Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1919-09-25
CHAPTER vi.
Strangers In the House.

The news in the letter alarmed Et-
ia not little; but when she reflected
upon it, she remembered that it was
just such news as she had been ex-
pecting all along. Her adventure had
been for day. She had never hoped
that it would be more. The desire to
appear upon the stage of a theatre
had haunted her since her childhood
Now she had gratified it. Why, then,
should she complain?
True. the glamour of the stage no
longer deceived her. All the gilt edge
OF her dreams had vanished at IRE
hearsal. She no longer believed the
theatre to be a paradise on earth. 1t
was somewhat gloomy. business.like.
and sordid arena Of which the excite
ments were purely personal, and con-
cerned chiefly with individual success
and achievement. These she had now
experienced and found them unsatis-
tying. A morbid craving for some
thing she could not express or define
remained her legacy. Sometimes she
almost wished that q man would make
love to her. The homage of men, she
had read, always attended success
upon the stage. Eta would have
been delighted to evade her pursuers,
to see their flowers upon her table, to
read their ridiculous letters.
For the moment, however, her dra-
matte experiences appeared likely to
be somewhat prosaic. She had an
swered Mr.. Charles lizard with the
intimation that she would give him a
definite reply within week, and with
that, perforce, he had to be content.
The early promise of success for
"Haddon Hall" was amply justified.
The business done at the Carlton
Theatre proved beyond experience.
There were two matinees q week. and
splendid houses to boot. Eta delight
ed IN the triumphs Of these more than
words could tell. The thunderous ap-
plause, the ringing cheers, the fire.
quent calls, animated her whole being
and awoke in her the finest instincts
Of her Inheritance. She knew that
she had been born an actress, and that
nothing would change her destiny. All
the frivolous life of the theatre could
show her made their instant appeal
to her senses and were enjoyed with
a childs zest. Her gestures were
quick and excited. and, as little Dulcie
Holmes would say, 80 French" She
could behave like schoolgirl some
times-a schoolgirl freed from bond
age and ready for any tomboy's play.
This was her mood on the after
noon of the seventh day after the first
production of "Haddon Hall'' at the
Carlton Theatre. The exceedingly
"genteel" Lucy Grey had invited
few friends to tea upon that occasion;
and an artist, known to all the half.
penny comic papers as Billy" a lodg-
er in the same house as Lucy, kindly
put his studio at the disposal of the
company. Here for time gentility
reigned supreme over the teacups.
The theatrical ladies found themselves
awe-struck In the presence of Eta
Romney, and remained SO until the
amiable painter volunteered to do q
cake-walk II Duloie Holmes would ac-
company him. This set the ball roll
ing; and although gentility suffered
snub when lady from the Vaudeville
remarl that she always "gorged"
currant 1oaves, nevertheless NERD
ment prevailed and some striking per-
formances were achieved. Eta had
not laughed 80 much since she left
the convent school-and she could not
help rejecting. as she returned to
Bedford Square. upon the vast capac-
ity for innocent enjoyment these mer-
ry girls possessed and the compensa-
tions 1t Afforded them in lives which