The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-08-07
JOHN PRINGLE'9
CHANCE
By Alicia Ramsey.

bat be WAS genius his lrends salu
he was a fool; he himself said he was
an uss As a matter Of fact, he was
an three, but II there was anything
TO judge between the definitions, il
was John Pringle who was right
When he was a boy John Pringle
wanted to 60 into the church. HIS
ambition was 10 be eaten as mis-
sionary by the gentle savage beyond
The southern seas. His mother, who
had dreamed dreams Of seeing her
son in o round collar and a soft felt
hat, openly encouraged the boy TO put
bis pennies into the missionary box,
and wept in secret at the thought OF
her Johnnie being roasted on a spit
Three years later, however, having
visited The wicked pantomime by
stealth for the first time, John Pringle
informed his Mortified parent on his
return that he didn't want to be mis-
sionary any longer but intended TO
be clown. John Pringle's mother
made the boy write out the Ninety
third psalm, and fell on her knees and
thanked Heaven privately when her
Johnnie had been dismissed TO an
early and impenItent bed.
AT the age Of lG, John Pringle sold
himself body and soul to a touring
theatrical company for three dollars a
week
For FIVE years John Pringle re-
manned in the same company; then he
fell in love. She had an artificial
color. an unnatural waist and know
ing eye. She agreed to marry John
Pringle when his salary should reach
the fabulous salary of ten dollars a
week. Meantime, she carried John
Pringles ring in her purse instead OF
on her finger She said that il the
stage manager knew Of her engage
ment it might spoil her chance.
While he looked his betrothed rar
away with the stagemanager She
also ran away with John Pringle''
engagement rlng-not inside hel
purse.
AS the reward Of virtue Johr
! Pringle spent FIVE weeks in a hospital
/ The doctors said it was nervous ex
4 haustion: John PTingle knew it wa
t wounded heart When he got NJ
E John Pringle's eyes were still NOR
/ curious and John Pringle's face wa
e still more sad.
Fifteen years passed, and JONI
J, PFingle was still waiting for hl
L chance. It was a pleasantly anon
It his fellows to send him humorou
II postcards from managers Of theateF
e asking him to give them an int
o view with view to his playing tn
p leading part John Pringie invarii
s bly, answered the postcards, and il
It yariably smiled pleasantly when tf
n indignant managers inclosed his pos
card in their reply letters. 1t vi
lr while he was answering bogus a
vertisement. indeed, that John Pring
at met his fate.
It. John Pringle's fate was young ar
le slender, with a iiuctuating color,
i, overstrained heart, and a sensitn
n mouth. Within a month John Pring
had married her Their joint incom
IN at that time represented the intere:
er ing sum OF $l2 week. During the
to waits" at rehearsal they would
be and hold hands in corners, and VIII
he per together OF what they should
in when John Pringle got his chance
lg, was to play Hamlet, and she was
he wear white satin and diamonds, g
ir sit in box and applaud.
Ar Meantime Mr.. and Mrs. Jo
Pringle starved.
At the end Of a year John Prinl
became a father. Basing his ella
to consideration on the merits OF tf
- interesting fact. John Pringle laid
long apprenticeship before the mi
aeer and asked him for a rise. T
a. manager elapped John pringle on {
-, d back. gave him a whisky, and Il
~ him not to talk such rot John Prini
:, refused the whisky and went no
a.. to Mrs. John Pringle and lied.
said that. by virtue of becoming
ther. he had been raised. Mrs. Jc
Pringle had beef steak to celebr
the occasion. and chatted gaily in
twilight of the future that awaited
baby now that his father had bel
10 get his chance -Four days lat
John Pringle, who had starved b
self to a shadow. tainted at reheaI
M and was sent home in cab
p The shock upset John Pringle,
also upset John Pringle's wife.
week or two later. John Pringle W
abont Birmingham in brown c
supplemented by band Of Grape.
week later, The little John Pringle,
@ finding patent food as administe
Internationally by an intermltt
landlady sufficiently interesting. II
conveniently died The ladies
gentlemen Of the company and
manager sent a wreath Of orcl
which. converted into food, VI
probably have saved John Prini
vile. They said 1t was quite a
nance
The day after the baby's fun
John got his chance.
lie played the part Of boy o