The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-04

that ne wasn't there to greet me. My
red portfolio lay ready. which he
always carried from the dressing room
that. during my wait. I might write
ONE. But he was not by my side
asking wot would sye to 'em.
A sound SO small and indescribable
that 1t might be termed the heaviness
OF the silence caused my eyes to rest
upon him. He was in the far corner
OF the screen, sitting on the floor. with
his face to the wall. There was no
word from him. no cry. beyond long
quiet sob which wouldn't down. But
the little shoulders heaved continually,
rising and falling, rising and falling.
1t was the more grim in that he
felt himself securely hidden from us
all. yet he was in plain view of the
gallery and balcony. Only. the spec
tators of our merry comedy would
never have believed that the amusing
little fellow crouching there could be
sweating out his agony in the Garden
OF Gethsemane.
Occasionally he lifted his hand to
his face, and I knew that the rain Of
tears must be terrible. ] cried too
all my makeup off-and waved away
those who came to ask. Once I went
over and made as II to love him, but
he shook himself free. Then. fearful
that I was hurt. he caught my dress.
although he didn't turn. Its all
right. it's all right" he choked.
| went outside to talk ways and
means with the others. There were
many stage waits that evening. A
picnic was devised, which he gently
enjoyed, but at night came the fight
in his little garden. On the fourth
day he asked the governess to go
home, and she had sought to quiet him
by the formula which had never failed
with all her earlier charges. He would
be beaten by those at home. beaten if
he left and sent his father no more
money. And the Gods truth" she
had added to me awfully.
To try to dull the terror Of that
word We filled his day with poor dis
fractions. even his lessons were sus-
pended. but at bedtime he begged
that she would send him homeland he
would take the beating.
We were mad creatures in the
theatre when this news came to u.s.
With our natural moderation for all
moderate measures we decided that
one Of us should go with him, stay in
the house. shield him from punish
ment, make up the weekly pound
among ourselves, break up the show
If necessary" to make Philip Bites
himself again.
The manager, just man, looked
at us coldly: the governess asked us
to wait. l strobe into my canvas
shelter, hoping that a sight of Philip
would lend me some of his control.
He had reached the wiping away
stage; the small handkerchief, an i'm
plement new to him, was receiving
steady employment. 1t was the period
when l dared speak.
Il am sending away money to-
night" l. whispered to him loudly as
| picked up my portfolio.
He came and stood beside me. DO
you send 1t every week?" he gulped,
Yes I answered
80 do l."
rest of us. All the grownups help
Why. you're a regular man" Tenta
lively ! offered him the straw.
IHlllp caught the Straw, ne sweet
ness or responsibility stole over him
II keep 'em all alive" he lisped.
blessed the governess for the
wisdom Of that line to him. IF that's
so you're more a man than any of tn,
other actors here. All Of them help
but YOU alone keep 'em alive Philip
Knee high. he remained quietly by
me while the weight OF 1t settled dow
upon his little shoulders. never to III
again. But the sobs stopped, he &C
cepted a limedrop and in few day
the smile came back.
Step by step he learned the lessons
Of the stage which must be suffered
and enjoyed. All but himself h
learned. himself and the players re
latiOn TO his work. At the first re
hearsal he had nearly split his littl
sides over the antics OF the older chill
dren in the play, He esteemed 1t
privilege to be allowed to run upo,
the stage with them and asked eacl