. A slight shock passed over the actor.
 Had he been forgottenl
 Never mind; he would show those who were there what he could do.
 When the curtain went up. the seats were but half filled. It neryed the star 10 action. Into the style to which he had been accustomed he threw an in- tensIty which rendered 1t more marked even than before, more old fashioned. The audience sat silent as the grave stones of a cemetery, and before the play was half finished Raiford wished they were gravestones. In one scene where the hero Is awakened by VII lain ready to murder him he hoped to retrieve himself by a splendid coolness. He succeeded, but as he would have succeeded fifteen or twenty years be- fore.
 "Ratsr cried a voice from the gal lcry. You're actin. Give us the real .Aing."
 This was too much. Raiford got up and strode into the wings, the curtain was rung down and it was announced