Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner., 1920-12-24

once, ne had taught her. In her ignorance she
had married him SO that he might teach her Now
she had Sot beyond his teaching. and he did not
xnow It In his vanity he thought he had made
her He lived, fattened that, thrived the
reflected glory of her art. and ghoul-like the
woman herself.
OF this piece. The author abroad, in Ill
neaith, so he could not be present at rehearsals-
Moreover, because this was his first play the Big
Man took liberties with it might a theatrical
celebrity
This one rehearsed his wife with the assidu.
ay OF an animal trainer, bullying her before the
whole company until they Uttered and then grew
silent with sympathy
The Big hnn came into the room noisily He
was always called the Big Man. The name fitted
MIN. He was big in physique and In self-sufn-
ciency His face still showed signs of exaspera-
t1on.
Rotten Simply rotten r. he threw at her strid-
ing up and down. Five years of drilling things
anto you, and you're as dense as when married
you. You queer the business you slur your lines
fou-you haven't an ounce of the real stun In you
Don't look at me with that martyred expression
I'd get rid of you II we didn't have to omen on
New Years Eve Now, look here wen go through
that business In Act II again, right here now until
you get 1t rfght-my way-see7 What's the cue7
emit ask you to sacrifice yourself . (He
takes her In his arms). Come on"
The Big Mans temper was smarting under a
recent newspaper criticism In which 1t wns sug.
gested that In his next production he should give
premier place to his wife. He specially resented
the advice because the writer hInted that the
Big Man. dramatically speaking did not count
Come on |" he repeated.
, NO"
He stirred at her. She had never disobeyed him
before. 1t nearly staggered him.
I'm too tired tonight. Besides l don't agree
that the scene should be played your way. That
was not the authors intention"
He took her by the wrist "By gad you'll be
saying the play written for you next-
1t had BEEN The author had seen her on the
stage once. He had purposely written his play
round her, because her personality had impressed
him. The Lending Woman did not know this
Neither did the Big Man.
You've got to do what tell you. II you're
tired, what about meT"
Rather than argue. she gave In 1t wasn't
worth it-arguing with man who could only rea-
son like a woman The worst of 1t was, she could
see through him now. She knew he was jealous.
Bhe knew he took perverse pleasure in trying
to queer her business" She perfectly well
aware that could he have dispensed with her he
would have done SO; ; only box-ofice receipts had
been so good since he had starred her After he had
gone, the Leading Woman turned the key in the
lock. There was always way by which she
could secure oblivion of her mental suferings Not
by morphia or drink but by letters. A score Of
them written by her, sealed but not addressed
lay In a locked drawer of her escritoire. She did
not know the who in them she In
voked. Her eyes had never him. To write
thus of those queer feminine Impulses
that women who suffer give way to in order to
save their hearts from breaking. They were the
only loyeletters she had written to a man.
She took up her pen now, striving for calmness
while writing to her Unknown:
"Oh. my dear. / am SO terribly sad and am
10 lonely that feel like little child crying In
the dark 1t can't go I can't bear 1t
much longer. Sometimes in my agony have told
myself to do other women do, to be worldly,
venal to laugh and console myself with the first
nv do qfO me
and my deep regard for you, Unknown. Shall 1
your VIII you become real, my
ideal7 Shall never know what love is7 For
my heart Is virgin.
think OF II. Halfof My Soul, wherever you are |
am wife. And have never known what It Is
to love. except ntangibly, as love you That is
my punishment for having married without re-
Hection Beloved, was such child, and thought
nothing mattered except my art
Sometimes when first began to write to you,
Unknown, used to ask myself what would hap
pen should ever meet your l know. I know
STILL that 1 should recognize you. and at once.
used to think of myself ever bent to the Big
Mans will But know now that this would not
be right He has long forfeited my loyalty. All
that is best in belongs to you, whoever and
wherever you could not keep away II you
needed me. And a religious woman.
"AIl this life / am living is wrong. unnatural.
Surely II can't go on. i am twenty-six-oh dear
est. only twenty-six and there Is nothing left to
but work. And in work cannot forget
because It is emotional.
II nm going to write little prayer here have
prayed It waking and In my dreams. send 1t
now on the wings of my spirit this petition OF
my SOUL that somewhere and sometime I may see
you, know you, II only face in the
crowd"
She strung up and she covered pages CIV
ing her emotions full play. To woman of acute
sensibility there is something very convincing In
she idea of a soulmate. 1t that Leading
woman's consolation and her beacon Of hope.
During the following weeks while the new play