The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1909-02-21

drawer for an envelope. II ha,
hoped to number your nrst anon
these few"
He held the envelope toward heI
and for a moment she hesitated, Sh
seemed about io leave the room, hu
/ she turned and faced him again,
"lou told me once that you heve
would marry an actress" she Sai,
tensely WAS Il because because 80,
/ did not want me on the stage that yol
THAT YOU wrote as you didg"
u have made no secret of my ad
miration for you" said Hartley sim
/ ply, ''and ! may have made the re
I mark you attribute to me, but 1t was
with no desire TO drive you from the
stage that I framed my criticism as |
did,
Cant you see" he continued pas.
s:onately, "the awful position in which
/ was placed, IfIpraised your acting,
should have made my paper the
laughingStock Of the town. ImI spoke
the truth knew that should lose
you. Every line Of the story In this
mornings paper was studied that |
might speak ~ warmly as | dared
without stultifying the paper"
1T was a little better than the rest. =
admitted Norma, ~but l thought you
had been little kind SO that | would
not suspect how you had induced the
other critics to be SO mercileSS."
ION the contrary, saw none OF the
boys" he declared. II was far too
sick at heart to mix with them and
hear their ugly comments"
WAS ! really as bad as that?" asked
the Girl wnnderingly Il thought Il
was because was an amateur and
had the money to hire the theater and
the company. They always Jump
upon the rich amateurs, had heard.
/ thought that was II. Was l really
as bad as all thaty"
Don't ask me-" pleaded Hartley,
but the pirl persisted.
"You have a good voice and a good
presence" he said slowly. You have
some crude ability. but that Is all.
You lack the spark OF genius. Even
money cannot buy that"
''Then You think | win never be an
actress" she asked with quiverlng
lip. Hartley shook his head. and she /
turned away to the window. pressing
her brow to the cool pane. against
which the sleet ratified angrily.
For several minutes she stood Thus 4
looking cut into the whlrling snow
and hail with unseeing eyes, while
Hartley silently watched her
He would have given the world TO
AXE her in his arms and comfort her.
put instinctively he realized that she
must fight her battle alone. She was
he one woman IN all the world to
lin, and vet he dared not speak.
AT last she turned. and now her eyes
we're smiling. though her lips still
vere drawn and white.
'Why struggle against unanimous
You must be right"
he conceded. Il never shall make an
ctress, and you said that you never
Tould marry an actress"
"rd marry you if you were Bern
ardt and Duse in one" he cried, shut !
rather would marry Just you. dear.
Win you have me? In spite of the
low that have struck your pride
IN you love me?' \
II hate to marry a wife beater." she
lid, with 4 wan little smile. ''but. d
rank. l think I'd rather have your !,
We than to be great actress, and
don't mind the notice-now." u
Jimmie, coming in with a card.
Irned and fed precipitately. Il
Il used to think that Mr.. Murphy s.
Id the best Of it, goin' to prize fights /,
/ ball games" he said rehectively. =
,ut l guess it's Mr.. Hartley that has
e cinch. I'd rather kiss that pippin
an know the hull ball team"