Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1914-07-15

[aQ RcTVSS nun W0eu was QOlQA dramaics on the Pittsburgh Union. He was genial lad. but there wasn't much for him to tell an interviewer. He had been born and raised in a western town and then apprenticed to country bank. He hated figures and loved the stage. He stuck to the ledgew for while because he was all his mother had. l guess she worshiped him."
 How did he happen to go on the stage?"
 Game on to New York, as they all do sooner or later, and began with a turn in a vaudeville house. He had ched q salary of fifty week. He was perfectly happy except for one thing-he couldn't get the mothers loneliness out of his mind. They wrote to each other, every day"
 q think I should like him." sug- gested Dorcas.
 "I gave Merry all the space next morning instead of the dancer, and he wrote me & grateful letter. l didn't see him again until two years later, when 1 came to New York. 1 found ] his name in the cast of light opera company on Broadway. He was pretty far down the list, but before the thing had run two weeks he was moved up 1 to second place. His work was un- usual. He's the funniest Merry An drew 1 ever saw, yet once in while there's 8 touch of whimsical, fearful Ii. man-wink."
 Take me to see him." cried the girl eagerly.
 We'll go tomorrow. It's his closing night in The King at Large.' He's bigger favorite than several of the big all these years he's never taken the step that would bring him to the top." '.'Why?"
 "The Lord knows. One manager died, another went under. It's the un- certainty of stage life.'
 And his mother?" asked Dorcas.
 "She died suddenly last season. A the middle of a performance, when he went off the stage. He dropped as if he'd been shot. They rang down the curtain until the understudy could get into his togs. He didn't act for two months. l thought he would never brace up. l had him here half the win ter trying to cheer him. He gave me the dumps.'
 Poor fellow" cried Dorcas.
 'I reused him through his pride. He hadn't cent to his name, SO 1 shamed him into going back to work. He earns lots of money, but it gets away from him."
 Wentworth gaze turned to the lit- ter of chips on the table. His sisters eyes followed.
 "Is it that?" she asked.
 Partly"
 The girl rose to her feet. She put her hands on her brothers shoulders and gazed down into his face.
 "Enoch," she said hesitatingly,l I wish you wouldn't. You could help your friend if you would turn over a new leaf yourself"
 We both swore off tonight for good and all, little girl" Wentworth took her hands between his own and looked into her eyes with resolute look. "I want you to help both of us-Merry and me. The evil of the world was never whispered inside convent walls. You've left quiet, simple life-for a very different world. There's more mission work waiting you right here than if you had taken the veil'
 s'Enoch," the girls face was grave and earnest. "Ehoch, nothing would ever make me take the veil. 1 have only one ambition-I want to go on the stage"
 Good Lord!" cried Wentworth, q never dreamed of such a future-for you.
 You don't know stage life as I do," he continued seriously. There are wonderland men for that natter who go into the profession clean skinned, clean souled. They spend their lives in it and come out clean; but there are experiences they never forget"
 'Is life as bad as that?" the girl asked simply.
 Life is as bad," her brother answered slowly. :and yet would as willingly see you go on the stage as into society," mean fashionable society, as I know it here in New York. newspaper man sees the under side of life"
 Ut would not hurt me-" The girl tossed back a heavy braid of hair which fell over her shoulder, and knelt al Wentworth's knee.
 "1 have you always to turn to, big brother" she whispered. She laid her cheek fondly against his hand. Don't you remember that used to be the only name had for you? You were so big. so strong. so wise and so-old. used to sit on the gatepost, waiting for you to come home. Don't you remember our Saturday tramps. how we used to play T spy in the orchard. and went bird's-nesting, picnicking and fishing, or playing Indian camp on the island?"
 Enoch clasped her hands tightly. q remember, little Dorry. They were