Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-09-04

4A0 1850 60A APbA hAtA W NA0
window.
Miss Dorcas," he did not turn to
look at her, what was the worst
thought you had of me when Enoch
told you-what ~happened?"
The girl paused for a minute before
she answered. 81 thought you we're
weak"
Weak" The man repeated the
word as if trying to comprehend its
meaning.
you should not have allowed
Enoch to stand as the author of your
play, no matter what the circum-
stances were. He is not happy I'VE 1t
today. His nature seems to have
changed. He is not easy to live with
even. oh, / wish it had never hap.
pened!"
Merry waited in silence.
Things must come right, even IL
this lie has been told" She pointed at
the paper which lay at her feet.
There is one way. You al play the
convict so wonderfully that people
must realize that you yourself created
the part"
81 shall never play the convict"
Merry's voice was slow and resolute.
"Oh!" cried Dorcas, who can?
Why, 1 thought your heart was set
on the character"
at was-once."
81 cannot understand"
The mar did no. attempt an expla-
nation.
Andrew Merry" she hesitated as If
searching for words which would not
wrong her brother. did Enoch do you
any-any injustice?"
She waited for an answer during an
infinitely long silence, so it seemed to
her. Then the actor spoke abruptly.
mo. AS ] look back on it now.
went into it with my eyes open. I sim
ply learned that there is no way to
gauge human nature"
Again there was a silence. Dcrcas
was trying to understand, trying to be
loyal to her brother, even while her
heart, aching with unspoken sympathy,
turned to Merry.
Why don't you want to play John
Esterbrook?'" she asked quietly.
81 don't suppose / i have a decent rea-
son, except that when I-gave up the
| play l lost all interest in it. John
E~sterbrook' is nc more to me today
than 'Silas Bagg.'"
'tOhi" cried the girl aghast. How
you have altered!"
81 have" Merry spoke in a hoarse
whisper. He returned to his chair by
the fire and bent to warm his fingers
by the blaze. There was another long
silence. Dorcas was the first to break
it.
Even if it were against your incli-
nations, would you do something to
make some one very happy, some one
who believes in you-who cares a
great deal for you and about your flu.
ture?"
Merry spoke gently. Miss Dorcas,
I'm afraid you are mistaken. There is
nobody in the world to care"
/. She rose to her feet and. leaning on
the mantel, glanced down at him with
ayes from which embarrassment had
suddenly fed.
Zone person-cares very much.
do. / have set my heart on your sue
cess. You have a great future-won't
you work for it? Besides. l am selfish
Her eyes shone with eagerness. 81
want to play 'Cordelia.' Mr.. Oswald
has offered me the part. / have studied
1t. l could play it tomorrow if you
would be my teacher"
Merry turned with a quick gesture
as if to push temptation away from
him. DON'T" he cried. "Ah, Miss
Dorcas, don't go into stage 1ife."
Il shall go into it one or later
She spoke with quiet discrimination
q feel sure l can play .Cordelia;' be
sides, it would be so much easier to
make a beginning with Enoch and Mr.
Oswald and you"
Merry rose and paced for a few
minutes about the room, then turned
to the window and gazed out at the
deserted city. The sleet OF midnight
had changed to a raging storm. The
wind drove the snow in sudden fur
ries, piling it in drifts acros the
square.
Miss Dorcas," he said, come here
The girl crossed the room. why
she cried, cit is a fearful night"
YES. It's a fearful night for the
homeless. Do you know where
might have found shelter tonight if Il
had not been for you? Perhap:
there's a hallway somewhere that
could have slipped into, and for al
hour or two the police would have lief
me undisturbed. l might have founf
an empty bench on a ferryboat, or
the Bowery missions are open; onl.
before one can make up his mind tt
seek a lodging there. they are filed tt
sufocation."
Dorcas shivered.
IF / had known during these weeks
that anybody cared-or believed II
me-perhaps / should not have gon,
so far down the hill. l did not dar'
ave to hope that you thought of m,
again"
Andrew" said the girl, Il care 81
much that l cannot tell you. Som
queer strain in my nature makes nj
WuGu L nave SOI16 Ou6 10 Cal
for. Girls at the convent used t
come to me in all sorts of difficulties
the ones l loved best were the one
who needed me most. They called m
Little Mother"
Little Mother" repeated Merry
then he laughed huskily. If the cir
had known men she would have seel
absolute famine for love, for sympath,
and human understanding in the eye
that were bent upon her.
II take back what I said a few mir
utes ago, Miss Dorcas, about the stag
being no place for you. Women lik
you are needed there"
Thank you" she said with a happ
smile. Wont you come back? Sue,
an opportunity is waiting for yor
! Besides, l could never play 'Cordelis
with anyone but you. and you must b
! my teacher"
T Merry did not answer immediatel,