Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1937-12-01
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column or nre IN the Wilderness"
81 could never face Mother after
wards. No, shall have to look
forward to my red wings, Jerry"
I was glad that my father was
to have Aunt Mary. Somehow /
felt that her spirit would light the
bare, clean house, as her cape
would have lighted the church.
And that my fathers life would be
frightened by the glow Of her fine
humanity.
When I left him, standing alone
on the little porch, where my moth
er had stood so often beside him,
wished, just for the moment, that
the old days might come back,
when my father had made my
world; yet they would never come
back. was being swept on by
forces so strong that I could not
stem the tide. The world which
my father had made for me was
to live only in my memory Of those
high moments which we had spent
together.
So 1 entered the big city on the
Mississippi "a boy seeking his for
tune! Not as in the old days with
a bundle tied on a stick and q
shilling in my pocket, but coming
none the less to my adventure with
high hopes and an eager sense of
worlds to conquer.
I had taken a room in family
hotel well out in the west end,
where Lionel lived with his father.
The price had seemed to me pro-
hibitive; but Lionel had insisted
that I must be near him. When
the play was accepted, he assured
me, there would be money enough
and to spare.
My training in thrift had made
me unwilling to spend unless I
knew how I was to meet expenses.
I was aware that I need expect no
increase in my allowance from
Uncle Jerry. His letters had Of
late lacked the easy optimism of
earlier days. Cattle-raising, he
said, was n all that it used to be.
The range were more and more
restricted as the land was taken
up. His income was, for the mo-
ment, much reduced.
Yet even with this he spoke Of
investments which promised big
returns, so that any fears might
have had for my future were dis
PEELED. Nothing could shake my
confidence in Uncle Jerry's finan-
cial stability as the owner of vast
acres. I could not think Of him
as anything less than as a landed
proprietor with wealth flowing to-
wards him on a golden tide.
I felt, however, that this was
the moment for the grand ges-
ture. The doors of new life were
opening to me. I must not close
them by an exaggerated par
simony. For few weeks at least
I would eat and drink and be
merry with the rest of them. To-
morrow must take care of. itself.
Lionel met me at the train, and
we took taxi to the hotel. He
was overlooking with enthusiasm.
The play was the thing! He had
had talks with agents, managers,
actors. realized, even as he told
me, that none of them had made
definite offers. They would be
glad to read the play and that was
all.
'But if they read it and don't
like it," demanded, what them"
"They will like It. Stiles San
derson says that third act OF yours
will carry it."
was not so sanguine. I was,
indeed, a better critic of my own
work than Lionel. knew that
the play had merits but I knew.
too, that it lacked sustained
power. But I was glad to be de-
ceived into believing that Lionel
was right, and that we were on our,
way to fame and fortune.
I was, indeed, ready to believe
anything on that gay morning as
I rode through the streets Of the,
town which harbored Mimi.
(T0 he COntinuedl