Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-11-17

| curling her pretty lip contempsuousiy
you are in love with our grand LADY, arr
youy
Have you been listening = he asked.
BAH Why should take the trouble
Her silly gable isn't worth listening TO
I'm sure. Only when folks select such
queer times and places for their love-nak
| ing, they ought to remember that canvas
walls aren't so solid as they appear. DC
you know why Marie Frondat won't marry
/ you, Edward Stcele.'
"Ehe does not love me- said the clown
simply. :.
but that's not it, She won't have yol
because you are clown, that's all. Sht
has fine ideas 10 her head, and you have
yourself to blame for 1t, partly. She for
gets that you filed, and can still fill, higher
roles than the ones you have been playing
lately. She forgets that it was the loss oi
your voice which brought You from your
legitimate line down 10 the position you
occupy now. She forgets that she has
never been anything better than dresser
all her life. There's no merit in her name
and beauty, but she doesn't think Of that
It's pride, Edward Steele, pride, and moth
ing else O. en-
dreams may be fulfilled"
Never! Listen To me hate that
woman with all my heart and soul A
man whom have loved better than my
own life has been entrapped by her cursed
beanty-for she Is bcautiful-and her false
smiles After she had won him from me
she turned him adrift. / would not receive
him back; she would have nothing To do
with him. But that il neither here nor
there. 1t was she who took my love away
from me, and hate her. There Is nothing
| would not do TO compass her ruin, and
will cause her utter failure tonight IL it be
in my power to do IT, am only ballet
girl but even such az have feelings and
hearts which can be hum.
"Nincttei Ninette! How can you cause
her failure?"
The girl smiled. and her black eyes gilt
tered.
"Do you know who plays Melnotte 70
her Paulncy"
Eyes, certainly It is Harcourt."
"And would you know who is the man
Of whom have spokens'
Not Harcour surely"
"The same. You need not look so sur
prsed Sucl great actors fall in love with
very common people sometimes. This
one grew fond Of dancer and then Of q
dressing-girl. HarcOIrt will not play
Claude Mclnottc tonight"
He Is on the stage at this moment with
Marie"
"True, but he will not be on hand to-
night when he Is most needed"
"What do you mcanS" asked Steele,
~. To Lat nsva 1
Marie 2"
Perhaps So" she said, smiling bitterly.
" shall not be surprised If MIR. Harcourt
becomes too tipsy TO make his appearance
when the curtain is rung mp to night. You
know his failing. If you were not fool
You would wish me success"
"Ninette, you are mad. If you are tell
ing the truth, it is my duty to report all
this. Marie must not fail.
She placed her hand upon his arm and
said, quietly:
"If Marie Frondat succeeds tQ~night
she is lost 10 you forever. She has told
you as much already. Should She fail
that accursed pride will be broken. Then
perhaps, she will look with better favor
upon your suit. Help us, then, for your
own sake, for Maric's sake, formy sake
A look of great trouble came into the
clowns face. All that Ninctte said was
true. Maric's failure might insure the full
fillmcnt of the cherished dream of his life
II she did not succeed tonight she would
never attempt the stage again But he
could not lend himself to so despicable
plot MS this against her, If 1t would give
him the eventual possession Of her love.
lie was not as base as that. Yet, while he
lat. ,nI hat Mur in oh aur
in spite of Ninette, nc deemed 1t best to
dsscmble before her. No warning from
him TO Harconrt would avail against
Nincttc's pretty Establishments; he knew
that well enough. Neither had he the
courage to bring upon him the hatred of
his fellow players by reporting the con-
spiracy To the manager. So for the present
he deemed il best to lull Ninette into
security, even while he pitted himself
against her This, at least, he would do,
through his love for Marie
"You are right he said "but 1t seems
cruel to blight flower Of such fair prom
is Is neIers No one nss ues S e I.
In Melnotte2"
mot soul. You ought TO know that
az well as l. Old Beamish will wait cur
tain until half.past eight. Harcourt won't
come, and 1t will then be ,too late to
change the play. Consequence, pantomime
as usual. I'm fool for telling you all this
but from what overheard just now,
thought you would be willing to help me.
mo" said Steele, II won't lift finger
to help you, Ninettc; but I'll keep your
secret l won't bctray you. Manage the
affair as you like; but don't ask me for my
assistance"
"You will promise to say nothing'" she
asked, turning her dark eyes upon him
susplciously.
81 promise, solemnly,' he said, with a
forced grimace.
What an idiot am !" exclaimed Min.
cite, turning upon her heel, to DO babbling
such things so near the stage. Now then,
remembcrl Not word"
She placed her finger on her lips and
withdrew, while the clown went up stairs
after certain yellow covered book, which
he took homo TO study diligently for the
rest of the day.
ACT II.
At the hour for the commencement oil
| the performance that evening, the theatre
was filed to its utmost capacity From
parqucttc to dome crowd Of expectant
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