The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1909-08-27
The Triumph Ofthe Star
by MARY c. BOYLE.

1t had been an unprecedented tri-
umph for Emily Reece when she had
stepped from the ranks of the chorus
| to the leading part in the musical
comedy, and had won even the most
blase and merciless critics by her
| girlish insouciance and the sweet
ness and purity of her wonderful
voice. To Fred Hamilton, the stage
manager, it had been source of
qualification and delight, for it was
he who had discovered in Little
Emily" promise of beautiful future,
and he had left no stone unturned
to assist her in the journey on the
road to fame and fortune. And now
his most cherished desire was to be
realized, for through the influence
of some wealthy patrons of music
and the arts the fair singer was to
head her own company as a star in an
opera which had been written for
her by the leading musician of the
day.
The plans were nearly completed
for the suspicious occasion and the
omnipresent Hamilton was busily en-
gagged in the hundred and one details
incident to prima donna's first APP
| pearance. But there was force
with which the practical and prosaic
stage manager forgot to reckon, in
the person of the little blind god, who
bears the name of Cupid, and who
had sent his love-tipped arrows with
telling aim in the direction of Emily
Reece and the impecunious but hap
py-go-lucky Hugh Kelsey, a bright
| young newspaper man, who "cov-
cred" the Jefferson Theatre where
Emily sang and danced her way into
the hearts of the great army of thea
TRIGGERS.
Hamilton had looked upon the
growing attachment of the two young
people with unconcern, until one day
he was peremptorily sent for by the
brown-eyed little singer who calmly
Informed him that she was engaged
to Hugh, and rather hesitatingly re-
marked that the marriage would take
place in the very near future.
but, of course, the happy event
will not interfere with your debut"
was Hamilton's reply, after he had
offered the stereotyped congratula-
tions, and like bolt from a clear
sky came the astounding reply: 81
intend to retire from the stage for
ever when the present show is over,
for l am anxious to have a home all
my own and bake and brew for the
man / love-
Hamilton was transfixed with as
constituent and rage, until he finally
managed to say scornfully: "Give up
your career, with your beauty and
talent, to be a household drudge for
a man without penny? Pah! it's
preposterous; you'll regret it, see if
you don't and
His remarks were cut short by
Emily: you will please leave me at
once, my decision is irrevocable;
money and fame are not everything
in this world, and you-you are a
mercenary old bachelor without a
particle of sentiment"
Just then the maid announced
''Mr. Kelsey" and with outstretched
hands and caressing smile upon
her lips Emily went to greet Hugh,
and Hamilton, filled with resentment
and chagrin at the failure of his
plans, beat hasty retreat.
The news of the approaching nup-
tials Of the popular actress and the
almost unknown Hugh was heraIded
far and wide,. and when it became
known that Little Emily" was to
abandon the footlights for the
hearthstone it became a nine days
wonder, but the tickle public soon
forgot her and her name was soon
but sweet and far-distant memory.
A year or two efterward Fred
Hamilton, tired and weary of the
strain of booking actors and act
resses, good, bad and mostly indiffer-
ent, shook the dust of the hot, seeth-
ing city from his heels, and in huge
touring car, with but his chauffeur
for company, was off to fresh fields
and pastures new" and was soon
spinning quickly along the country
road with the fresh, cool summer
breeze from the green hills acting as
a balm to his unruly nerves. But
there is always fly in the ointment,
and just when he was in a particu-
larly blissful frame of mind there
was 8 loud report, something snapped
and the machine stopped suddenly,
and despite the united efforts of the
men. refused to move.
To all appearances they were miles