Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-07

RT HE news IN the letter alarmed
Eta not little; but when she
reflected upon Il, she remembered
that It was Just such news as she
had been expecting all along
Her adventure had been for a
day. She had never hoped that II would be
more. The desire to appear upon the stage
of a theater had haunted her since child
hood Now she had gratihed it. Why,
then. should she complain?
True. the glamour Of the stage no longer
deceived her. All the gilt edge Of her
dreams had vanished al rehearsal. She no
longer believed the theater TO be a para
disc on earth. 1t was somewhat gloomy,
business-l;ke and sordid arena of which the
excitements were purely personal, and con-
oerned chiefly with individual success and
achievement. These she had now expert
enced and found them unsatisfying A NOR
bid craving for something she could not ex-
press or define remained her legacy. The
Eta IN her had not been blotted out by
triumph Had she known It, she would have
understood that nothing but tragedy would
efface t.
This, naturally. she did not know. Be
licving her time to be brief she desired TO
see as much OF Bohemia as the numbered
invitation. however imprudent It seemed,
nor denied herself any experience by which
her knowledge might profit. a perfect mis-
tress OF herself. she did not fear whatever
adventure might bring her. Her desire had
been 70 do exactly what the ordinary stage
girl did-to live in lodgings. to tramp about
the London streets. 10 spend little sums OF
money though they had been riches, to
give girlish vanity free rein. Sometimes
-. II.
love to her. The homage OF men. she had
read. always attended success upon the
stage Eta would have been delighted to
evsde her pursuers, to see their flowers
upon her table. 20 read their ridiculous lets
tors.
For the moment. however. her dramatic
experiences appeared likely to be some
what prosaic She had answered Mr.
Charles lizard with the intimation that she
would give him n definite reply within i
week, and with that. perforee, he had to be
content The early promise Of success for
"Haddon Hair was amply justified. The
business done at the Carlton Theater proved
beyond experience. There were two matt
nees a week. and splendid houses to boot
Eta delighted In the triumphs OF these
more than words could tell The thunder
Gus applause, the ringing cheers, the fre-
Quent calls. animated her whole being and
awoke IN her the finest instincts OF her in
herit9nce. She knew that she had been
horn an actress and that nothing would
change her destiny. All the frivolous life
OF the theater could show her made their
instant appeal TO her senses and We're en-
joyed with a ehild's zest Her gestures
were quick and excited. and. as little Duleie
Holmes would say. so French" She could
behave like a schoolgirl sometimes
schoolgirl freed from bondage and ready
for any tomhoy's play
This was her mood on the afternoon of
the seventh day after the first production
OF "Haddon Halr' at the Carlton Theater
The exceedingly "genteeF' Lucy Grey had
Invited few friends to tea upon that oc-
casion; and an artist, known to ali the
halfpenny comic papers as Billy" a
ledger In the same house as Lucy kindly
put his studio at the disposal of the COM
pany. Here Tor time gentility re gned
supreme over the teacups The theatrical
ladies found themselves awe-struck In the