The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1914-09-17


the paper which lay at her feet.
There is one way. You can 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, thought your heart was set
on the character"
'It was-once."
81 cannot understand"
The man did not 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 I look back on 1t now, /
went into 1t with my eyes open. / sim
ply learned that there Is no way to
gauge human nature"
Again there was a silence. Dorcas
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.
Il don't suppose have decent rea-
son, except that when I-gave up the
play / lost all interest In 1t. John
Esterbrook' is no more to me today
| than 'Silas Bagg."
"Oh!" cried the girl aghast. How
you have altered"
"I 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 II 1t were against your incl-
nations, would you do something to
make some one very happy, some one
who believes in you-who cares
great deal for you and about your fu-
tureP
Merry spoke gently. Miss Dorcas,
Tn 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
eyes from which embarrassment had
suddenly fled.
Zone person-cares very much. l
do. l have set my heart on your sue
cess. You have a great future-won't
you work for it? Besides, am selfish"
Her eyes shone with eagerness. II
want to play 'Cordelia.' Mr.. Oswald
has offered me the part. have studied
it. / could play it tomorrow il you
would be my teacher"
Merry turned. with quick gesture
as If to push temptation away from
him. "Don't!" he cried: "Ah. Miss
Dorcas, don't go into stage life!"
IT shall go into it sooner or later"
| She spoke with quiet determination.
Il feel sure can play 'Cordelia;' be-
sides, 1t would be so much easier to
make 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 raging storm. The
wind drove the snow in sudden fur
ries, piling it in drifts across the
square.
Miss Dorcas," he said, come here"
The girl crossed the room. Why"
she cried, at is a fearful night"
Eyes. It's a fearful night for the
| homeless. Do you know where /
might have found shelter tonight if it
had not been for you? Perhaps
there's a hallway somewhere that I
could have slipped into, and for an
hour or two the police would have left
me undisturbed. l might have found
an empty bench on ferryboat, Or
the Bowery missions are open; only
| before one can make up his mind to
seek a lodging there. they are filed to
suffocation."
Dorcas shivered.
IF had known during these weeks
| that anybody cared-or believed in
| me-perhaps / should not have gone
so far down the hill. I did not dare
even to hope that you thought of me
again."
Andrew" said the girl, II care SO
much that I cannot tell you. Some
queer strain in my nature makes me
| happiest when have some one to care
| for. Girls at the convent used to
come to me in all sorts of difficulties;
the ones 1 loved best were the ones
who needed me most. They called me
Little Mother"
Little Mother" repeated Merry;
then he laughed huskily. If the girl
had known men she would have seen
absolute famine for love, for sympathy
and human understanding in the eyes
that were bent upon her.
II take back what said a few min
utes ago, Miss Dorcas, about the stage
being no place for you. Women like
you are needed there"
THANK you," she said with a happy
smile. Wont you come back? Such
an opportunity is waiting for YOU.
Besides, could never play 'Cordel;a'
with anyone but you. and you must be
my teacher"
Merry did not answer Immediately.
Dorcas had grown accustomed to the
long pauses in their conversation and
waited quietly. When he looked I'D
their eyes met-his pleaded with her
during one speeches. moment for all
his shortcomings, for shirked respon-