The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1918-03-19

OF a dead friend, and had seen him
| started upon substantial ano prom
Using business career. He had VOL the
love of the superb queen of soIy.
Aeline Ward. That stately woman had
given up her career to become the
wife of man to whom she had given
the deepest love of her heart. She
was wealthy, and up to month ago
Mr.. Marsh, earning the highest COM
pensation in the profession, had won
glorious laurels and money without
stint.
There were those who had envfed
him; there were critics whom his open,
Independent way had offended. Then,
too, he had come to a city where the
audiences were of the coarser grade.
His magnificent rendition of one of the
most peerless Of all Shakesperean char
acters had palled upon the shallow ap-
probation of an audience whose tastes
had been vitiated by the tinselled al
lurements of burlesque and rag-time
music. The management read the end
in depleted audiences. One night there
/ ."eNS ~ oRRAeiQoCg lliC ACAl u AlSSs
In the strength Of his pride Darius
Marsh recinded his contract.
His high-strung temperament re-
sented the ingratitude Of a capricious
public, the petty meannesses Of his
enemies. Sensitive, tuned up mental
ly like to delicate instrument, he re-
solved never again to appeal to popu-
lar favor, and the impulse to end it all
had overweighted his reason for the
| time being.
1t was love and devotion that car
ried the day, the influence of loyal
Harold Wynne, realization of the
unselfish affection of the noble-souled
operate star. Within a weeks time
Wynne had unfolded his plan. Re
luctantly and half obviously Marsh
assented to Its details.
1t was a month later when the
largest theater in the city advertised
as a leading feature for the next
weeks program ''the marvellous i'm
personator, Walsingham." No one had
ever heard of him before, but the state
ment was advertised broadcast that he
was one of the most extraordinary
mimics In the world.
His repertoire included impersona,
tons Of all the great tragedians. So
faithful to nature were these, that
after the first night the house was fair
/ ly packed. The feature became the
attraction Of the week. Then for the
last performance 1t was announced
that Walsingham- "would give an i'm
personation of Darius Marsh In his ia
nous Shakespearean success"
There was a certain mystery sur
rounding Walsingham. He never ap-
! peared in public. He got to his dress
Ing room and out of it wearing a false
beard and evaded all fellow artists.
On the final night of the engagement
a woman sat far back in private box,
She was Aeline Ward. Nearer to the
front sat Harold Wynne.
The impersonatfon of ''the fallen
star" began amid deep hush. Those
who had seen the original role sat
spellbound. Then as the actor backed
off the stage the critics were cheering,
| OlO pay SOClS otOOQ uP WdNlHk IuSlF
arms In frenzy Of enthusiasm. The
vast auditorium was almost scene of
riot. Never had so faithful and thrill
ing portraiture been delivered Amid
thunders Of applause Walsingham re-
turned to the stage. He was recalled
once, twice, thrice. Then, removing
wig and facial mask, he stood revealed
Darius Marsh.
In flash the audience comprehend
ed-then pandemonium brook loose.
Again and again Darius Marsh was
called before the curtain, his old pres
tige re-established. "The fallen star"
was once more fixed in the armament
Of lasting fame.
Not only fortune, not only fame his.
but love-the tender devotion of the
peerless creature. Aeline Ward, whose
clever plan had influenced the test
that led the tickle public back to its old
idol.