St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1904-04-23
"ln a Stage Box
By
JULIA NJ. KNIGHT

TIE could not tell when first she
IT dawned upon his sight, radiant
vision OF youth; began to haunt MS
thoughts, to intrude upon the privacy
of his art. Yet it seemed now that sne
had been there since the opening night,
in the left-hand stage box, a single sllgnt
girl, with a face like q rose, and mower
in her chestnut hair.
1t was at the close Of long, haro-
worked season, and they were playing
brief spring engagement IN the quiet
little city, and longing YEARLY lot the
moment of release when they could nee
to mountain fastness, or seaside resort
for the rest so needed in the taxing ca
reer of the actor.
It was a phenomenal engagement con-
sidering the lateness of the season. anu
Roy Stirling, the leading actor, VINO was
creating some stir in the dramatic Worlo
by his rare histrionic powers, had moth
ing to ask of the enthusiasm evoked ny
his every performance. He was the Ia
vorite of the hour, the matinee IDOL, the
promise of even the most captious OF
critics, on the high road to an early ano
intoxicating fame, yet seemingly un-
spoiled by it all.
Who was she? Only nameless girl
IN the flower and fragrance OF her youth,
who came nightly with her gay compan-
ions to the little theater; yet, unknoW-
ingly, she gave inspiration to MS mes.
art color. life and interest to the most
hackneyed role he was called upon 10
portray. It was not Juliet, In her pal
cony, to whom he poured out his pas
sion with southern warmth and aban-
donment. the proud beauty OF Lyons,
| to whom he pleaded for pardon, out
the little girl in the stage box; SO near,
vet 50 far. SO clothed in mystery ana
| enchantment.
| He knew her not, her name, her en-
vironment, her fate, but each night az
the footlights frightened, the v1oilns
/ thrilled in the opening overture, the
great curtain rolled up to reveal the
| Fascinating mimic world, she sat In hei
accustomed place, till it seemed the play
could not go on without her.
Never before has he given passing
thought to woman as woman, seen 1al'
face he could not forget over night; tint
MANY temptations and allurements O
the actors life have passed him by un
/ noted, yet now he stands confronted
with the mystery, the problem Wnlci
to older and wiser men must ever remali
unsolved.
/ Art has been to him all in all sine
the days of his dreaming boyhood
through long years of single-hande'
struggling in the career OF his choice 70
the first time his Imagination is aWak
ened. his heart thrilled by the touch o
4 girls hand; covertly he watches ne
during the progress of the play, nj
genius quickened, his art intenslred o
the incense of her young enthusiasm
her subtle sympathy, appreciation; 10
so it seems to him, and he marvels At II
He has seen them all; the woman G
the world in her diamonds, vain, frlvol
our. se1f-seeking, the gushing, canoy
eating, idol-worshiping matinee CIR
Int she is unlike them all; as VII
rose plucked in the early dawn TO a mo-
house exotic, the star OF evening 10
tallow dip.
She is simple, rare, unique; for ne
heart still untouched, her life unWrltte'
her sensitive soul like that OF the pof
diyines all through anticipation; IN tn
speaking face she turns to MN, "a
gray eyes that follow him about tn
stage. what does she not reveal; 81
responds to his every touch as a raj
violin to the hand Of its master.
The actors, alive to the humor OF u
situation, rallied him about his late
"mash;'' the leading lady pouted. az
protested that he made love to the stat
hox rather than the rightful heroine
the play. He laughed, frowned, al
turned them aside, but their carele
raillery fingered in his thought, CO..
6rmed his own fears and forebodings
Could this be love? He secuted Il
1 idea to scorn, would have none OF
was he the man to be swayed by
girls smile like his fellows, turned fro
his great ambition, his career, BY
l. dream BETTING schoolboy?
: So he believed, protested and
solved: but one night of absence on q
mart Of his fair unknown taught ri
~ a lesson in humility not lightly TO
II forgotten, Where now were the mas
e of his art, the exhilaration, the absor
tion. that had never failed him befor
The house seemed. empty and void, I
n friendly audience cold and pulseie
the play moved with leaden feet; and
,e because a girls face was missing ire
u Its accustomed place.
e Then realization came home to a
,e with sudden force; he knew now that
+ many weeks this girl had been his 81
audience, his gentlest critic. warm'
admirer. most innocent devotee.
{. To her he had looked for inspiratit
- response, sympathy, snd she had ne,
failed him. When the thunder OF
nlause rang in his ears, and he ca
before the curtain again and again
70. bow his Acknowledgements, he was eN
sat conscious of q more delicate homs
,es coming from that box SO close to
4. hand, like the fragrance from a flower
=, Only a girl unknown to fame, yet
,rs the time she had ruled him, man OF
w world, student, actor that he was, 9
40 he could not escape her subtle spell,
he silken meshes of the net she had ]
W, the coquetry to throw It was pass
'el- strange; yet the humiliattng fact
- revealed to him in the sense OF loss