The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-03-13 00:00:00

twenty yeart ago, at Drizzleton-in-the-willows, ano
the station being far from the town, the talented
company had not had a comfortable walk of it.
Four men, none of them young, and all looking as
though the world had used them hardly, and two
women, of by no means uncertain ages, made up the
party; and a cart f allowed them laden with boxes and
bundles, and two rolled-up scenes much the worst for

wear.
"Now, which of those two houris is Pauline, I
wonder ?" Bruce Carnaby said scanning th 3 faces of
the women, who were decidedly haggish in appear-
ance. "Fifty if a day, both of them, and ill-favoured
to a degree. Atherstone, this promises well."
Leonard made a grimace.
"If either of these women play Pauline, I shall be
Ill," hp said. "Landlord, for goodness sake, go and
give them something hot all round. They look like
starved rats. You needn't mention my name. Give
them what they like out of your own overflowing
generosity, but find out if you love me which is the
lovely Pauline. Send the bill to me when they are
refreshed."
The landlord went, and Mr. Whiffin's company were
speedily regaled with hot liquor and biscuits, and
thought the landlord of the Cock and Bottle the most
generous man they had ever seen.
Presently that gentleman returned to the parlour,
and informed his guests that the Pauline of the
evening had not yet arrived.
"One of the gentlemen was going to meet Miss
Beryl Joyce by the next train," he said. "But I don't
think they'll open for all that," he added.

44 Why not i"
"Because they haven't got the price of a cup of
tea among 'em," he replied, grimly, "and they're
depending on the receipts to pay the rent."
The worthy landlord was right. Mr Whiffin and
his company were decidedly, as that gentleman ex-
pressed it, "hard up." He was an honest man enough,
an actor of the old school, who believed in the strutt-
ing, mouthing style of acting, now happily exploded,
whwe every word has its appropriate attitude. He
paid his way when business was good, and the money
came in; and, when he could get hold of a theatre,
which he did now and then, his people generously
stuck to him, and did their best. He had once been
manager of a circuit of several theatres, but the march
of improvement and the incursions of travelling com-
panies had "spoiled his towns," he dealared, and he
could not pay his way at all.
Just now he was on a tour, with a couple of sdenes,
and half a dozen people, trying very hard to make a
living in country places where the British drama was
not often represented.
Leonard Atherstone looked up at the landlord's
words.
"Are you sure they have no money ?" he asked.
"Quite sure. I asked 'em if they would have: tea,
and they said no. And one of 'em has been out and
bought a loaf and half a pound of butter, and , they
can't pay the billsticker till they open the doors.lse'll
have to wait a long time."
He left the room, and the young men laughed 4 and
looked at one another in dismay.
"So much for our evening's entertainment," Itruce
Carnaby said. "Poor devils !"
"Suppose we pay the rent, for the sake of the fun,"
Leonard said, putting his hand on the bill. "Haag it
all, the old fellow's at 'em already."
Voices in altercation could be plainly heard in the
"Assembly Room," which adjoined the parlour—those
of Mr. Whiffin and the landlord—the cne expostulating,
the other doggedly firm.
Better not interfere, Leonard Atherstone, better let
the poor actors tramp out again into the rain, hope-
less and hungry! On that one little act of generosity
and kindness hangs the whole of your future destiny,
brings down on your innocent head the bitterness of
sorrow,poverty and misery. But there was no friendly
voice to whisper to the young man any timely warn-
ing, or to hint to him what the touch of his hand on
the bell-rope would bring him.
The landlord came rather red and flurried.

"I've had to tell 'em to pack off," he said. "I'm
sorry for 'em too. My wife will give the woman a
cup of tea, and I've sent in some ham for the men, but
I can't let 'em have the room for nothing."
"Of course not," Leonard Atherstone remarked. "I
should like to see Mr. Whiffin, if you will send him
here. What sort of a fellow is he?"
"Proud as Lucifer, sir, and touchy as a tiger cat."
" Ah, I won't offend him !" said the young man
laughing. "I'll be very particular."
. _

The landlord looked puzzled, but went, and presently
returned, showing in Mr. George Augustus Whiffin,
who bowed with a precise formality and pomposity
that was very ludicrous.
"You sent for me, gentlemen," he said, with a
puzzled look at the two fresh young faces, mid the
unmistakable air of superiority that accompanied
them.

"Hardly," said Leonard Atherstone, motioning him
to a seat. "We requested the favour of your com-
pany, Mr. Whiffin, for a few moments. What will you
take ?"

Mr. Whiffin would take brandy-and-water, hot, and
it was brought, and business proceeded with.
"We are accidentally cognisant of the fact that you
are in a temporary difficulty here, Mr. Whiffin,"
Leonard said. "And--"

"Sir, it is temporary," said the manager, arranging
his necktie, and giving a twist to one of his coat
buttons that threatened to wrench it off. "If I had
known of such a dilemma I would have come prepared
for it. It is painful and humiliating, but it is my
fate, and I bow to it."
"Will you allow us to be your bankers ?" asked
Bruce Carnaby, hardly able to repress a laugh. "We
are anticipating much pleasure from seeing your per-
formance to-night, and we shall be sorely disappointed
if anything deprives us of it, I assure you."
Mr. Whiffin drew himself up.
"Sir, you are very good,' he said, "but you are
strangers, and the receipts may not be adequate."
"We shall have paid for our pleasure," said Leonard.
"Come, Mr. Whiffin, consider it a loan if you will,
but let us help you in this matter. Send -the land-
lord, and I will make it straight with him."
"And I invite you all to tea before the performance,"
said Bruce Carnaliy. "Everything shall go off with
ecicit in spite of the wet. I'm sure we shall have a
treat."
"You will, gentlemen," said Mr. Whiffin, solemnly.
"I cannot speak ray thanks properly, but you have
my warmest gratitude. You shall see acting to-night
Since the days of the original Claude, I flatter myself'
there has not been one on the stage like mine; and'
as for my Pauline, there is not a cleverer, or more
beautiful girl in the profession than Miss Beryl
Joyce.
(To be continued.)