Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-01
CHAPTER III.
Success and Afterwards.

- TIA ROMNEY sat in her little
dressing room when the play was
over. so very tired after all she
ID had done that even the congratu-
lat.ons of Mr.. Charles Isard failed
To- give her pleasure
Unlike tac successful actress Of our time,
she had not yet attracted the attention of
the Flower brigade. as little Dulcie
Holmes. oaS Of her friends in the theater,
would call them. and despite her success
and the establishment it had provoked, no
baskets of roses decorated her dressing
table, nor were expressive bouquets tnrown
"aeguEenIy' TO the VdtiOus corners OF the
room. INC red roses in a cheap vase;
bunch OF uarcisSi wuich had obviJu sly come
from the flower girls OF the Criterion, wit
messed h=r triumph in lonely MAZE ~. Even
the redCuotaole Mir, lizard. not anticipating
the Spield1r OF the evening, mad forgotten
to command" a basket for his star. He,
good man. had but one word for his sur
priSlnG fortune. It's bully, he sald-aud
repeated the conviction usque al nauseam.
Eta sat alone. but il was not for many
minutes after the curtain tell. Little Dull
Gle Holmes tie artists daughter, who had
a walking part at tWeuty-four shllASS
Il week. came lcaping into the room pres
entity, and catching her friend in both arms
Kissed her rapturuusly
"Oh. Eta" she clieJ ardently, oh, my
dear-tuey won't 20 away even now. Can
They are too kind TO me- was the quiet
response. and all because l love Derby
shire Isn't il absurd but of course, / m
very pleased. Duicic.'
''I mink of it, dclr Eta. Your very first
night and Iir. lizard in such 4 state that
he'd give you a hundred week if you
asked him OF course. you won't play for
nothing, Row. Eta
I've never thought of it," said Eta
stflI without apparent emotion. And
then with a very sweet smile. she asked
What would You say if l told You that
was about to give up the theater alto
gether. Dulcie?'
Dulcie o9ered her eyes so wide (and they
were pretty blue eyes too that the rest of
her piquaut face was quite dwarfed by
them.
GIVE up the thoater. You're joking.
Here Lucy-here's Eta talking of giving
up the theater. Now, what do you say to
shat
Lucy Grey. a pretty brunette. whose share
IN the triumph was the saucy delivery of
the momentous line, on, captain, now
could YOU tshe playing "A maids part
for thirty shillings Il week., would not be-
Ilcve that DulcIe could possibly be serious.
Whatever will the papers say tomor-
rCw?' she exclaimed. Did you ever think
she could do it? l didn't. and I'm not
going to say that l did. Why, here's Mr..
lard quite beside himself
And he'll he beside Eta just now want
ing uer to sign three years engagement
as PRINCIPAL Now. you take my advice and
don't you do it, dear-not unless he'll pay
YOU a hundred a week That's where girls
ruin their prospects. taking on things just
when they're excited IF 1t We're me,
wouldn't I ask him something! Perhans
he Il play hot and cOld-they sometimes do;
but your fortunes made, Eta, and l can't
think why You take II SO quietly. How l
should dance and sing if l were you
Eta had begun to gather up the heavy
tresses Of her long black hair by this time,
but she did so slowly and deliberately as
one whom success had neither surprised
nor agitated. Could the two young girls
about her have read her thoughts they
would have been astonished indeed. Not
idly had she asked Dulcie Holmes what
people would say if she gave up the the
alter entirely. For give il up she must. In
one short month her father would return
from the continent She must be home by
that time. and none must ever know that
she had left her home.
Wen talk it all over in the morning"
she said. still smiling-'I want both of you
10 come and see me tomorrow. We shall
have read the papers by that time. What
ever VIII they say about me?'
1T doesn't matter what they sey. Every
one in London viii be talking about you
before the weeks out All the same the
papers are going TO he nice. Lucy's cousin
was in the vesubule between the acts and
he heard the critics talking. They called
you immense dear. That means bad luck
for the play. but everything for you. You
Just wait until the morning comes"
Il fear III have to- said Eta. with a
sly look toward them, but just then there
came "a tap on the doos and who should