The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-13

! her. II became known that she would
never sing again. A cold. some in
f1ammation of the larynx, an ignorant
Italian doctor-and the mischief was
done. The voice that had charmed the
world could only speak now. Marian g
money had been spent royalty She
had never married. At first she lived
in the hope of regaining her vocal
powers. Then, forced to earn living
she went on the stage. Slowly the
memory of her charm waned. None
would have known the wonderful sing
er in this second-rate actress. now
verging upon middle life. who played
with small stock companies in all the
towns of America.
One day, when she was at the end
of her resources, stranger introduced
himself to her. He wished to start a
company Of his own. 1t was hobby
of his, he explained. Would she be
the perpetual star" and let him bear
the expense and take what profits
there were? She consented. From that
moment her company became a fea-
ture of all the second-rate cities. The
strangers money literally supplied
the annual deficit His checks came
with due regularity. Marian Kempner
had become the pensioner Of an I'M
known man.
About this time "Hiram's Folly"
was completed. The empty house
stood on the hill. Hiram lived in a
cottage below. He had suddenly aban-
doned all his enterprises; with COM
Portable income, he lived solitary
life in Rundle's Bay. He was often to
be seen upon the cliffs, spy-glass in
hand. People said that he was wait
ing for some ship that never came in.
The summer after his retirement
the order went out that Marian's COM
pany was to tour New England, espe-
cially the coast towns. 1t played from
Newport to Bangor and back again.
The next year the same itinerary was
scheduled. And that was when the
Patagonia" found her end upon the
rocks Of Rundle's reef.
Now, whether Smith had known
that some day the treacherous rocks
would find the vessels keel, OF VIII Their
the captain had been bribed to run his
vessel ashore, was never known. But
1t was a wild winters morning when
Marians company found their vessel
stranded off shore, in danger Of break.
n rot IN unI
unteer in the lifeboat crew. And the
first person whom he encountered
upon the vessels deck was Marian.
He drew her to one side.
There's plenty Of time." he said.
"The ship don't look like breaking up
for awhile. You wouldn't be sorry II
the company broke up with her. ]
reckon"
mo-" she said. looking at him.
"No."
Some folks lives break up like
Ships" said Hiram, and that was the
widest flight he ever made into
metaphor.
Eyes," she said. laughing, and shiv-
ering in the wind. You're right"
you don't remember Rundle's
Bay?" asked Hiram. you we're never
here before?"
YES" she answered, with sudden
remembrance. THAT was long ago,
though-fourteen years and more"
ITS been longer for me-" answered
Hiram Smith. you don't recall that
boat ride down by the reef and how I
said I'd get you again? I've got all
I've wanted but you, Marian. Now
I'm going to have you as we'll. That's
our house on the hill. Now we'll get
into the boat"
That was all the guides story. But.
the depths that underlie the
calm exterior of the New England ma
ture. suspected that there was more.
And l pictured Hiram. whose fourteen
years were rewarded. and his relent.
less quest that was crowned with sue.
cess. Then, looking up, saw children
on the steps Of "Hiram's Folly" and
heard their distant laughter, and then
knew that the story had not been
told in its completeness.
Copyright 1918. by W. G. Chapman.)