Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1905-06-23

And on the western paper it had been
much the same. The other reporters,
and even the paper itself in an ed
itorial, had predicted that the name
of lockwood Stetson would sometime
be better known.
"Oh, | beg your pardon, "the man
went on gaily; I'VE haven't congrat-
ulated you yet, and that should have
come first You're a lucky chap. Beck
It's honor enough for one poor mortal
to be Berry, Kildare's husband"
$50 | think" heartily, "and l want
to introduce you after the play. Sup
pose you come over to the hotel and
try one of their after-theater suppers
with u.s. AS to what | have been do
ing, my father turned his leather bust
ness over to me, and since | left the
paper l have been buried in the Office.
1t is good business though not one
to blaze name across the continent.
But excuse me-" turning his head to
one side and listening with manifest
uneasiness; doesn't that sudden hush
mean the curtain is rising? Suppose
we go in"
Several times during the evening
lockwood saw glasses swerye from the
stage toward him, and heads come to-
gether behind them, whispering, and
he knew that he was shining in the
reflected glory of the star. He had
seen the same thing evenings before,
and the sight had given him an odd
pleasure; but now, with his old friends
beside him and the thoughts which
their coming had brought, the sharing
of her glory for the first time began
to cloud his brow. He was a strong
man, and had dreamed dreams Ought
not he to make glory for her, instead
of being content to share that which
she had so hardly earned?
The next morning he bade her good
bye for three months and went
thoughtfully to his Office. 1t was now
in good times. The business was in
such condition that the manager could
look after it just as we'll without him.
He would throw himself into the thing
of which he had dreamed; with his full
| strength, and do what he knew he
could do. When she returned the glory
of it should be hers.
Both of his friends were now on the
old newspaper, and soon they began
to see paragraphs that made them look
pleased and thoughtful. One day the
college man raised his eyes suddenly
from an item that had slipped into
their paper from an exchange.
Look here, Allen" he exclaimed
do you suppose what we said in the
theater that evening had anything to
do with Beck's rousing? He seemed
to be hopelessly buried in that leather,
you know"
Certainly not" decidedly. Beck
wood Stetson's too strong man not
to come up of himself when he's ready.
What little, such small things, that
you and l might mention would not
matter. But this thing of his is rather
Quixotic, don't you think? 1t cannot
amount to anything, nor do bit of
real good to him or anyone else. 1t
will only blaze his name across the
continent, as l think one of US hoped
for him."
We'll, isn't that enough. What
more can anyone ask than to have his
name in everybodys mouth, especially
when no blame or ridicule can be at
tached to the rotoriety? This is the
sort of thing that catches on with the
public
Yes, suppose so," doubtfully;
''but it is not the real strength of
Beck"
Stray items and comments in the
newspapers also reached the starring
troupe, bringing gladness and pride
into the eyes Of the leading actress,
her manager. When the company re-
turned to its own city few last per-
formances were to be given to 0ud the
season, and posters were out week
in advance.
lockwood returned the night before,
his face strong with satisfied power
and accomplishment. But the next
morning, when he went to the win
dow, as he had been accustomed to do,
and gazed across at the poster in front
of the opera house, the satisfied look
suddenly gave way to one of conster-
nation and then to bitter self-reproach
ooh, Beryl! Beryl" he groaned;
"have | robbed you of all the laurels
of your years of hard work? Forgive
me, darling. l did not dream of this
But it shall be only for short time.
will go back to my leather and then
the public will forget and you will soon
come back into your own"
For the name on the poster across
the street was lockwood Stetson's