The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-07-07
THE EVENING STORY
Angles Ambition.
IBy Gerald Prime.1

lBy Gerald Prime.1
They were talking 1t over-Angie and
her pretty mother.
1T certainly must have been graft
fying-in a way said Mrs. Calhoun,
in her leisurely southern monotone.
Her daughter was huttering a piece
OF toast, an occupation which seemed
to demand her utmost concentration.
Mrs. Calhoun slipped her tea in silence
and with a look of polite expectancy.
She always drank tea at breakfast, a
habit which gave her an added dis
tinction in Alabama, where such q pref
erence is unusual.
They were not in Alabama now.
Mrs. Calhoun regretted the fact, and
that they were perched-1nost insecure
ly it seemed to heron the eleventh
floor of a New York apartment hotel.
She had been trying for at least ten
minutes to find out whether or not her
daughter shared her regret, a bit of
information which the younger woman
seemed inclined to withhold for the
present.
well, do you really feel-pleased-
over your-I mean our venture?" con-
tinued Mrs. Calhoun, with gentle in
sistence, putting down her cup and
saucer and letting her hands fall list
lessly into her lap.
This was direct question, and as
such demanded an anSWer-eVen
though it came from her mother, who,
Angie knew perfectlv welf, would have
been neither hurt nor resentful had her
daughter elected to remain silent.
NO. she said, with little laugh
which did not ring right-a fact which
did not escape the attention of her
mother and added greatly to her dis
quietude-"it wasn't at all gratifying.
and I'm not a bit pleased with it. I
just hate 1.-THE whole business. from
beginning to end.''
"Oh, Angie
Il knew itI'' the girl interrupted
recklessly. "I was determined to do
ie and nothing could have prevented
me when the chance came. 1 wouldn't
have accepted a kingdom in exchange
for my opportunity to come to New
York and be an actress. An actress.
indeedi"
You certainly have talent, Angle, q
heap of it, her mother affirmed 10y
ally.
Not a little bit." declared her daugh-
ter positively. I'm Angela Calhoun
first, last and all the time end I never
lose my hateful identity for single
minute. 1t makes no difference wheth-
er the part is Queen Elizabeth or Lit
tie Eya-I'm Angela Calhoun all the
time
I'm mighty glad you are" said her
mother, with a sudden assumption of
spirit that almost transformed her.
IT hope nothing will ever happen to
change you into anybody else. That
Sunless"
Just so-unless," Angie came to
the rescue.
How they did applaud you last
night" said Mrs. Calhoun, returning
| tactfully to the matter in hand. All
those people must have enjoyed it, if
you didn't. I thought they never
would get enough of that last song.
I don't see how you can feel that it
wasn't a success. Everybody in the
house was delighted. Mr.. Goldsmith
| -
to congratulate me, you know"
What did he say?"
HE was too excited to say much of
anything. Our little girls big
winner was one thing. Really, Angie,
when I saw how those people liked it
feeling-well. proud of you
You dear! I wish for your sake
that I might do something really
worth while.'' said Angie. in a voice
that was passing beyond her control.
Never mind, dear" becoming at
you have but to say the word and
we will go south at once. We can go
back to Talladega in a blaze of glory.
Your success last night has made that
possible. Shall I begin to pack up.
Angie ?''
That was all that was required to
bring about instant reaction The
girl abandoned her sensational lapse
with a dexterity that would have
served her admirably on the stage.
Don't let us be sentimental. NOM
sey," she said 1--WE really can't afford
it. No, we won't go back to ITALIA
dega. There isn't a soul in the town
that I ever want to set eyes on again.
Mrs. Calhoun sighed family. 'T
used to think that you and Geon Mar
tin she began, but Angie would not
permit her.
ssAar Martin opd ora r,ara o.
Misunderstanding more she said,
with an air of finality." Then she con-
tinued: 81 shall go right on as I have
begun, am not an actress and
know it, but as long as the public
wants me 1t can have me-and well
come Goldsmith wants me to sign
with him for three years. and I shall
probably do 1t. Of course. / don't ex-
pect to keep up the delusion that long:
somebody is sure to find me out be-
fore very long"
Mr.. Goldsmith is very pleasant
for a foreigner" hazarded Mrs. CAL
houn, because she did not agree with
her daughter in her low estimate of
her histrionic ability and knew that
Angie was not in the mood to be COM
bat ed successfully.
Hes perfectly horrid," declared the
girl, with an emphasis that made her
mother shiver. 'They all are
Then why don't we go back to Ala
bama by the first train 2'' walled the
perplexed woman helplessly.
AS if in immediate answer to her
question. Mr.. Godfrey Martin was an
nounced.
"Are you going to see him % Mrs.
Calhoun asked in a whisper.
Certainly 1T, [. SAY that we are at
breakfast"
Nobody ever breakfasts at this time
hour in TallaEeda. He'll think 1t
mighty strange"
az don't see whv we should be re-
sponsible for that He might have
avoided the difficulty by remaining in
TalIadega-''
"You may be sure that it's some
thing unusual that's brought him to
New York. said Mrs Calhoun. with
puzzled look on her face
"Oh, If you have the slightest SUI
rfosftv to know what brings him. bet