The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-08-23

the consensus of opinion when he screw
ed his comic face into scowl, laid aside
the morning paper containing the notice
and remarked in his mellow, far,reaehms
voice:
~Stung.'
The star was man of wonderful
talent. There were moments and many
Of them. when Genius took him by tht
hand. and he walked with her humbly
and without vanity.
He took his bride to little cottag'
down on Long Island. The star him
self walked as god upon the earth, be
ing crowned with radiant content. H'
had found his mate, 50 his soul whis
pered to him; and he believed his soul
and was satisfied.
His mate had been q person OF more OF
less social Importance. She was ac
eustomed to seeing such things as mar
riaees conducted in more deeorous
fashion; but there had been something
intensely thrilling in being swept of hei
feet by Braithwaite's tempestuous WOO
ing, ana she did not regret that he had
taken her half-conscious assent to .
speedy marriage 70 mean an almost IN
Simultaneous appearance at the altar.
When she found herself on her way
20 the cottage on Long Island, she had
been frightened for q moment; but .
leok into Braithwaite's wonderful darh
syes-his sole claim to beauty--had moi
enly reassured her, but had started L
life something within her that was nevsi
to die. So Braithwaite took his wife
awas from the haunts Of men, and they
hvsd together where only the birds ant
the trees, and an inconspicuous servan,
or two, could behold their happiness
and the mans life broadened and filed
and the womar's life began.
II was soon known among the com
pany that in the star-rnanager's new
play his wife was TO be his leading wo.
man. Mary weatherel now Mary Braith
waite, had held that proud position tenn
porarily, the season before, while Mis-
Foster, her predecessor, was nursing ,
sprained ankle. In the privacy of he
own room, Miss Foster called Heaven Il
witness that never had such injustic,
been done TO mortal woman; for hat
not everybody told her that Miss Wea
therel was nothing short Of imposibl
for the new play! But those who sal
% had mot foreseen that the leading wo
mans part would be presented to Mar.
Braithwaite as q wediing-gift from be
husband.
tFooll Fool! Fooll" Miss Foster chan
ted, and she may have meant Mary. o
Braithwaite or herself, or all three.
The star and his wife returned. Re
hearsals began. And over the shoulder
rs it were, of an uheongenial role, Mis-
Foster in an unbecoming rain-coat an
shabby shoes watched Mary. The sta
watched Mary also, and growing mol
ror came upon him. He could have beat
en- his head or plucked at his hair, c
performed any of those little ceremonis
by which one may relieve an oveI
wrought mind. Except that the star wa
not Of the Foster temperament, he woul
have cried to himself. ':Fooll Fool!" an
he would have meant himself and NJ
Mary.
Mary, his wife, his darling, grown
more and more beautiful day by day, (
love glowed in her eyes and touched h,
Fps to tenderness! And Mary, the a
tress the stiff, stilted woman whose u
terances of passion and remorse rar
with a falseness for which he praise
God at one moment, and with the ne1
breath cursed the black abyss of her j
nOranee!
Il don't like to suggest it, DEAR" sa
Mary one day, "but do you think tho
lines in the third act are quite, qui
nice? OF course l know you wouldn
want me to play the part if it weren
perfectly right, but perhaps just lit
might be cut"
"Do you, would you, want to exchan,
parts with"
But Mary's hand was over his mout
dearest, don't think Pm not please
Why, Gerald, the proudest moment
my life will be when l play this part al
people see that you have chosen me
play it! 1t seemed to me just the lea
bit too-broad just there, that's a
You must realize, dear, that | had
make a big fight to get on the stas
anyhow, and I've never played Just tn
kind of part. But l love it, de-
truly I do"
"How narrow I am~ she said to ht
self later. Il must let myself go mo
must feel it. Now / wonder how
feel if I'd been untrue to Gerald?"
She shuddered at her own words, a
taking his picture from her dressir
room table, pressed it to her cheek.
And next day Miss Foster, watchi
with tragic eyes the star and his bri
in their respective roles noted N
tensity in Mary Braithwaite's voice. 7
feading woman fancied she was 81,
ting herself 60"
Meantime, the star grew paler, as
wife anxiously noted. After rehea
sails he seemed specially worn. S