Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1909-03-27

dramas In which the small star could
rhine to advantage.
AS Il stage attraction the child was
wonder. She could play little girls who,
like all the good, die young, and she
also played rough soubrettc parts with
a dash that made more important
managers wish that there were no
children's societies in the large cities
to prevent her appearance in the big
thcatcrs.
Her father, Joe Glidden, had tried
the cities, but after half season he
rcorganizcd his old company and took
to the small towns. where the child
was a favorite and where children's
societies were unknown.
There, among old friends, he felt safe
once more. He staggered about as he
had done before he knew what it was
to regard every stranger approaching
the box office as a possible police otfl-
Ger in plain clothes.
Gladys, as though to make up for
lost time, became more incorrigible
than ever.
Versatility, her precious dramatic
gift, she displayed only on the stage.
The members of her fathers company
never were treated to any private dis
plays of the angel children that Gladys
played to perfection on the stage.
In private life the child was steadily
and consistently a torment. Jack Trent
and Elvia Mordant, OF her patient sup
port were her especial victims.
Gladys sharp eyes had discovered
the birth of love even before Elyia
was certain of her own feelings and
announced that fact to the rest Of the
company at supper that evening. Her
shrill, piping voice. trained to fill a
thcatcr, reached to every corner Of the
dining room, and the gleeful statement
that Miss Mordant is awfully gone on
Jack Trent" set the room in Il roar
With flaming face Elvia sprang to
the laughter of the company and the
other guests ringing in her ears long
after she had reached her room.
Scalding tears stained her pillow,
but she was at last certain that she
did love Trent, and, had he only known,
he had cause to be grateful to the
youngster. Instead he savagely sug-
gcstcd to Joe Glidden that a good
spanking would be the salvation Of the
child.
Gldden knew better than to take the
advice Once, and once only, had
Gladys been spanked. 1t had hap
pened on a Sunday, and business was
bad all the following week, because
the child played abomlnably in spite
Of all threats Not until the promise
was made that she should not be
spanked any more did she appear at
her best again.
Glidden only smiled indulgently at
Trent's suggestion, but Gladys hated
the man for it, and thereafter she Sc
lcctcd Jack and Elvia as her special
victims
1t did not matter that on the trains
they sat at opposite ends Of the car
Gladys would discover Trent gazing
intently into space and call attention
to the fact that he could not keep his
eyes off EIvla.
The company laughed at her pert re
marks, because they We're sclhshly
glad that Gladys found vent for her
love of mischief that did not involve
themselves.
Their laughter encouraged the child
to fresh endeavOrs, and since the two
victims would not provide her with
in1 e., to ,ff rlo
formed the habit Of guying their per
Torrance on the stage.
Jack and Elyia were cast for lovers
roles, and 1t was disconcerting to hear
a sibilant "Ah,' as their lips met in a
stage caress. Only in the thcater did
they see each other now, so Gladys
made those stage scenes moments Of
torture
Not for n moment did the child re-
lent, and her father only smiled indul-
gently at Trent's protests and threats
to leave. Engagements were not easy
to be had in the middle of the season,
and Glidden knew that Trent would
not take chances with mother to sup
port.
ne liu no WISH 10 lose rent, WHO
was a clever man and worth double
what he was getting, but there seemed
small danger of his reSigning, and ii
was not an easy matter to control
Gladys.
No one read better than the child the
true state of affairs, and she made the
most of 1t. More than once Trent
made up his mind to leave In the hope
that Gladys might then leave Elvia in
peace, but Elvia would not hear Of 1t.
BY suggesting that he would leave her
to bear the brunt of the child's cnmity
she dissuadcd him from his purpose.
But the crisis was bound to come.
Gladys, with a sense of false security,
passed all limit. The favOrltc play
with the public was one of her "angel"
parts, and the big scene" In the last
act showed the child at her mothers
knee praying that her father, who had
been estranged, might return.
He is lurking behind the curtains
madly jealous and waiting to kill his
wife when the child Is put to bed.
The naive plea wins him to n belief
In his wife'S innocence.
1t was Saturday night, and the little
thcatcr waI packed to the doors. FL
vio and IacI- had both lnnn accorded