The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-06-21

Suzanc. Brent and the -
boy! As they grouped
themselves before him. il pasn't exactly their
faces he san. II mas something bigger
something different. Completion.
TIE HEARD Suzanne speak before he
saw her. He heard her say: WHO is
that distinguished man with the wing Of
gray at the temples?" He turned and saw
that like her voice. she was tender. golden.
Brent introduced them-good. old Brent who ).
was year his senior and had been his friend
since their days of mumble-peg and marbles.
In spite of her nineteen years. she was 50
gently. SO softly luminous. Her look tucked
him in. 1t was as if she were smothering his
spirit. All the little bruises on his soul seemed
magically kissed away. Her gaze embodied him.
like arms He felt her heart to be little
house which opened to let him enter.
He saw Suzanne often during that visit Dimly
he was aware of Brent standing outside the
house that was her heart and gazing reverently
in through the windows.
So her eyes became his mirror. Narcissus-
like. he stood before them-making gestures.
striking poses. gazing in rapt fascination at the
beautiful. the lovely image Of himself which he
saw reflected there. He said to her: i am
afraid of marriage. 1t means either the divorce
courts or the wonderful thing" He gave her
quick look. She did not speak but her eyes
said: Il could make it mean the wonderful
thing for you!"
Always he came back to Suzanne because
always she let him go. She gave him little.
scattered bits of herself. Of these she wove
lovely garment which she flung about his shoul-
ders. No stage costume ever became him so
well as the garment which Suzanne wove.
But he wore it carelessly. as one accustomed
to treasures. He was so busy the next few years.
He was trying to get role in Broadway
production. He was frenzicd with efforts to
cover his rapidly whitening hair.
One night he heard woman say OF hm
What wel-preserved man for his years" He
awoke to the truth with stab. White like his
father at thirty!
The next morning he went distressedly to his
barber, who comforted him and said: "Oh, that
is nothing! Don't worry. You shall see. will
restore the color to your hair."
TOR while he was quite happy. He got
another role on tour. Again he saw SUI
zanne. She was frailer-thinner Her
eyes had suffering in them. Once. as she stood
over him. her fingers touched his hair.
Il miss she said. that wing Of gray at
the temples"
He laughed.
Gray hairs are taboo on the STAGE"
But his happiness did not last. His play failed.
These days. it seemed. he was always going to
specialists. who were always smilinsly assuring
him that their particular connection would. with
out fail. permanently darken his hair. But as
hope after hope was blasted he grew skeptical
Almost he had determined to stop trying. when.
of sudden, humiliation felled him like blow.
On the crown of his head there was rapidly
widening spot of baby-pnknes!
This time he went to beauty parlor. The
woman who examined him said frankly: Il
can treat you but doubt if I'll be able to coun-
teract the harm already done by the dyes you
have been using. You asked for the truth. 50
I'll tell you. In two years you'll be bald.
His thirty-sixth year was cataclysmc. He
was compelled to patronize a wg-maker and to
abandon the shop that had habted him for
years. His old tailor seemed unable to cope
with his spreading sirth-hn thickening bulge.
So he went to an expert in cloth and line and
color.
Then. in his new wig and suits. he made the
rounds Of the theatrical Offices. Here managers
appraised him through the blue haze Of cigars.
Were not sending many companies on tour.
Business is bad" they told him. But he kept
on dossedly. One Of the managers. at last.
offered him Broadway part. "A character