motherly Irishwoman, who seemedto take a special liking to Edward from the first, which was greatlyincreased when she learned that he was a Catholic. She asked him manyquestions, and finally wanted to know what was the nationality of hisroommate.
"Russian," said Edward.
"Roosian? Faith, that's a Jew!"
"No, just a Russian," said Edward again, laughing.
"What's his name?" she asked.
"Benjamin Oresky."
"What's that?--say it again."
Edward repeated his friend's name, but the good Irish lady could notgrasp it, and she said: "Sure, that's a Jew, your friend is, and lookout for him; he may be an exception, but people that killed Christare not good people. It's me that do tell you this, and kape it toyourself."
At noon when Ben came, Edward told him of his conversation with theirlandlady, and they both bad much fun about it; and all during theirlunch they could not help but smile at the way she looked at Ben.
After lunch Ben went back to his work, and later Edward was on hisway to Nellie's place. This time he was firmly decided to speakbusiness and find out if Nellie could help him get a situation atonce. "I can't live on love," he said to himself, as he stood at herdoor.
When Nellie came in the boudoir where Edward was waiting, she noticedthe change in his face. He was pale, and the dark rings around hiseyes told of sleepless nights. She greeted him with more cordialitythan ever, if possible, and Edward felt her charm creep upon him likethe sensation which follows drinking old wine.
"Poor boy," she said, holding his right hand in hers, "I am afraidyou don't feel well, or that you have been worrying," and she lookedhim straight in the eyes.
A smile of beatitude spread over Edward's face under the influence ofher gaze, and he answered: "To tell the truth, Nellie, I have been alittle anxious about my future, but I guess it will be all right."
"Of course it will be all right," she said, and inviting him to beseated, she asked him if he would not like to become an actor.
"An actor?" he repeated, "I be an actor? I never thought of it, andthen, how could I become an actor in the States when I can hardlyspeak English correctly?"
"That part of it is all right, Ed. I have a friend, who is nowwriting a new play, and there will be a Frenchman in it, and youwould be just the man to take that role."
"Well, but I have never done any acting; in fact, I know absolutelynothing about it," he said.
"There is a beginning to everything. Your voice is good. You are talland handsome,'' she added smilingly.
"Oh, bosh! Nellie, you are making fun of me. I know I was not bornto be an actor, and never will be one."
"Won't you try for my sake?" she asked him pleadingly.
"For your sake, Nellie, I would do anything, but please don't ask meto make a fool of myself."
"No, no, nothing of the kind, Edward. You can take lessons inelocution, and later try the role I spoke about."
"Take lessons in elocution? Dear, it takes money and time to do thesethings, and while I have the time I lack the other.
"I will loan you the money, Edward, and later, when you make lots ofit, you will pay it back to me. Can I tell my friend, the author,that I have his man for the role of the Frenchman?"
"I don't know, Nellie; I must have time to think it over," answeredEdward, who was too surprised to grasp the full meaning of thisproposition.
"All right, you will let me know to-morrow, won't you, Ed? and pleasetake my advice and accept this chance to become an actor. I feel thatyou would succeed on the stage--truly, I do, Ed."
After talking over this new scheme, Edward left Nellie, and went tohis boardinghouse, where he wanted to consult with his friend Ben.
The Russian saw no reason why Edward should not follow Nellie'sadvice, and he strongly encouraged him to do so; but to Edward, therewere many points to consider. What would his parents say? What wouldMarie Louise think of him, if she learned that he wanted to become anactor? Had she not in her last letters begged of him to be good andtrue to his promises? He had not answered that part in which she alsocomplained of the chilliness of his late letters. Another point thathe felt keenly, was the eventual necessity to accept pecuniary helpfrom Nellie; of course, he reasoned that it was to be paid back, buthis sensitive nature made him realize that even then it would leavehim under moral obligations to her, and his spirit of independencerevolted strongly. But what was he to do?
"Try it on condition that if you don't like it, you'll go intosomething else," suggested the Russian, and Edward made up his mindto do so.
The next day, Nellie was delighted to learn from Ed ward that he haddecided to follow her advice. She immediately gave him two hundreddollars, which he accepted after much hesitation. He wanted to giveher his note, but she would not have it. They went to the writer ofthe new play, and Edward was introduced to him as the gentleman whowas to fill the role of the Frenchman. The author seemed pleased withEdward's appearance, and predicted success for him.
The next thing was to find a professor of elocution. Nellie knewwhere to find one, so they went to him, and it was agreed that Edwardwas to take three lessons a week; and he felt much encouragedhimself.
That night Edward wrote home that he had found employment, but failedto give any details, and it was with much difficulty that hesucceeded in writing a few pages to Marie Louise and these werecertainly disconnected, and lacked considerable of the old lover'sstyle which he used in other days. In a postscript he pleadednervousness as an excuse for the nature of the letter, and hoped thatshe would not mistrust him.
During the following day, he settled down to work with all hisenergy, with the result that he had very little time to worry. Themore he studied the play in which he was to take part, and of whichhe had been given a copy, the more he liked it.
He called upon the author, with whom he at once became on friendlyterms, and met many actors there, who seemed to be very nice people;gradually Edward became more and more one of them. Every day he spentsome time with Nellie, who was most pleased with his success, andonce more the world seemed to be right.
The company of which Nellie was the star was billed to in New YorkCity about a week later, and when Nellie told him that she would beabsent for four weeks, they felt that they would much miss eachother, but agreed to write every day, and then four weeks would soonpass.
While Nellie was gone, Edward was induced to join an actor's club,and was given an opportunity to study the life of that class ofsociety.
Edward spent much of his leisure time in the club rooms, where hecould read many journals published in the interest of stage people.The membership of this club was composed of actors out of employmentor playing in the city. Edward became acquainted with a great many ofthem and was surprised at the number of bright young men who werewasting their time, apparently waiting for a mere chances of someengagement.
Some of them were young in years, beardless yet, but they looked old,and were "old-youngs," showing upon their faces the ravages of fastlife. The walls of the club rooms were covered with lithographs ofmodern actors, among which Edward noticed Nellie's. Among the membersof the club he felt a special liking for an old man, who; in turn,seemed to take much interest in him. This old actor, past sixty, hadbeen at one time a very famous man; in fact, had enjoyed a nationalreputation-but unfortunate speculations and old age had reduced himto poverty, and he was living on a pension paid him by somebenevolent actors' society.
He offered to help Edward in his work, and was so kind to him thatEdward made a confidant of him. When the old man heard Edward'sstory, tears came to his eyes and he said: "Poor boy--my life wasstarted like yours--and I pray you to abandon the idea of going onthe stage. The life of an actor is the most miserable any one canlive--of course, there are exceptions; men who are born actors, andfind success at each step--but they are not many, and even among themyou will often find unfortunate beings whose life is a drudgery. Youare young, you left good parents who expect much of you; you have asweetheart in your little nat
ive village, whose love is of the truestkind. Hers is not the result of a passing fancy and you don't want tobreak her heart, do you?"
"No," said Edward, greatly affected by the old man's talk.
"And," continued the old actor, "suppose you should meet with somesuccess on the stage. That does not mean that you will make money,no, the salary that you will command for the next ten years, grantingthat you will be successful, will not be more than enough to pay yourexpenses; and remember, my boy, once an actor, you will never be goodfor anything else; unless you are an exceptional man. Of course, youare starting under good auspices. Miss King is a great singer, andsomewhat of an actress, but she does not know how soon her voice willfail her. She is of an erratic
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