The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1916-08-24
On the
Stairs
An Abrupt Meeting and
What II Led To
BY CLARlSSA MACKlE

from attorneys In New York annuunc.
ing that great-uncle OF hers had died
and left her legacy. IL was not
much Of a legacy-only SJoo-but Il
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 III Every one had n different
proposition. One said, You'd better
set up milliners shop; you're so
handy at hat trimming" Another sug
gested a 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 theatri
cal companies and had been seized
with desire to distinguish herself as
an actress.
There was plenty OF time 10 consider
the matter, for the division of her un.
cle's estate was slow, and It was a
long while before she received her
check. 1t was hard for her TO realize
hat ne Ap
stand for so large an amount When
she received 1t 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,
there was still more of a one now that
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 Linnie argued that She
having enough money to enable her to
exist for some time without earning n
livelihood. would have "a 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 larger
one was made by some lessons she
took from one who declared he could
make an actress Of her within few
But the few months passed
and she found she had scarcely made
a beginning And yet her legacy was
nearly all gone. She tried to get an
engagement on what she knew, but |
to all her applications a deaf ear was
turned
And now commenced a period Of
starvation and rags. The poor girl
denied herself this and denied herself
that, every day cutting down her menu
ill at last there was nothing left but
crackers and milk. The sight Of eata.
0les displayed In the windows of res.
aurants made her all the uungrier
But she knew If she yielded she would
AXE a slice off the few dollars that re.
NAMED TO her
Her deficiency In clothes troubled her
IS much as the shortage In food. If
othing succeeds like success, nothing
afls like failure. Linnie's forlorn ap.
earance indicated that she was ofie of
be worlds failures and was by no
,eans recommendation When those
D whom she applied for an engage.
lent saw her tawdry apparel they
lrned deaf ear at once.
One evening she opened the door Of
er hall bedroom and peered out into
he dlmly lighted corridor Of the top !
DOT. ,
FROM the basement delicious odors S
roast lamb. with mint sauce. f1oated
the stairs TO taunt hungry Linnie. G
rs. Wray rented rooms and furnished q
eals to select people, but she reauir. /
that the board be paid weekly with s
ldeyiating promptness. So Lipuie
a arranged TO keep the han room Y
d get her meals outside.
Why? 81
Because she needed the dwindlins r,
IRE OF money TO keep a roof over her
my head and one can eat around"
eaper than paying 81 per week 10 o.
=. Wray -,
20 Linnle, who had made a luncheon
'er two meals that day, grew fright. b,
~ hungry and wondered If she dared gr
one OF the eggs she had bought on ar
way home that night
She couldn't smell boiled egg, Ia,
ued Linnie as she withdrew her
d and locked her door. II shall try. he
way"
1e brought out little gas attach M
Il and screwed 1t to her gas let On "
resulting blue fame she set tIpv =.
'epan. and presently into the boil tir,
water she dropped an egg. &
tier, as she rayenously ate the bog Poi
'gg with rather dry accompanj ism,
Of crackers. she thought Of home doc
r letters home were brave enough y
she did not know that loving eyes San
discouragemeSt between the lines si,,,
u they sent money 10 her she IN k,,