The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1920-08-26
A FAMILIAR
ROLE
BY ALVAH J. GARTH

uncertain whether the former was
fOotpad or a mendlcant.
II am weak, hungry, homeless p
came the bitter words, convincing in
their expression, and the generous
hand of Barth went to his pocket.
Then he gave great start.
Arden Hyslopw he exclaimed, and
aside from surprise palpable gladness
was In tone and face.
The other drew back as If humili-
ated by the recognition. ut is Mr..
Barth?" he uttered family. peering
closely. 81 used to know you once"
"Know me nowl" ordered Barth In
| bluff. hearty tones, and he linked his
arm In Il spontaneous friendly fashion
| within that of the other. Down on
| your luck? I've been through that
many n time since you and | met, ten
years ago. have an hour to spare.
A restaurant, firstl Don't talk, eat"
r Barth's manner was irresistible. He
| fairly forced Hyslop along with him.
He showed no embarrassment in ush-
ering his unkempt companion into a
| fashionable restaurant. He spoke TO
him as though they were close famil-
lar friends, he ordered princely meal.
Then as it was finished he took out
his pocket book and selected from 1t
half a dozen bank notes.
"Hyslop," he said, 81 wish you to go
and make yourself presentable and
report at my office at the Grand the
| alter at four o'clock this afternoon.
| VIII you do it?''. and the other bowed
his head mutely in assent. His heart
was too full for words.
"Our old acquantanceship is all
right" pursued Barth. "but aside from
that business is business. BY a
strange circumstance one actor with
the principal role in our play was TAX
| en- i'll this morning. | was on my way
to find a substitute when l met you.
Was ever such luck for if l remem-
Der Alright you made a great hit In that
drama, The Wanderer,' years ago. You
must be familiar with the text"
81 will come" promised Hyslop,
"only | fear you will be disappointed
| In me-"
Arden Hyslop looked new man
when he appeared at the theater that
afternoon. Well fed, well dressed
now sober, grateful to generous heart
| ed Barth, fash of hope and ambi-
ton had come to him. For five years
he had sunk lower and lower after
his habits of dissipation had separated
him from his wife who, like himself,
belonged to the histrionic profession.
He had not heard from her or their
little child since their parting.
Barth greeted the resuscitated act
or cheerily, and with satisfaction as
he noticed his clean shaved face and
| new neatly fitting attire. He handed
| him the manuscript of the play with
! the words
"Just to remind you of the cues and
the general run of the piece, you must
remember the old lines pretty we'll
You will have good support, lady
who has made her mark In the role of
Margaret
"Who is she?" inquired Barth cas-
ually.
"Your wife"
1t was a true dramatic climax. The
manager watched its effect upon Hys-
lop with curiosity and interest.
Beatrice? oh, neverp gasped Hys-
lop, recoiling. "Why, man do you
not know that we have been separated
for years, that l dragged her down
to poverty and then cruelty deserted
her? BY this time doubtlessly she has
legally severed the tie that bound
us as man and wife"
"You mistake" Barth informed him.
"Your wife is not a woman to forget
the man she once loved"
"And little AleenT
"Takes the child's part in the play.
Man, If you are in earnest In your pro-
fessed desire to heal the past, don't
refuse this opportunity !"
Mrs. Hyslop was not made aware
of the identity of the substitute actor
| by Barth, and it was only after the
| play had begun that she began TO
suspect, and then knew to certainty
| that II was her husband who shared
with her the two leading characters
In the drama. She paled, she tremb-
| led, but, actresslike, she went through
| the ordeal, immersed in doing justice
| to her role.
1t was In the final act, however,
when "the wanderer" returned to his
| family after long separation, that
she broke down. In the play the hus-
band and father steals In upon his be
loved child and reveals himself and
together they weep with JOY over his
return,
The little one did not recognize him,
but Arden Hyslop played the prodigal
| father with a fervor and pathos that
held the whole audience spellbound.
His caresses, his real tears, the ardor
of his very soul permeated every line
he spoke. AS the curtain fell, thun-
ders of applause fairly shook the edl-
fee. Call and recall, father, mother,
child were compelled to appear to re-
ceIye the enthusiastic homage Of the
audience.
Then back of the scenes Beatrice
Hysop tainted away, but into the arms
of the husband she had given up long
since MS lost to the world and Its old
sweet ways, but his arm supported
her, and as his glowing eyes met her
own. es she recovered, she knew that