The young
man paid his twenty-five dollars, absolutely the frugal hoard of six
months of toil, got a leave of absence for three weeks, and studied all
one week, meanwhile eating five dollars' worth of very poor board.
HE "ACTED" THROUGH THE WEEK
up to Thursday, when the company failed to pay in advance for the gas,
and it was shut off. He spent the next two or three days preparing
himself for a part in "The Gilded Age." On the second night the "heavy
man," Raymond, became enraged at the manner in which this part was
borne, and demanded that the character be given into the hands of
another person. This was the finishing stroke. The young man stayed at
"home" for three days, and on Friday night went to see his more
fortunate associate. To his friend, who perhaps saw things in a
prejudiced light, it seemed like a conspiracy to make good the dramatic
agent's word of promise--to keep it to the ear and break it to the hope.
THE YOUNG MAN'S MONEY WAS GONE,
he was in debt for three weeks' board, and he had been ruthlessly and
ignominiously branded with failure. He reverted to Brutus at Philippi,
to Cato, and he was nearly on the verge of suicide.
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