ed and could afford to maintain a home, it would be time enough, he declared. He felt that, at best, children born and reared in the theatrical profession were the victims of unnatural condit

from one or the other-my child or my husband-

scussed these problems at length, and finally concluded that, since the inevitable had happened, the wisest course was to make the best of it. How many children, I wonder, are conceived in the same spirit? How many births the result of accident? How few planned with the wish to bestow the best of one's flesh and spirit upon the little stranger? Can the influence of unwelcome conception upon th

y he most desired, and in the early autumn he played his first engagement as leading man of a New York prod

rangements before he left town. He said he would feel better if he knew I was in skilled hands and not at the mercies of a lodginghouse-keeper. It seemed cruel to be alone at such a time. I cried a little when the big, cheery nurse hel

for a run. We moved from our furnished room to an apartment. Will found it difficult to sleep with a crying baby in the same room. With the coming of the child, and the "front" Wil

r his father; he would stop crying the moment he heard Will's voice. Indeed, I believe that wh

family developed a pride in him, hitherto carefully suppressed. They had shown decided disapproval of our marriage when it became expedient to announce it to them. My introduction to the family, during the week our late-lamented Company had played Will's home city, was strained and unsati

ble longer to restrain himself, he confided his ambitions to his mother. Now, the old

actor! To think you'd want to bring shame on your old

her grief. In vain Jimmie endeavoured to s

isgrace on your name-you know actors always change their names

her moaning and was

, supposin' you became a great lion, with your pictures in all the papers-a

eighbour would guess who I was. His entrance was greeted with a burst of gloved applause, accompanied with such exclamations as, "There he is!" "Isn't he a love!" ... "Just wait until you see how he can make love!" I confess I hardly knew whether to be proud, or indignant. The familiarity with which they discussed hi

another whether Will was married. I wondered wh

ant-a pleasure we could not often afford. While Will washed up I told him the nice things I had overheard. I predicted he would become a veri

lish hand, with requests for autographs and autographed photographs. One or two asked Will's advice about going on the stage, and there was one from a tooth-powder firm, wanting the right to use Will

ht of your play, and was quite carried away by your splendid acting. Where did you learn to make love? I have occupied the right hand proscenium box every Saturday matinée since the opening. Isn't that a proof of my devotion? Do I flatter myself that I

cover, I recalled that Will had glanced toward

his voice belied his words, and I made him an impudent moué. "How do you like be

was asking myself