The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1911-01-05
I-Continued.
Copyright. 1909. by Augustus Thomas


Graham still tagged along up to the
very steps. AS she held out her hand
to say goodby to him a man who was
about to enter the theater bowed to
him and said. "Mr. Graham. | believe"
Graham looked at him. a little puz
zled.
"Holcomh is my name" said the
young man in a very pleasant voice
and with an enunciation that carried
weight in itself: we've met Mt the
Players club"
"Oh. yes" said Graham. 81 re mem-
Der very well. You are a friend Of Jim
Hale. Are you playing with this com
pany?"
"We begin rehearsals today" said
HolcOmb
well. that's luck. by gad." said
Graham. Miss Fullerton. may | in
troduce Mr.. Holcomb?" A few 9th
er deft, clever phrases, for young Win
throp was not without mentality. and
he asked Holcomb to give Dora the
benefit of his knowledge and expert.
ence.
II have not had much experience"
said Mr.. Holcomb, las | have only
been On the stage two years. What
ever ! have had. however. shall be
most decidedly at her service, and |
will begin now. We have three min
utes to get on the stage and be ready
for the 10 o'clock call, and 1t will be
a call in a double sense If we are late,
believe me. | will see you again.
he said and bowed to Graham. They
disappeared into the dark alley Of the
theater, and the di~sconsolate young
lover, beating vigorously with his cane
at the stoop ratings and ash cans
along the street, with hat pulled down
over his eyes, walked straight to the
nearest cafe.
y
Graham Winthrop and Willard Hol-
comb were young men Of characters
that widely diverged. Winthrop's fam
lily, long Of great wealth, guaranteed
him a position In the social world
which was unquestionably secure and
impressive to those numerous ambi-
tiOus ~persOnages who aim and yearn
to achieve an entry into fashions eX-
elusive world. But Holcomb. whose
gentlemanly qualities were no less de-
veloped than those Of Winthrop, was
dependent on his own resources and
capabilities for his rise or fall. His
~progenitors had left him a good name;
that was all. His fate was in his own
hands. His ambitious nature. long de
MED the opportunities 1t craved be
cause of his moderate circumstances.
financially speaking. would not permit
him to rest passively and watch events
occur. Society. In the sense of fash
ionable preference. meant little to him.
except as a phase of life affording a
e~vanescent diversions. so cherished by
Graham Winthrop, required what
seemed to Holcomb profigate waste
Of time and energy. He had work to
do. 1t was a mans work In q world
Of men, and Willard Holcomb thrilled
with the desire to show his worth as
a man in the affairs of men.
But he must have his opportunity to
make his start. Probably he would
earn or win this opportunity himself.
Perhaps chance would work in his IA
vor. The most important affairs Of life
are frequently decided by the mys-
terious e%volutions of what men call
chance. All this was within the phi
losophy Of Willard Holcomb. and yet
he did not imagine, Of course. that his
momentary and entirely unexpected
meeting with Graham Winthrop and
Dora Fullerton was to leave an i'm
print on his life and career that not
ever death could erase.