Sunlight and Limelight; A Story of the Stage Life and the Real Life (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1898. Excerpt: ... then looking away from him, as though she would let nothing come between her and the visions that floated before her eyes. "You will see, Hector," she added. "It will be my greatest part. The rest was make-believe; but this is a part that I have felt and lived." Perhaps he looked at the stage life too much from the mere showman's point of view to grasp her meaning fully. Yet Angela's manner impressed him even more than her words. It was so obviously the manner of the woman who was born to triumph on the stage; and since it moved even him, the showman, its power to thrill an audience was well assured If only the play should prove worthy, or could be made worthy, of all this sympathetic emotion which she was ready and expecting to express in it For he was really moved, moved even more than he was willing to admit, moved by a stronger feeling than admiration for her talents. The feeling was growing on him that it would be beautiful to play that part with her--beautiful to feel her arms round his neck and her cheek laid against his, in that great closing scene of Otto's play. She looked exquisitely lovely in her mourning. Sorrow adorned her like a jewel--at once humanised and glorified her--made her desirable without seeming to make her unapproachable. Never even in the old, light-hearted, wandering days had the temptation been stronger. But there was a time for all things; and this was the hour for compassion, dignity, reserve, restraint. He could not grudge that tribute to the realities; he was a dramatic artist and understood what was due to the drama of real life. "Brave girl Brave girl 7' he murmured, and laid his hands gently on her shoulders, and bent down and kissed her, like a brother, on the forehead. She accepted the kiss calmly, as a sister; an...