"RHODA REDWAY."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 121, 19 June 1909, Page 4

"RHODA REDWAY."

'.Maggie Brailsden followed her old schoolfellow somewhat confusedly out iof Johnston's office. The manager of | the Welcome Theatre had been ali'alvc ; cnuugu—ilu- dreaded interview uvas over. Her smartly-dressed companion pause.: at the doorway, smiling. "L told ,\ou it would be all right." A motor brugham was waiting at the kerb. .Miss Victoria Cay, tos'smg her head at the admiring glance of a passerhv '.vhu recognised her, waved lo the chauffeur to open the door. "Come alojiy, .Maggie. I'm going to give you a lift to your rooms. We can tail; on the way." They settled themselves on the cushioned seats, and the car started. Maggie Brailsden looked round her. It was tier lirst experience of such a vehicle.

"Nice little •turn-out,' isn't it'!" Miss (.lay took her arm. "Well, what do you think of Johnston!" The girl did not answer at once. They were passing the Welcome, and her eye was caught by the numerous placards of tlic current musical comedy, headed by her friend's name in large capitals. "Ho was very polite. Thank you a o much for giving me an introduction." "Oh, nonsense. 1 want you to get on." "lie seemed to like my singing, 1 think."

"Of course he did—and your appearance, too. Johnston always had an eye for u pretty face and figure. You'll want dancing-ieooous, as he said, and some in elocution. Then I'll try to get him to let you start at the Welcome and not on tour."

Maggie Brailsden squeezed her arm. "I'm sure it's awfully good of you." Miss Victoria Cay, laughing, held up a 'protesting hand. '•Oh. that's enough, t plcase! But, seriously, aren't you glad I found you out and'suggested this? It's a shame for you to waste your time in a typewriting office. Why, look at the chances you are missing. Look at me, for instance I I refused an Honorable last week!"

"You didn't like him?" "Xo; -and he hadn't enough money as compensation," said Miss Gay airily. "But don't think I'm boasting, Maggie." She went on drawing an alluring picture of stage life, colored from her own fortunate experiences; and the younger girl was temporarily dazzled. She sat listening eagerly, asking an occasional timid question. When at last the brougham stopped she had even betrayed enthusiasm. With a warm goodsbye, she thanked her friend again. "Is this' where you're staying ?" asked Miss Gay, leaning out. "H'm, not very elegant, is it? Never mind; we'll soon change that once you start." Don't forget you're to go to Johnston next Thurs. day. Bye bye!"' She waved airily from the window as the car turned. Maggie Brailsden ascended the steps slowly, anfas she took out lier key seemed to realise for the first time the dullness and skab'oiness of the house and street. She walked slowly up to her awn little sitting-room. Xew and disturbing thoughts occupied her mind.

An elderly woman, coming down from the flight above, addressed her wearily as she stood at the door.

"I took in the milk for you, mis's." The girl thanked ihcr mechanically, and then, rousing herself, looked at the watch on her wrist. It was half-ipast four, and Saturday. She had almost forgotten that Leonard Garth was coming to join her at tea. He lodged in the same house, and they had made friends some time ago. Sometimes, after his City -work was over, he had escorted her to a theatre or concert, and she'had enjoyed his company. Xow, fw some reason, e ] K found herself hy no means eager for his visit. A clerk! She marvelled that she had kept up the acquaintance so long. Yet to put him off was not worth while. Let him come to tea. Their intimacy, such as it was, could be broken at any time. Garth himself, who had been looking fomvard to this afternoon through the entire week, glanced at her enquiringly as he came in. When she replied to his remarks drearily, in monosyllables', and busied herself with the teapot, he shrugged his shoulders in helpless disappointment.

She for her part eyes his homely face almost impatiently. Somehow to-day he seemed uninteresting and very ordinary.

"Yon look worried," ventured' Garth, after long silence. "[ hope nothing's

Conversation had flagged. She could feel no interest in the topics he started. She was thinking still of Victoria Gav, and the wonderful change she had promised.

"No, nothing, thank you. In fact, I ought to be in high spirits. I've had some good news to-day." "Why, have you been promoted to that secretaryship at the office?" "TTie office? Xo!" said Maggie Urails. don scornfully. "I'm sick „[' the office. I shall 'he leaving there soon, thank goodness!"

Leonard Garth was frankly surprised. 'Really? What are you taking up, then ?" b n

"I've been to see a theatrical manager this afternoon, and I'm going o n the stage/'

He set down his cup without speakiii" 'lye a friend-Victoria Gay. You've heard ot her, of course. She's helping me." ' »

"That means you'll be JcaviV here?" Oh, yes." Maggie Brailsden glanced at him defiantly. "You're not very encouraging. 1 suppose you're one of 'those narrow-minded people who " . "Oil, I've no objection to the profession, if that's what you mean!" He had interrupted almost ,-;!iarply. "But you don't congratulate me on escaping from"-she waver her hand round—••from : ,H this."

••Because- I'm so.-rv you're goim* I know you feel enthusiastic now, but don t forget it's a hard life." "I'm not afraid of work." "And a very uncertain one." ".Miss (Jay will get Mr. Johnston to take me 0 n at the Welcome," "Hut it may not lie easy to stay there, tve heard that it's very difficult to »et consecutive engagements. At the end ot the run Mr. .lolmstn,, mayn't -be able to_ employ you. It's all so precarious " I ilont think you llP ed try t(| ~|g . Hearten ,„,. „l the very beginning." 1 in only warning you. I didn't know whether yo„ onile , t , a , isi>(l iho <m ,_ tu-s you'll have to face."

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mind'" '* W • Vo "' V '' """ I< ' Ul ' • V 0 1"'

A lap came at the ,|o„r. and the "irl i'"*c <|inekly to om-n u. Tin- landlady "eld nut a jug. '•! thought you might want sin ionnot water, miss."

"Thank you. Alv-s. .hins,>n.'' "Ami your lire is,, ] y \ Hlt u . t „,„ mate ,1 up .tor you. miss." ■She walked across win], a tired smile at -arth and bent down slowly to the grate nie girl reined rather cnibar- ■'«■*<.'<!. f.arlh noticed, and he went on talking.

"Well. T ,|„ l 1(1| „. you'll Tig sucecssful--n» an actress." -Mrs. Jan>on look.-,! „p for ,i moment, and AlaggielSrailsdc,, frowned. Sl„. lnd not wished the landlady to know "I iiicfin to trv. unvw-iv" „.,' 1 ' I '!' elderly Von,/,,, ',,' )s ,, «- thm , ,'■"," : '' pU '' , ;-," li^! " %' hesitated at i'U<' iloor. •! h 0,,,, you won't think it interfering of ~n,. S»»lllf Oil till' stage?" Maggie Hrails<?eii nodded, -(if ( . o i„se I shall '1.,, v.'i-y sorry to leave here, Mrs I .In ii-oii. Id, t " ' * '

"<»li, it's not that, mis's." "Wliat is it, then? Look here. Mrs ! ■'"■' son T appeal to you." She spoke he quest.on to such a person. -I ; , n, " ; " «««'" »i«*™» an.l more . ley than 1 .el nonv-wouldn't v.»u t.ike the chance it you were me ?" * I 1 lie elderly woman looked down' "X„ ""*U*no, 'l-if I wer, von." ', Ihe girl laughed irritably. ] "(an I get you unvthing'morc miw" "No, thanks." ' ' , - 'When she had gnu,.. Ma.r"ie ]{i-ill ■,!,..,' iturucl to Carth a.ain I ™ Inland's a dreadful place. J ~,' .'" Mte was smiling eontemptuouslv. "What on earth can she know about itv" Leonard Uarth did not reply for , O , IK . moments. '

"We've been friends here," he «iid I •l.iy Join il)i- content o »t»» .1-,. ■i liffi i '■"••" in, w settle down li. a little house witli-souieone." His tone was 'unmistakable; J,ut .Jagsielrailsden. i„ her new in, atie mood, only tossed her head I "I'm a/rHM- she said 'deliberately.' that I m not a girl who'll ever settle down." 'in.. <tarth stood up and held out his hand ('Ood-bye! I'm glad to have had this afteniooi, with you at least. And I'wish yon the best of luck, though I thin" you're foolish to " " u 'Tm sorry we don't „„„,.... s „ ~ stiffly. "Cood-bye!"

.He passed the landlady on his way uowb to his own room, (but Iwrdlv no-

tketl luT. .Mrs. Ji'.uson ascended find knocked. . ,

■'l'Ve come to clear away, miss." She begun listlessly to collect the china. When she had filled the tray she turned: -i hope, miss, yon didn't take offence at inv saving what I did';" Maggie* i.iaiisden looked ti]i. "Ab"Ut the Mage! Oil. no; why should I?" "You see. miss, I know something about ilie life.'' The girl stared. "Why. what ?" ''Someone 1 know tooJ; it up, when I was voumr, miss.'' The woman stepped

nearer. -Tell me about her. Mrs. Janson. What happened';" -it was a cruel struggle at first, miss; then she made a great hit, and all at once she was wen known- -almost as well known, you might say, as the lving himself. Everyone bad heard of her—lthoda Keilwiivj her .photos were in all the shops. She had all sorts of swells hanging round her. That dressing-room of hers was a sight sometimes—what with ilowers and cards and messages."

The girl nodded excitedly. "I've heard of her. Did she sing!" • "Yes; but it was in the dramas she started, miss. After that, as she had a pretty face and figure, she went intt' burlesque what they called 'open boufi'e.'" The woman was' talking animatedly. ''l've a lot of old playbills &hd programmes of hers downstairs, miss, it jou'd care to see them!" Maggie Brailsden smiled indulgently. "Of course I should. I'm quite interested." ' I

•'When I've taken the tray, m.»s, I'll bring them up," Presently the girl beard her re-aseenu-ing the stairs. . When she entered the room again „liv'carried a paper parcel, and opened it with her thin, wrinkled fingers. Maggie lirailsden drew closer to the table.

"There you are, miss—'lthoda Redway.' it's in big print, isn't it! Ah, but she was a big 'stui',' and the chief attraction then. She played a boy's' part in burlesque, miss, nearly always; and, my, the folks in the stalls went just mad over her! I call to mind one night when tliey nearly covered the stage with Ilowers." The landlady nodded reminiscently, and her dull eves shone for a moment. Maggie Brailsden felt a thrill of enthusiasm.

"And the public—they seemed to love her! The gallery waited every night till she came on, and then—the round of applause!" Mrs. ,Janson's voice wsis not quite steady. The girl had never heard her laugh before, and it sounded unnatural. "And I suppose she eventually made a lot of money—and retired!"

"Yes, miss—slie retired!" The woman laughed again bitterly. "There came a time when her days were over. They didn't last very long. Presently someone else 'had taken the people's' fancy. They forgot Rhoda Redway, miss. . . . When she found she couldn't even get an engagement, it—it nearly broke her heart.

"Tilings got worse and worse, too. She'd .married at twenty-one, missmarried a man who wrote plays. He was well oil' then, !but he had losses, and worried over them, and the work he did wasn't good. They'd liardly enough to live on, till—till he died." At a knock .111 the door she broke off, and dropped the programmes she had been fingering. "I'm sorry, miss, to have taken uj) your time. 1 must get on with my work."

It was Leonard Garth who stood outside.

"Wili you ask Miss Brailsden to spare me a moment!"

The girl replied. "Come in, won't you?" She spoke quietly. He stepped across, and began to talk in a low voice. "I only wanted to say I'm sorry for what I said. It iwas selfish to try to dissuade you; and very likely I was wrong. Von see, 1 didn't want to lose van, if there was any chance for me. Hut as t-iicrc isn't, and you want to jro >■ j| ( , hesitated. "Surely, anyhow, we can part as friends! I hope you'll remember me sometimes, even if we never meet."

She did not look at him. ' I'm sure I shall. And perhaps—you were right/' ■He pressed ]m hind and, turning, saw the 'landlady gathering up iter papers. "Why, Mrs. Janson.'what's all this!"

"They belong to someone Mrs. Janson used to know. I—l've been hearing her story.'"'Maggie Brailsden answered." (iarth regarded the girl enquiringly. She was looking down; her whole demeanour had changed. '•Anything else you want to-night, miss?"

"You can tell me something, please. What became of that friend ol yours?" "She keeps a lodging-house, miss.' There was no bitterness in (her voice now, "Her name's Janson. '. . . Y'es, they used to call me 'fflioda Redway' once/''

The girl gavp a little cry, and, hurrying forward, laid her land on the woman's shoulder for a moment. When the door closed, she did not move for a time. Her voice reached Leonard Garth strangely muffled.

"I think—perhaps I might settle down, after all."

He swung round. "Maggie! You mean ?"

"Will you tell me some more—some more about that little house!"— Leslie Thomas, in M.A.P.