Wanderings of French Ed

by J. Adelard René

The company of which Nellie was the star was billed to in New York City about a week later, and when Nellie told him that she would be absent for four weeks, they felt that they would much miss each other, but agreed to write every day, and then four weeks would soon pass.

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 of society.

Edward spent much of his leisure time in the club rooms, where he could read many journals published in the interest of stage people. The membership of this club was composed of actors out of employment or playing in the city. Edward became acquainted with a great many of them and was surprised at the number of bright young men who were wasting their time, apparently waiting for a mere chances of some engagement.

Some of them were young in years, beardless yet, but they looked old, and were "old-youngs," showing upon their faces the ravages of fast life. The walls of the club rooms were covered with lithographs of modern actors, among which Edward noticed Nellie's. Among the members of 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, had been at one time a very famous man; in fact, had enjoyed a national reputation-but unfortunate speculations and old age had reduced him to poverty, and he was living on a pension paid him by some benevolent actors' society.

He offered to help Edward in his work, and was so kind to him that Edward made a confidant of him. When the old man heard Edward's story, tears came to his eyes and he said: "Poor boy—my life was started like yours—and I pray you to abandon the idea of going on the stage. The life of an actor is the most miserable any one can live—of course, there are exceptions; men who are born actors, and find success at each step—but they are not many, and even among them you will often find unfortunate beings whose life is a drudgery. You are young, you left good parents who expect much of you; you have a sweetheart in your little native village, whose love is of the truest kind. Hers is not the result of a passing fancy and you don't want to break 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 some success on the stage. That does not mean that you will make money, no, the salary that you will command for the next ten years, granting that you will be successful, will not be more than enough to pay your expenses; and remember, my boy, once an actor, you will never be good for anything else; unless you are an exceptional man. Of course, you are starting under good auspices. Miss King is a great singer, and somewhat of an actress, but she does not know how soon her voice will fail her. She is of an erratic nature and possesses a golden heart, but she is a mere slave to her emotions, and the proof is the way she became interested in you, my boy. I do not want to be harsh on her—no—she has befriended me more than once; but, Edward, she has a right to cause her own misfortune, not yours. It was through an accident of this kind that the doors of the stage were opened to me. I was young then, young as you are. I loved a woman, and she said she loved me. I left everything to follow her on the stage, and the only sunshine of my life was during the first few years of our married life. But what is a couple of years of happiness when a whole life of misfortune is to follow? I will not tell you what happened," said the old man, feelingly, "but she tired of me. Her emotional soul made her heart beat for another, and we parted! She died a miserable death—craving my pardon, which I gave her, because she was not to blame. It was her nature, and her vocation was conducive to such things: I have never told this story to another, and to-night, when I tell you, it is because I want to save you-for your sake, for your parents' sake—for your sweetheart's sake!"

Edward was stunned. He could not speak; he simply stared at the speaker, who wiped his eyes.

After a moment of silence he said, "My God, what will I do?"

"Young man, what would you have done had you not met that woman?"