Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-09

forced her confidence and made her lean
upon the proffered arm
I'm one of the unemployed" she said
laconically, as they set out toward the
house indicated across the street 81 haven t
any home-not in New York. at any rate
was put out today. The landlady kept
my trunk. It's just WE'LL wouldn't
have known what to do with it, she added.
drearily.
There was little of appeal in the girls
face; certainly there was no apology. Sim
ply she stated fact. The woman stag
gered moment under the incoming re-
sponsibilfty; but she never wavered from
its acceptance.
rs there no place you can go? No
friends?' she questioned. feeling her way
about.
Il don't know" said the girl duly She
was quite sincere. She truly didn't know.
She had reached a stage where she no
longer was capable OF resisting circum-
stances. Sic was powerless, and they
might do as they pleased with her helpless
ness.
The W oman looked at her again. She saw
the simplicity of her attire: she saw the
gloves worn through at the finger ends
cent face. with no hope of possibilities in
the tragic eyes-and whatever hesitation she
may have had vanished
You shall come with me, dear she
said. and after you've had a cup. of tea
and something to eat we can talk of things
a little"
At the mention of food the girls mouth
trembled like an abused childs.
L haven't had thing to eat today" she
said. mot a thing"
Very quietly-after the salts and the re-
freshments-up in Miss Tracys pretty H.
tie sitting room. she told her story. slight
and commonplace. Her name was Rosalie
Ross. She lived In a western town called
Pleasantville. 1t there-she blushed
a bit-that her position in life was that Of
telegraph operator; but-and here she
threw her pretty head back with an uncon-
scious air-she also sang and acted in the
church and public school. and every one
! told her that she must come to a larger
place, where others could hear, for that
surely she had career" before her. And
when she had come-well, the places were
I 1lled; she must wait. They were all very
kind to her the managers, and many of
/ them had promised to send for her when a
vacancy occurred
I'm! It's a way they have my dear.
These theatrical managers have capacious
memories for promises, threw in Miss
Tracy. at this point
-, For prom" repeated the girl vaguely.
Then light broke in. ooh. are you an
actress, too?'' The too" struck Miss Tracy
as very droll; she couldn't hide an amused
smile. But she said, seriously enough:
m afraid it was mistake child. to
leave your home-especially if you had a
good paying position"
''Oh, no, no, no-ndeed, It wasn't" cried
Resale. impetuously THAT ticking. tick
ING, tChIHg - neNer-eAding ticking of the
keys was uncomfortable. Sometimes it seem
ed as if / must cry out or grow mad"
Nerves, my dear, nerves. You should
have taken some nerve tonic"
''Ah, don't. please." begged the girl,
warmly espousing her own cause. You
see, you haven't sat there day after day
with"
my fingers on bit of wire that ap-
prlses me of all the events of the great
world out there
h.
where but Just where you are in one re-
strcted little corner of 1t. You never see
anybody at ALL
when you get into a theatrical road
company you do, though! Most of us
have to begin in road companies) You
see plenty of peOple-hotel clerks, cham
bermalds, stage hands drummers, wander
ing thespians like yourself"
But I've read, broke in Rosalie that
some actresses associate with the Four
Hundred in New York! And just think of
the distinguished friendships one can make
If one has any talent for greatness. Just
think of the popular applause-that alone
would be meat and drink TO me! And then
the pride of ones family"
You see my dear, keep forgetting that
You are going to be great. . . . Now, of
the three usual results of greatness
wealth. fame, happiness-which would you
Drefer?"
why. of course, one must have happi-
ness" the girl replied, without any hest
tation.
'But'-Miss Tracy spoke half to herself
with the muscles at the outer corner of her
eyes slightly contracted, they say real