Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1904-04-15
wALLY FORD STROBE IN.

Crawford and me with frozen dignity. 1t
was utterly futile to reason with him, and
when at last he informed us that his we'd
ding would take place within a fortnight
We decided that the battle was lost. New
ertheless we did not quit the field, and as
the company played an engagement of
three consecutive nights in one city we
were spared the miseries of travel.
We took double suit in a rascally little
hotel in order to be near Wallyi who was
economizing for the wedding. and on the
last of the three nights we were sitting in
the parlor waiting for the boy, who had
promised to see us after the performance.
He came promptly, and, with the mag
nanimity of victor, he greeted US less
icily than usual. Indeed we were fairly
launched upon really amicable CONVEX
sation when hasty rap at the door inter-
rupted us.
Crawford answered, and / saw him re-
treat from the door after he had opened
1t, as if there had been ghost outside.
Il beg your pardon" said a voice which
! instantly recognized as Miss Harting-
tons. "Is Mr.. Ford here?'
Crawford did not reply in words. but he
made a series of grotesquely wooden ges-
lures which the lady rightly interpreted
as an invitation to come In. So in she
came and her looks amazed me. l had
seen her several times off the stage, and
always the sight of her had touched my
heart. The world had not used her well.
and she showed 1t. She had seemed to me
a beaten woman, weary, disappointed and
oppressed by deep sense of injustice yet
withal sustained by some interior strength
which had taken to be sheer pugnacity.
Now she was transformed. She held her
head high; her eyes shone; there was tho
magic of renewed youth In her face.
"Wally," she cried, read that"
And she gave him telegram, so long
that 1t filled two sheets The boy got
about half way through it. and then he
seized her hand, exclaiming:
Splendid! Splendid! This is the chance
of lifetime. I'm so mighty, mighty glad
| for you"
She looked at him intently, lovingly
| yes, by all that's odd, the woman loved
| him.
"It's the chance Of lifetime for both of
us" she said, paying no more attention to
| Crawford and me than if we had been
two dummies. "Wally, this offer-miracu-
lous as If the sky should rain roses
"Or dollars" said he.
This part that Is offered me-" she con-
tinued, lis all that I ask If l cannot
make my way with this, am content to
fail. But / was not content to live this
life of mine and have nothing, absolutely
nothing; no smallest desire granted, no
|
cradle and my grave. Wally l was not
| strong enough to do 1t. / was not strong
enough to live life all loss and still do
right. But now, now! Now / can do it. 1
can say to you what 1 should have said
long ago. that-that you must not think
of me any more"
She had been at high pitch of courage
up to that last sentence, but she could not
quite carry it on to the end. / thought
that she didn't mean what she said but
the boy knew her better, and suddenly his
face grew startlingly white.
"Do you mean" he cried, that you will
break with me?'
"Yes, yes" she answered, and she
waved her hand toward Crawford and me.
ASK them. They know They'll tell you
| they've been telling you. Love some one
who has not lived so much, who has illu-
sions and the hopes of girlhood. l lost
them long ago, but l have ambition. l
love my work. You shall see.'
And in the midst of this outburst she
vanished from the room.
Wally's face. which had been so pale,
now famed with rage.
"You, you!'' he shouted. striking up to
us. You have done this. You have
bought her. You have wrecked my life"
| think he was upon the point OF striking
Crawford but instead he turned upon his
heel and left U.S.
Crawford sank into cnalr ana sld
lower and lower in 1t till l thought he
would slide off upon the floor.
"The boy Is crazy" said /. This Is un-
doubtedly genuine. The girl has got fine
engagement, and her good luck has given
her the strength to do right, just as she
said But to accuse us of getting this en-
gagement for her.
Crawford interrupted us by tapping up
on his own breast
'I did it." said he. "She doesn't know
it. but I did telegraphed to fellow in
New York and used money and all that.
BY George, she has got a chance! know,
for / paid for It. And somehow I'm
ashamed It's like some blasted conspir-
acy, and yet it's for the good OF both OF
them"
but how did you know she'd give him
up?' :,
"You don't understand women" said
he. "You never did. She loved him"