The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-03-06

before IS but simple ciay Tor al our faith IN 1t
and devotion TO 1t, be sure we nnd out the fact
some day. and topple the thing down from our
altar, never to lift It up or bow to it again."
Something OF both the manner and the matter
of the theatre was IN his speech What wonder?
Was he not an actOr2 And then in Mr. Kneyit's
day all conversation assumed a tone of some
what artificial elevation-benP as N wesc, sur
mounted Tlt,e & by TAI perlwlg, and moving about
"If you knew all, George-if you knew all /"
moaned Mrs. Askew.
~ thank you, mistress. / think know
enough" he SAID cOldly.
"And you desplse me %
81 despise myself. Ii was not you that de.
ceiyed me; deceived myself l have but my
self to thank that my deception has cost me so
dear. And it has cost me dear Re assured of
that" His voice trembled rather as he.spoke
TRY to think well of me- George.n
IL I0 "nat END! DO you want my heart
mended, tnat you may rive it again. as children
build up houses of cards for the pleasure of
knocking them down? That cannot be- | was
@ mao 10 Ihlnk that you were better than the herd
among which | found you, II was not your
iaulti IL was my folly that tried to lind a dia-
mono IN lead mine. You stood out for your
price; that was all. You were not in truth
tbs IHan tue rest Nay, let me value rather
cheapest rate; there may be grain or so of
heArt, OF honest liking, in her bargain. There
can oe none IN yours; glass coach, with foot
men 10 run IN front, and wax hambeauX to
attend you; black boy for your lap-dog and q
plenty OF money In your purse! Well you've
found market; you've received the stipulated
p6dcC; soa tne transactons closed May you never
, what right have you to address me thus
George kneyit 2" she demanded iercely.
'Ihe right the love | once had for you has
given me-. 1t was a poor thing, doubtless
You thought so; you treated it so. Butpoor
AS 1t was, 1t was a thing you will never know
aealn BE happy with this boor who has
bought you-this sot-this Welsh goat from the
mountains Will you weary first, or will he ~
How dare you say this to me ?n
Nay never scow1, mistress. The fire in
your eyes has no terrors for me. You have not
TO love me tonight as in yesterdays play.n
With laugh, he raised his hand to his face
The mark still shows, | fear. | must pile on
the paint to hide it,"
81 was mad last night" You goad me and
torture me, and then marvel that L turn upon
you. Your bitterness, your cruelty raise a
devil in my heart | seek in vain to lay; and then
and then-my brain whirls, and l know not
what do 1t shall not happen again-only
be merciful to me, George. Your tongue wounds
me like knife
II have had my say, mistress. My tongue
shall wound you no more"
"And-though all is over between u.s. she
paused as though reluctant to believe that all
was in truth over.
Forever" =" he said firmly.
'etill we need not be enemies"
why should we be! We are simply PLAYERS
that is all; followers of the same vagabond
trade-now loving, now hating; now swearing
devotion, now Vowing vengeance; players
always, OuE Iedl serves never. IL we are enc
mics, it shall only be on the stage-just as if we
are lovers again, still it only shall be on the
stage. For the rest, we are members of the
same troupe, bound to be loyal to our manager,
to the public, and to each other. Ask my aid
when you villas an actress; will give IT you
as an actor. There's my hand upon it."
She took his hand with an effort signing and
agltated, yet mastering her emoaon.
rs that the first music ?n she asked. "Do /
look disordered Have my tears spoilt my
paint? l have to begin the scene. Why,
you've forgotten your rings But you're not
on in this aCt."
II left them behind me at my lodgings. by
mistake. Never mind; | must play without
them"
"What a pity Stay; wear this. You must
have q rng.n
at does not matter"
"'Sir Courtly' must wear ring Remem-
Der what you said but now. You're not too
proud to accept this small aid from o fellow
"rn wear it. A real stone ?n
NAY; bit OF tinsel. Where are your eyes? {?
Keep it, George; it fits you"
Il must not"
oIps worth nothing. Are you so proud ?
Keep it as pledge of our new contract"
'Well, as you will, Mistress" And he slid
the ring on his finger.
She was called by the pIompter and tripped
on TO the stage as 'Leonora.n A round OF ap.
plause greeted the favoritc actress.
"FTis gay, sparkling, witty SOUL" said Sir
| Geoflrey, who, though he would every now and
entertainment was singularly inferior to the
! performances he had witnessed when younger
man nevertheless appeared to derive more amuse-
ment from the efforts OF the players than any
| other person in the theatre. He laughed loudly
| at the humOrs of the COmedy-Which were
! of rather an unrestrained kind-and applauded
| the comedians with most thorough hearth
ness. Mr.. Hervey, on the other hand, seemed
| a little apprehensive that his character as
! a critic might suffer detriment from associa-
! tion with one who, in spite of his lamenta-
tions over the past, appeared to tnd matter to
! praise in all he saw and heard. For the benefit
| of the persons occupying the benches near him,
! therefore, the Templar from time to time de-
! livered himself of many ingenious comments on
! the actors and the acting. He found reason 10
| consure tie redundant grotesqueness OF the
| representatives of the como characters OF the
| play. This is not nature, he would say; OF.
| ''Ths is only fit for droll ut Bartholomew
Fair;n or, "FOr what doeB this fellow take us,
that he treats us to such low buffOoneryp To
! MIR. Knevit, however he awarded praise OF q
| high order. "He is no longer Knevlt," he re-
| marked;" he Is Sir Courtly' himset Observe
his insipid, soft civility his formal elegance OF
| mien, his drawing delicacy of voice. the
| stately hatness of his address, and the empty
| emlneDce Of his manners;" and so on. Mrs.
| Askew, Mr.. HerVey thought, was hardly herself
on that evening; the part did not very well suit
| her as it seemed 10 him.
! : "'Sdeath,n said Sir Godfrey, "'sis very
/ mirthul play; and the raps at the Purttans very
! pleasant and adroit. l have laughed till my
| sides ache"
| In the course of the performance slight dis
| furbance occurred. Two gentlemen had passed
| trOm the pit TO the seats on the stage. The
| money-taker had objected to admit them with
| ont their paying the usual increased price for
'n'9 .tGive me no words, fellow, or I'll slit your
nose for YOU. Let me pass" Dawled one 9t the
| gentlemen, with an o9tn'
| . ~ dared not say HIM nay, lhe nohey-taker