The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1916-07-21
On the
Stairs
An Abrupt Meeting and
What Ii Led To
BY CLARaSSA MACKIE

There was windfall in the home
OF Linnie Wayland. In the free rural
delivery box Iinnie found letter
from attorneys In New York announc.
ing that a great-uncle of hers had died
and left her legacy. 1t was not
much of a legacy-only $500-but 1t
seemed an enormous sum to Linnie.
She carried the letter into the house.
and by her radiant countenance the
family were informed that something
had happened.
The first excitement over. the ques-
ton arose. What are you going to do
with it? Every one had different
proposition. One said. You'd better
set up milllner's shop; you're so
handy at hat trimming" Another sug
gested trip. This probably would be
the only chance Linnie would ever
have of seeing anything of the world.
The suggestions were Of all kinds,
some practical, some ridiculous. Lin
ME was the only one who proposed
nothing, but she had an idea of her
own. She had seen travelling theatre
cal companies and had been seized
with desire to distinguish herself as
an actress.
There was plenty Of time to consider
the matter, for the division Of her un.
cle's estate was slow, and 1t was
long while before she received her
check. 1t was hard for her to realize
that so small bit Of paper could
stand for so large an amount When
she received it her mind was made up,
and she announced to her family and
friends that she was going to New
York to study for the stage.
If there had been hubbub about the
way Linnie should spend her legacy,
she had decided upon method of do
ing so. Those who advised her had no
experience on which to base their rec
concentrations. However. most of
them had known of some country girl
who had tried to make an entry into
that career who had either returned
terribly disappointed or had never re.
turned at all. But not one had ever
been heard of as even q mediocre ac-
tress. But Linn.e argued that she.
having enough money to enable her to
exist for some time without earning
livelihood. would have much better
chance. So to New York she went to
learn TO be an actress.
The first hole in her $500 was made
by her fare. The second and Il large
one was made by some lessons she
took from one who declared he could
make an actress of her within u few
months. But the few months passed
and she found she had scarcely made
beginning. And yet her legacy was
nearly all gone. She tried to get an
engagement on what she knew. but
to al her applications q deaf ear was
turned.
And now commenced period OF
starvation and rags. The poor girl
denied herself this and denied herself
that, every day cutting down her menu
till at last there was nothing left but
crackers and milk. The sight of eata-
bles displayed in the windows of res
taurants made her all the hungrier.
But she knew if she yielded she would
take a slice off the few dollars that re-
manned to her.
Her deficiency In clothes troubled her
as much as the shortage in food. If
nothing succeeds like success, nothing
fails like failure. Linaie's forlorn ap.
pearance indicated that she was one of
the worlds failures and was by no
means a recommendation. When those
TO whom she applied for an engage
ment saw her tawdry apparel they
turned a deaf ear at once.
One evening she opened the door OF
her hall bedroom and pcered out into
the dimly lighted corridor of the top
floor.
From the basement delicious odors
of roast lamb. with mint sauce. Coated
up the stairs TO taunt hungry Linnie.
Mrs. Wray rented rooms and furnished
meals to select people. but she requir.
ed that the board be paid weekly with
Underwriting promptness. SO Linnie
had arranged to keep the hall room
and get her meals outside.
Why?
Because she needed the dwindling
store Of money to keep n roof over her
bonny head and one can eat around"
cheaper than paying 81 per week to
Mrs. Wray.
SO Linnie. who had made luncheon
cover two meals that day, grew fright.
fully hungry and wondered IL she dared
boil one of the eggs she had bought Oh
her way home that night.
'She couldn't smell a boiled egg"
argued Linnie as she withdrew her
head and locked her door. IL shall try.
anyway"
She brought out little gas attach.
,nent aad sore we'd 1t to her gas jet. On
the resulting l,lue flame she set tiny
saucepan. and presently into the boil.
ing water she dropped an egg.
Later, as she ravenously ate the boil
cd egg with a rather dry accompani-
ment of crack ers. she thought of home.
Her letters home were brave enough.
out she did MT know that loving eyes
read discouraHement between the lines.
When they s,nt money TO her she In
variably returned IT.. saying that she
beJi enough icft. When she needed