OCR Text |
Show I ll Art for Art's Sake I By MARIE B. MAC DONALD iCaprriaht.) "The worst of tbo theatrical pnfe-slon," pnfe-slon," said Herr von Drurben. as bo graciously accepted tho proffered cigar, "Is that It has but two paths, with no breathing places when; 'people 'peo-ple may stop and rest. Both arsteci. Up nuc of them people are forced to climb painfully. It Is slow work nud the suffering Is great. The other path tends downward. The ilei-cent Is swift. People put their feet on It iHls-s-sb " i He made a dramatic gesture Indicating Indi-cating a crashlps full, nnd then nettled: They then come to this." This" whs the "Wild Stag Imperial Impe-rial Concert Hall . and Ladles' and dents' Dining Itoom." Herr on Drueben had recently been luiortcil as manager for a dramatic organization, and as there were grave tlnuhtx nhout his ronttnimnee In his lr. M'tn pxtl:ii.n he itHkud uisiu the artistic condition of th. counrty as hopeles. He nntnratly felt a supreme contempt con-tempt -for tho Wild Stag. The manager of tho Wild King resented re-sented the slight his companion' words Implied, nml bis carefully trimmed benrd seemed tn staml out In aggressive denial as be leaned ncrat the table and said Impressively : "This? Come to this? What then? Is not thin something? Our people arc good. To Illustrate : look at the woman wom-an who Is on now:." That woman was once the best emotional with the City theater. She wns for five yenrs In lends with the very company jou direct. That Is Kaethe Hllde." "Knetlie Hllde!" echoed the other "She had all Europe nt her feet. And Kaethe Hllde hns come to this!" On the stage n worn woman was smiling bravely through her lavish uuike-itp. singing a love ballad. Out of the glare of the footlights. Ivnelbe gained In nppearance. At the two malingers wotched her, a man entered the plae. and took n sent nt a side table. Ills glance rested on Kaethe, nnd he half rose, hesitated, and then sat down. Iti'it his hesitation hesita-tion was only momentary. He paid the waiter hurriedly and went over to her. "Kaethe" "I saw yon '' "! enmc In." she said without Itxtking up. It was tho first time he. Paul flau-dermann, flau-dermann, her husband, had seen her since their child ws born over three years before. He, too, had won fame as n actor. Increasing years had brought to him nn Increasing tendency to quarrel, and finally he had broken down and wax forced to accept such work as came to him. He had been enormously proud of his wife ut first, and then Insanely Jealous of the fame that came to her. Flit he worried her, and then he Involved In-volved her In qunrrels. When she could no longer contribute to bis support, sup-port, and there was little likelihood that she would recover her place again, he deserted her. He felt that he generously forgave her for some enormity. "What are you doing now?" she asked sharply. "Well.'' he answered reluctantly. "I have n few pupils, and I recite at ptiilw. Thpn I Minll have n henellt If I can get a hall free." "Still getting up benefits for yourself your-self at the earnest solicitation of your many Influential friends." She laughed mirthlessly n she quoted from the notices she knew he would send out. "Docs anyone attend them now?" "Not many," be answered gloomily. "Kaethe Hllde," be begun lnn low, menacing time, that caught nud held, tho startled attention of all In the room, nnd caused even the orchestra to stop rasping. "Kaethe llllde, now Is (he tlmo to speak. You are my wife I Ilefore nil the "world you arc my wife, and before nil the world, I, would nnd will rescue nnd protect yon. 1 find you here pliiv-lug pliiv-lug In a' cheap music hall you, who' once swayed thousands! NtmvT, your husband, speak j nuy, I command. Come with me!" "Capital, capital!. Well acted! Bravo!" she cried, adding Iu a lower yolce that be alone could catch : "Now sit down." Kncthe sncd the sltuntlon by turning turn-ing to the gaping crowd nnd saying: "It Is all right. It la Just n little rehearsal. re-hearsal. I nm glad yon appreciate It." "Kaethe," he said, "poor Kaethe 1 I must take you from here." She sliiKik her head. "It Is nil work anil no glory," she said sadly, "but It means bread for mstilf and my boy." "But your urtlstlc aiie?" be persist per-sist ed. "Dead and gone," she answered brlelly. "A living Is all that I can hope for, and It Is nil 1 wunt." "Kaethe." he whispered, "could yon lend me $20?" She hud evidently expected tills, foi her hand -slid along the side of the irny on the table. 'o none would no tice the action, and under her lingers wns a little roll of bill. Ho took It eagerly, and tried to seize her h.wid. but she whipped It away from him. "It In my call to go on." she said. He turned to go, but there was something In her laugh that made hint pause. "Y6u need not return," ehe said, "1 have made my last contribution. ito Ult." |