The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-08-08
On the
Stairs

Nv CLARISSA MACKIE


)0Iinnie wayland. In the free rural
livery box Linnie found a letter
a attorneys In New York announc-
that great-uncle Of hers had died
left her q legacy. 1t was not
!. ch Of q legacy-only S5O0-but 1t
med an enormous sum to Linnie.
y carried the letter into the house,
II by her radiant countenance the
lily were Informed that something
happened
he first excitement over. the Ques-
/ arose, What are you going to do
Y h It'll Every one had a different
: position. One said, you'd better
!, up a milliner's shop; you're SO
idly at hat trimming" Another sug-
ted a trip. This probably would be
only chance Linnie would ever
q Of seeing anything of the world.
suggestions were of all kinds,
le practical. some ridiculous. Lin
was the only one who proposed
Thing, but she had an idea of her
\n. She had seen travelling theatri-
companies and had been seized
HVh a desire to distinguish herself as
actress
here was plenty of time to consider
. matter, for the division of her un-
estate was slow, and it was a
Egg while before she received her
ok. It was hard for her to realize
so small a bit of paper could
I'D for 80 large an amount. When
received IL her mind was made up,
she announced TO her family and
nds that she was going to New
K to study for the stage
there had been a hubbub about the
Linnie should spend her legacy,
re re was stu more of one now that
had decided upon a method of do
III 30. Those who advised her had no
on which to base their rec
n, mendations. However, most of
m had known of some country girl
20 had tried to make an entry into
t career who had either returned
..ibly disappointed or had never re-
ned at all. But not one had ever
I'm heard Of as even a mediocre &C
boIss. But Linnie argued that she,
ID ing enough money to enable her to
nd st for some time without earning a
,lihood, would have a much better
nee. So TO New York she went to
IN to be an actress.
he first hole in her $500 was made
her fare. The second and a larger
to was made by some lessons she
K from one who declared he could
ke an actress of her within a few
nths. But the few months passed
| she found she had scarcely made
eginning. And yet her legacy was
Fly all gone. She tried to get an
agement on what she knew. but
an her applications a deaf ear was
ned.
nd now commenced a period OF
and rags. The poor girl
led herself this and denied herself
I, every day cutting down her menu
q at last. there was nothing left but
ckers and milk. The sight of eata-
displayed in the windows of res
rants made her all the hungrier.
G tt she knew II she yielded she would
I've . slice on the few dollars that re-
med to her.
,er deficiency in clothes troubled her
much AZ the shortage In food. If
hing succeeds like success, nothing
like failure. Linnie's forlorn ap-
rance Indicated that she was one Of
worlds failures and was by no
ans recommendation. When those
whom she applied for an engage
ut saw Der tawdry apparel they
ned a deaf ear at once.
Of ne evenIng she opened the door OF
Ia hall hedroom and peered out into
a dimly lighted corridor Of the top
u.
rom the basement delicious odors
. roast lamb, with mint sauce, foated
the stairs to taunt hungry Linnie.
81 3 Wray rented rooms and furnished
= ais to select people, but she requir-
that the board be paid weekly with
~ ieviating promptness. So Linnie
II arranged to keep the hall room
s | get her meals outside.
% hy7
e because she needed the dwindling
II re Of money to keep a roof over her
my head and one can eat around
aper than paying 81 per week to
8 Wrny.
Ia 10 Linnie. who had made a luncheon
Ger two meals that day, grew fright
" hungry and wondered if she dared
one OF The eggs she had bought on
way home that night
She c0uldn't smell a boiled egg, "
:, TueG Lsnnie as she withdrew her
I'D and locked her door. 81 shall try.
way.
bronght out a little gas attach.
INT and screwed it to her gas jet On
. resulting blue fame she set a tiny
~lcepan. md presently into the boil
water she dropped an egg.
-a.ateF. as she ravenously ate the boil
!. egg with a rather dry accompani-
INT Of crackers, she thought of home.
4 Ter lettefs home were brave enough,
she did not know that loving eyes