The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1907-05-17
A Checkered Career.
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had inherited a fortune, had become
involved in an inextricable lawsuit and
had lost 1t and with it every cent he
possessed He died from the effects OF
his misfortune. His wife was dell
cate woman, and none of his children
except Lorine was grown. Unfortu-
nately there were no relatives on
whom the stricken family could call
for assistance, and they We're thrown
into AFFECT poverty.
Lorine when the blow came was
about to make her entrance into soci-
ETY., and she was capable of making
an excellent match. But, the blow fall
ing when it did, her opportunities were
cut off on the eve of fulfillment. Lang
don Morehouse, schoolmate a year
older than herself, was youthful
lover of hers, but at the time of her
misfortune he was in college, working
his way through almost entirely by his
own exertions. None of the poor girls
associates could have kept up their ac
quaintance with her except by visiting
her at a broken down cottage on the
outskirts of the city.
Lorine possessed a voice, and this
decided her to try for an engagement
In one of the many light operas In
which the bulk of theater going people
delight But she had only begun to
cultivate her gift when the family mis-
fortune came, and she was obliged to
accept position in the chorus. She
saw nothing of her theatrical associ-
ates except at rehearsal and during
performances, the rest of her time be-
ing taken up at home with the care of
her mother and her brothers and sis
| tiers.
Butler Goodwin, the man who by
means of dexterous and INSCRIPTIONS
legal devices b4d ruined the head OF
the Whiting family, saw her on the
stage and was greatly struck with her.
He sent word to her asking for permis-
sion to visit her and was refused. He
went to her home-if it could be called
homeland offered assistance. This
was declined. He had just enough
conscience and amour propre to feel
the rebuff and resolved that he would
bring everything to his satisfaction by
winning her for his wife. He was a
contemporary with her father, thirty
years older than Lorine, who hated him.
But she was placed in a position of
great temptation. Her mother needed
medical attendance and medicines; her
brothers and sisters were in rags and
pxr
man who had produced all this misery
she would be mistress of a fortune and
could alleviate their distress. She con-
sented to sacrifice herself.
On the day of her marriage ten min
utes after the performance of the cere-
mony note was handed her begging
her to sing the same evening an impor-
tant part of singer who had been
suddenly taken ILL., Notwithstanding
the positive refusal of the consent of
her husband she determined to accept
the part and left him for the theater
The result was decided hit When
the curtain fell on the last act the
manager saw her in the greenroom
and offered her good pay to take sim
liar part in an opera he was about to
put on the stage
tumult of thought coursed through
the girls mind. Presently she sad
Il will accept on one condition"
ut is granted. Name it,
My salary must commence from this
moment"
1T shall commence from a week ago
today"
Then and there she signed the con
tract and left the theater with check
for an amount ample to relieve the
present wants of herself and her fam
lily. But instead of going to her hus-
band she went home to her mother.
He never saw her again.
Lorine from that time rose rapidly.
Her income was sufficient to enable
her to secure instruction, besides pro
viding for her mother and brothers
and sisters. On her second contract
her salary was doubled.
Ten years passed. Lorine was earn
ing a line income in regular opera.
Her stage name was Nine Monaldi.
One evening Langdon Morehouse went
to the opera. He had completely lost
sight of his school love, and when she
went upon the stage she concealed the
fact so far as possible from her former
associates. Her youthful freshness
was gone, but she was now a hand
some woman. Morehouse did not rec
ognize her. But she saw him in the
audience and noticed him. The result
was that he asked for an Introduction.
Lorine concealed her identity. He be.
came attentive to her, but told her of
his youthful love which had been bro
ken when he was at an age not to be
able to help the object of it or even
keep track of her. Year after year he
had hoped to be In position to war
rant his seeking her. He had been dis
appointed in his endeavors and was be-
ginning to think that his fancy had
better be remembered as a dream than
renewed as a reality.
One evening when Morehouse was
with Lorine after an opera she hand
ed him letter to read
1t announced that Butler Goodwin
had died and left her all his property.
He handed the letter back with
Sigh. She was richer than before and
removed farther from him.