The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-26
TIE EVENING STORY
CIemina Culpepper, Actress.
By Annie Hinrichsen.)

quickly and leaned forward in his seat.
It was only resemblance which had
startled him, he assured himself Dor
othy Blair would not be playing a
minor part in second-rate company.
/ This tired, work-aged actress with
Dorothys clear, beautiful eyes could
not be the charming young woman who
three years before had refused to marry
him.
He had gone abroad Immediately
after her refusal and bits of home Cos
sip reached him at long intervals. He
heard that Dorothy, pursuing a dream
she had always cherished, had gone on
the stage. OF her success or failure he
had heard nothing. Tonight, his first
evening in his own land, he had gone
into this theatre because it was near
his hotel.
The woman on the stage played her
insignificant part with a mediocrity of
ability. Her work was not good and it
was not conspicuously bad. It was COM
monplace, and the audience paid little
attention to her. On the bill her name
was Clemina Culpepper.
Seymour's surprise at what he had
considered a resemblance became APP
prehension, dread and at last an aching
horror. The actress was Dorothy. The
hard, strained voice, the stiff stereo-
typed movements, the lines and shad-
ows which showed beneath the paint
had not belonged to the Dorthy he had
known. Only her eyes were unchanged
and by them he recognized her.
When the play had ended, he was at
the stage door.
Richard, you have come back When
did you come? How long have you been
in the city?''
Il arrived today. I went into the
theatre tonight and recognized you. Let
us go to some place where we can talk
Don't you want something to eat?"
to a quiet place, Richard? I am wear
ing very shabby gown
1t was shabby gown, he noticed
when she removed her long black coat
in the little restaurant. Her hat. too,
was shabby. She had removed only
part of her makeup and her face was
full of lines and shadows
Tell me about yourself. Richard?
You have been successful. I am glad
want to hear about your work.
Il don't want to talk about myself,
I want to talk about you. Are you hap
py on the stage? Are you satisfied
with the work you are doing?''
You did not like my acting tonight,
did you?" she asked, ignoring his ques-
ton. you think I am a poor actress
in poor company"
Il hoped for greater success for you,
Dorothy"
"Of course you did Dick, and you are
disappointed to find me a shabby, sec
ond rate actress
Why don't YOU leave the stage?"
I have my living to make"
Dorothy, I can't stand this-I can't
let you slave your life away in a pro-
fession for which you have no talent
in which you have become only a sad
travesty of the beautiful happy girl
you used to be. Forgive my brutal
frankness,. I don't wish to hurt you.
But I am so unhappy to find YOU in
these C1rPHn1
saying what I think"
Dorothy's chin was in the palm of one
hand. With the other hand she was
turning her fork over and over on the
table and watching it intentlv
You are right, Dick" she said. with
out lifting her eyes from the moving
fork "Clemfna Culpepper is sad
travesty."
Dorothy will you marry me?"
Do you wish to marry a woman with
no beauty, no talent battered fail
ure? Pity, Dick, is not love"
But 1 love you, Dorothy I have AL
ways loved you. I want you even more
than I did three years ago. You are
still the same Dorothy at heart. Your
eyes are as sweet and as true as they
were the last time I saw you"
"a successful man ought not to
marry a shabby actress
IT hate success. 1 sat in the theatre
tonight hating it because it had to
come to me instead of to YOU I could
have driven it away with a club if I
could have made it go to you. Why
should it come to a great hulking man,
who can take care of himself, and shy
away from a gentle girl? Will YOU
marry me, DOrOthy?"
Yes, I'll marry you-un1ess you de-
eide that you don't want me. There is
something which you will have to know
and-and-you may not want me then"
There is nothing that can come be-
tween u.s.
'fWill you promise me that, Dick?
Will you promise not to refuse to
marry me when you learn-the-the
something which I shall have to tell
you?''
Il promise. Where do you Iive?' he
asked, as he signaled a cab.
She mentioned a weIl-known hotel.
He stared in amazement. For several
minutes neither of them spoke.
As the cab turned into a brilliantly
lighted street Dorothy laid her hand on
his arm Look, Dick she said softly,
''at that sign"
Before a large theatre stood a huge
billboard bearing in electric lights the
names of the leading members of the
company playing there
Dorothy Blair f1ared at the top of
the board.
What does that mean? Are there
two of your name or have you been
"Dick your voice is hard and cruel.
Don't speak so to me. 1 am the Dor
othy Blair who is playing in this the
atre Clemina Culpepper is a poor,
broken-down actress who was in the
same company that I was the first
year. was the stage. She was very