Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-07-07

T WAS in high state of excitement;
but | was fully determined. At 3
| o clock my part began. l finished little
| after ). Beaver Face was not in evil
| dcnce.
This did not surprise me. I knew it
was the night that was to be feared.
l went out and had supper, came back,
made up, and went on. Still no sign of
Beaver Face.
At last the play was over, and still
nc sign. | went back to my dressing
room and shut the door. I raised the
light and sat under it, staring at my
pale face, and suddenly l thought Of
my foster mother, and her gray eyes,
like the eyes Of an animal at the point
Of death. l shuddered, and laid the re-
volver before me.
Then il came, as it was expected to
Come-a hard knock at the door.
l leaned forward, putting a cold
hand on the revolver.
Yes" | muttercd.
1t was the Office boy.
"Eh, Miss he shouted familiarly,
''the boss wants YOU
Very WE'LL" l said.
And git a move on.
/ heard his STEPS die away. Quickly
/ leaned over, opened the revolver,
snapped out the shells, opened the new
box, and took out the heavy little
cartridges, filled the chambers, anL
snapped the weapon shut again: Ther
l murmurCd, Il am doing this for you
, Roland :"
Slowing rising. I put my hand in th'
folds of my skirt in back.
! went out the stage entrance, dowr
into the street, then up the front stairs
Quietly / mounted the stairs. and pauseI
before the shut door. There was alb
solute silence.
Mr.. Snyder" I said.
lie flung open the door, and backed
as l swiftly entered. lie went to th'
other side Of the table. We stood facing
each other. .
"NclIo his voice quavcrcd-"thi
has got to end
1T has" I murmurcd.
You know l love you,' he burs
m you call it love-" I answered
"Now, see here -
. II won't see here I've seen here
long enough. You've bounded me al
winter. I've had enough Of it -
Suddenly he started toward me
around the table. l grew clanuny cold
did not move. But my finger was o.
the trigger Of the revolver.
, "Nella" - he said wildly Il can
4 stand 1t any more. lou We sI"Eru mere
I haven't you? l know what tina
4 mCans!'
4 He made lurch to seize me. an
4 vp went my arm, the revolver in hi
4 face.
I We stood thus second, and his fac
4 became livid. :.
Il will surely kill you" whis
\ pered. =,
d He gasped. and sank in chair. NJ
4 hand fell. ~
] "Ali right" he said. "You kno'
what this means.
II know" / said. 1T means that
t resign. :"
, And I walked out.
l So ended my career on the stage
And nothing lay ahead! Roland wf
- on the California shores, and there WI
no one else to turn to.
Oh. mother, it was because of you
The wrong of darkeninS my girlhoc
'k became now great right! l had lo
, through you, and l had won throuG
IN you Summer is coming; the night
no warm and moist. H has gone
IN Maine for few weeks | miss hi
greatly. But do I miss him as much
at / miss you, Roland Welles? Even Il
in night Even now, after all that hi
re happened! What could have possess
he me to love you so? Such love, giv'
!, TO another man, would have tran
I'm figured him. Life would be story
a love. But is such a thing possible? Al
t. would | have ever done good work.
he first my heart had not been broken?
re May 18th.
T. H.. is still away; and II seems
cs me that | have no one to talk TO.
will go on talking to you, Annel