Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-03
Copyright, 1907. BY
W. B. MAXWELL.
When the little play was at last acted
All Rights ReserveJ.

When the little play was at last acted
| through without promptings. 1t was q
huge success and completely carried away
the audience. L.Lzie's eyes were shining
She loved acting: as soon as she grew up
she would go on the stage and be an
actress Meantime. she went to bed and
dreamed about it-happy. radiant dreams.
Mr.. Jack was just as nice. nicer II pos
sfble, next hoidays-or vacation. as IL
ought to be called. He was pleased to see
the garden again. and to play In 1t, lam
guidly. because OF the hot weather. with
his little sweetheart. That was the
name he gave Lizzie.
But many weeks before this long. long
vacation was past. trouble and pain be-
gan TO brood over Kings Cottage. Brother
Dick. who was in business now with his
father. was doing far from well at the
yard was doing very i'll. He was I'M
punctual. never up to time in the morn
ing. despite of all efforts made by Mrs.
Price and mamma t. rouse him. He
stayed out too late of night to be fresh
and alert at I o'clock break asst. His
face looked pale and puffy-like young
Mr.. Lardners face: his eyes were some
| times bloodshot. and his hand often
shook. Too often he had such head
ache that he was compelled to stay In
bed till noon. Papa looked stern and sad
when these headaches We're mentioned.
Lizzie heard Mr. Jack talking of the
headaches to Dick. and urging his friend
and drop it, Drop what? Lizzie Won
dered for a moment what he meant: then
thought she understood. Drop staying In
bed when one ought to be up and about.
Then came shadows-deepening, taking
the gladness from her life. Dick was in
disgrace-that was why he now hung
about the house all day long. He had dis
graced himself at the yard-was sus-
pended.
Lying awake at night shs thought of
1t, cried over 1t. From below came the
sound of angry voices-fathers voice was
raised In hot anger, and she lay trem-
bling. Dick In trouble: mother
unhappy; the careless joy had gone from
life.
Then as the autumn advanced, 1t
seemed that all her little world was
tumbling into chaotic gloom. Mrs. Price
told her of things coming. Dick was to
be given another chance. She to be
sent to school. She must not make
fuss, because mamma was so unhappy.
One afternoon. in the garden. she told
Mr.. Jack of her almost unbearable dis
tress. There had been no games today
although the visits of Mr.. Jack had be
come rare of late. and now that they had
him. they should have made the most of
him. But they were without heart for
play; they all three sat dsconsolately in
the summer house. and. while the two
young men smoked their pipes. Lizzie
looked out at the roofs and chimneys and
thought
1t was as though Dicks disgrace was
something visible, palpabe, far-reaching
all-embracing. 1t had spread out over her
and smiling Jack: 1t had stretched forth
like a dull veil all over the town of Med
Cord. The sunlight seemed weak and
cherries. as If shining through mist; the
flag the top of the White Hart Hotel
had lost its gaiety and bright color; the
zinc dome of Selkrks big drapery estab-
lishment looked ugly and ominous: the
brick tower of the brewery. rising above
alar Itvva
and vague and terrible Behind her the
dry leaves from the walnut trees fell or
stirred on the path. with faint cracking
sound. 1t was the saddest and most silent
autumn day that she had ever known.
Presently Mrs. Crunden. coming a little
way down the garden from the house,
called to Dick. She wanted to speak t.
him, 1t appeared. confidentially. Dick
went to his mothers call, and sullenly,
with hands in pockets, walked by her sida
to the house.
Then Lizzie told Jack of her pain. She
sat on Jacks knee, and. with her arms
round his neck, sobbed out all the trouble.
-" And. and don't want t. go to
school. l shall die if 1 am sent away
'Oh. no. said Jack. You'll like it
after bit
Never" sobbed Lizzie But I must
go because Mrs. Price says it makes
mother unhappy. And. OH am I'M
happy. Oh, Jack-can't you help us?''
what can / do?" SAID Jack I'D do
anything in the world for my little
sweetheart"
You do really love us?" sobbed Lizzie.
That's not make-believe. is it?"
''Of course 1t isn't
Mr.. Jack stroked her soft hair; with
his silk handkerchief dried her wet eyes;
with kind. consoling words endeavored to
bring her ease of mind. She was. in fact.
easier for his sympathy and. ere Dick
Joined them again, smile of hope flick
cred about her trembling lips and
through the final installment of her
tears.
(To be Continued Next Sunday)