Bisbee daily review., 1903-05-02
SHE COULDN'T SAY IT
lorigInal.l

had made a fortune on the stage. It tad been hard struggle for the first ten years, but very easy during the second. Nevertheless he had so often looked forward to a day of rest that now he was independent he resolved 10 retire.
 To his surprise his wife did not sbare h his enthusiasm over his prospect of rest.
 What does this mean. IdaT he said. ''iNor years you have been fear ing I would break down from over work, and now that I propose to retire you are dissatisfied. However, your past encouragement and advice have been too much to me to warrant my sighting your opinion. Give me your reasons and if they are convincing l will remain in harness"
 But the poor woman could not give her reasons. They were only in her feelings, munitions, the germs of req great actor, after a dozen or more fare wells, gave up his profession. Long Island is favorite 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 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 his rest thoroughly He did absolutely nothing. Then he began to read. There were thousands of books of which he had never seen the inside, and 1t seemed to him that he had found paradise. Half a dozen years were spent in this 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 a 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 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
  to drunkard. 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 supers), he began to get fdg- ety.
 ITO think" he exclaimed one morn. ing to his wife, that Bradburn should be considered fine actor in my time he was tried in an absurd play he wrote himself and made an absurd failure"
 Perhaps he was ahead of his time, D, said the wife demurely.
 ''Nonsensei He was not born to ace and never caE act The stage has de generated. In those days we had real plsys-Iondon Assurance She Stoops to Conquer'-and the newer ones were. still plays, such as srhe Colleen Bawn' and .Rosedale.' Now performers are. simply shows to attract the crowd
 He fretted and fumed till one day a 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 he had last trod the boards. and in hon eyed words informed him of what Raj ford had informed his wife-that the 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 month before the performance he talked to his 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 he scolded her for her want of sympa- thy and finally drew tears. Having succeeded in this, he embraced her, gently ehiding 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," in 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 a dozen incidents which would affect any performance. A slight shock passed over the actor
 Had he been forgotten?
 Never mind; he would show those who were there what he could do
 When the curtain went up. the seats were but half filed It nerved the star to action. Into the style to which he had been accustomed he threw an in- tensity which rendered it more marked even than before, more old fashioned. The audience sat silent as the grave stones Of cemetery. and before the play was half finished Raiford wished they were gravestones. In one scene where the hero Is awakened by vil- 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.
 ''RatsT cried a voice from the gal