The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1907-12-13
was glud to slip off her things ant

was glud to slip off her things ant
creep in between the curtains.
The train soon started, and the noise
died down, but the sobs continued, and
Beatrice sought to comfort the girl.
"You have been away from home
BEFORE" she reminded. "You will get
used to it soon" Miss Stillings turned,
and Beatrice put her arm comfortingly
about the others shoulders.
"1t's this way" explained Miss Still
lings. 1--WE been on the stage ever
since l was a kid. 1t amt that, but
this is the first time I've been away
from Jim since we married"
"You are married?" said Beatrice in
surprise.
"Almost three years." was the an
swer. II married Jim Purroy. He's a
leader. Always before this we got a
show together. This year we couldn't
make it. 1. couldn't afford to travel
along with him. 1t would take all his
salary for fares and expenses, and
we're building a little home down on
Long Island. We've both got to work
until we get that built"
"But you have that to look forward
to-" suggested Beatrice.
"Three years from now" assented
the other. Maybe we can get a show
together again next season, but think
what it will be in the meantime. You're
new, amt you?"
'This is my first season." admitted
Beatrice. II studied for the profession
so l could get in a good company. I
want to work my way up"
Mrs. Purroy (nee Stillings) laughed
bitterly.
II had that idea once" she said.
There's about one in five hundred
that works up to small parts. There's,
n Edna May in about a million cho-
rus girls. l wish I'd had sense enough
to learn typewriting. l guess you don't
know how we live on the road"
"You can live we'll anywhere for
what we get" contended Beatrice.
Mrs. Purroy laughed again.
"You can live good on what you
think you're going to get. But when
they take out fines and shoes and
stockings and gloves and things like
that it's a different story. Say, Kid,
if you've got a fellow that isn't on the
stage forget how nice it's going to
feel to be a second Bernhardt and get
busy with a wedding ring"
Mrs. Purroy quieted down soon, but
Beatrice lay awake thinking Of her
words.
This was all very different from
what she had anticipated. Her par
ents were not rich. but she was used
to living we'll, and the whole reality
was very different from her anticipa-
ton. 1t seemed that she had only
fallen asleep when a pillow banged
against her head and a voice
ed that unless she wanted to miss
breakfast she had better get up and
dress.
The dressing Don at either end of
the car were filed by the early birds,
and there was Il long wait before
Beatrice could get to the washstand,
and then her toilet was accomplished
under difficulties because Of the
laughing, pushing mob of girls that
filled the place to overflowing.
She was sick and tired when the
train pulled into Washington, and the
girls We're hustled across the street for
a hurried breakfast. The breakfast
was distinctly bad. and as Beatrice
went back to the train shed, where
the car had been attached to a way
train, she was bitterly homesick.
|. Her heart stood still as she saw
standing by the ratings a man whose
figure suggested Ben Streator, but
when he turned and Beatrice saw that
1t really was Ben she gave a glad cry
and ran toward him.
"What are you doing here" she
cried.
IT came after you" he explained.
81 met Mr.. Ratsey a couple of days
ago, and it was he who suggested that
I come over. He said he thought that
a night in the car would be all of the
stage experience you'd want. 1t will
be all right If you want to come home
with me. I have it all fixed"
"Home?" echoed Beatrice. "Ben. l
don't want ever to go way from home
again." and she smiled gratefully upon
Ratsey, who stood by the gate regard
ing them with a "bless you, my chill
dren," air. Gle was right. One night
in the car is enough"