The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-08-26
On the
Stairs
An Abrupt Meeting and
What II Led To
BY CLARISSA MACKIE

Of Linnie wayland. In the free rural
delivery box Unnie found q letter
from attorneys in New York announc-
Ing that great-uncie Of hers had died
and left her a legacy. It was not
much Of a legacy-only $5OO-but it
seemed an enormous sum to Iinnie.
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 a different
proposition. One said, You'd better
set up a milliner'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 theatri-
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 it was a
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.
II there had been a hubbub about the
way Linnie should spend her legacy
there was still more of a one now that
she had decided upon a method Of do
ing so. Those who advised her had ne
experience on which to base their rec
concentrations. However. most Of
them had known Of some country CIR
who had tried to make an entry int
that career who had either returned
terribly disappointed or had never re
turned at all. But not one had evel
been heard Of as even a mediocre &C
tress. But Linnie argued that she
having enough money to enable her t.
exist for some time without earning {
livelihood, would have a much bette
chance. So to New York she went t.
learn to be an actress.
The first hole in her $500 was mad,
by her fare. The second and a larger
one was made by some lessons sh'
took from one who declared he coult
make an actress Of her within a few
months. But the few months passed
and she found she had scarcely mad,
a beginning. And yet her legacy wal
nearly all gone. She tried to get al
engagement on what she knew. blu
to all her applications a deaf ear wal
turned.
And now commenced a period o
starvation and rags. The poor CIR
denied herself this and denied hersel
that, every day cutting down her men'
till at last there was nothing left bu
crackers and milk. The sight OF eata
bles displayed in the windows of res
taurants made her all the hungrier
But she knew IL she yielded she woult
take a slice or the few dollars that re
NAMED to her.
Her deficiency In clothes troubled hel
as much as the shortage in food. Il
nothing succeeds like success, nothing
fails like failure. Linnie's forlorn ap
pearance indicated that she was one Of
the worlds failures and was by NJ
means a recommendation. When thost
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 ana peered out int
the dimly lighted corridor Of the tor
floor.
From the basement delicious odorI
of roast lamb, with mint sauce, hoateC
ND 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 witt
undertaking promptnesss % Atun"
had arranged to keep the hall room
, and get her meals outside.
Why?
Because she needed the dwindlint
, store Of money to keep q roof over he
bonny head and one can eat around
cheaper than paying 81 per week T.
Mrs. Wray.
So Linnie, vino had made luncheon
, cover two meals that day, sTew fright
fully hungry and wondered If she dare'
boil one Of the eggs she had bought o.
her way home that night
|, "she couldn't smell a boiled egg
, argued Linnie as she withdrew ne
, head and locked her door. Il shall ry
] anyway"
She brought out a little gas attach
, ment and screwed It to her gas Jet Oh
: the resulting blue fame she set q dnl
saucepan, and presently into the bon
ing water she dropped an egg.
Later, as she ravenously ate the bon