Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1907-08-01
The Awakening of a Soul

chair comfortably, robbed MS nanuS
softly together and watched his COM
panion narrowly, curious light in his
keen, black eyes.
In lover" the girl repeated, softly,
refectiyely. mo, have never YET
tasted of that bitter-sWeet experience
MY work will not allow me to think OF
such worldly things" with a faint
smile. "But why do you ask? -
Samuel Chandler laid his handker-
chief on his knee, folded it methodical-
ly three times. tucked it in his pocket
and then said slowly and with great
decision: Because your work makes
it so very apparent to me. Your tech
nique is perfect, you have undoubted
talent; you cannot reach and hold an
audience breathless, try as you will
There was a long, painful silence,
broken only by the sounds from the
street below, which were irritatlngly
audible. When the girl spoke her
voice counded strangely muffied and
unnatural.
Il understand After all these years
of labor, of self-sacrifice, of weary,
hopeless loneliness, am still failure
as an actress. You are right--my
work lacks soul; | am conscious OF 1t,
always, and now [ suppose the time
has come for me to realize the hope
lessness of 1t all, and give up my loved
work forever"
THAT is needless"
The girl gave a quick, impatient
gesture, and her fair white brow
wrinkled into a frown. why should
| go on in this way, day after day and
month after month, always aware that
| will never attain any real result!
"There is still one hope for you."
"And that?"
"You must go away from here Tor
about three months away from all
these professional assOciations-tar up
into the mountains of New Hampshire.
And you must meet some man whom
it will be possible for you to persuade
yourself you are in love with Better
still, if you can really care for him.
Make a god out of him-worship him
,-be jealous of his every look during,
these months. Then when you return
to your work you will very easily for
get him. II you Will follow my IN
structions, when you come back to me
you will be an actress. Unless you Go
so, you are utterly impossible.
The girl walked over to the window
and tapped nervously against the
glass. Her eyes were big and expect
ant when she turned to her companion
again, and there was a w1stful llttle
droop to her warm red lips.
81 will do as you advise" she said
slowly
The sun went down, huge red
ball, and the autumn twilight gather
ed. The purple hills in the distance
assumed an air of mystery as they
yelled themselves with the soft Sep
tember haZe-gray, blue, unfathom-
able and wonderfully fascinating.
The girl shivered and drew her
fluffy white shawl closer about her.
'~The summer is nearly gone she re
marked wistfully, and the mans eyes
met hers eagerly, pleading.
"You are really going back to New
York next month-away from these
glorious mountains. away from our lit
tie brook where we have spent 50
many happy hours, away from me-?
She lowered her eyes and plucked
nervously at the soft, moss covered
ground.
at is needless for me to tell you how
happy | have been here with you ana
how hard it is for me to return to my
work-the work / used to love SO
well.r
"And noW?"
Somehow dread returning to it. |
want to stay here among these hills
forever"
The man watched her closely for
few seconds, then he leaned forward
with eager, outstretched arms.
Come to me, beloved I under
stand""
3 =
Samuel Chandler adjusted his RED,
tic to his satisfaction, smoothed his
bristly black hair for the twentieth
time and smiled approvingly as he
noted the reflection in the office mir
ror
ut is time she was here he re
marked anxiously. From her letters
judge my suggestion was just the
tonic she needed"
The door opened softly, and he went
forward eagerly with outstretched
hand. But he uttered sharp cry
when he caught sight of the drawn
white face in the doorway.
"You are i'll, Miss Heath?'
She shook her head YEARLY and
smoothed the folds of her black gown
mo, not i'll, only heartsick."
The sun shone in through the win
dow, gently touching her brow and
warm. red lips and changing the loose
tendrils of her hair into strands OF
glistening gold.
'~Tell me about ii" the man urged
gently.
She gazed with dull, unseeing eyes
around the familiar room, and her lips
auivered pitifully.
II followed your advice. met him
and / loved him. We were very
happy, and now he is dead. You were
mistaken in me, my soul had been
awakened, and | could never toss love
aside, once 1 realized it's sweetness.
But he has been taken from me-Just
at the dawn of our new-found JOY
and am going to England to live with
his mother He said she would love