The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-09-01


ing over with rage. He catches me by
the collar OF my coat and the roomy
part OF my breeches aud pitches me slap
of the stage. But he wasn't bad sort;
for after he was done he comes mp to
mo and says lie was very sorry for hurt
ing me, and asked me what I'd have TO
drink.
I've been married, and had ono child
"a girl-and I'm widower. I was
married young, like most professionals.
She was in the third row OF the ballet,
and inclined to DO stout ; but she didn't
last long, poor soull she had apo
plectic Ill one night, and died in my arms
in the green.room. / was very cut up
ut the time, because she was as good q
wife as ever wore q ring.
My darter was as good-looking a girl
rs you'd meet anywhere; quite different
from her mother-not in the beauty
line, because she was nice.looking too.
but in size. Rose was very thin. She
followed in the same steps as my old
woman, and got her an engagement at
our theatre. OF course she feel in love
girls always do at that age, seventeen
with as rising young fellow US /
wished to olsee. IswaB proud Of Rose,
and wasg glad it turned out so; and
what's more, he wasn't ashamed OF me,
although I was only q super, which
made me proud Of him too. He was
very Jealous OF Rose, and wanted to
take her OF the stage and marry her of
once; but l objected on tho score Of
age. I asked him to wait q year, till
she was q little older, and he took my
adyice-rather unwillingly, ] suspects,
II his face was to be believed but lie
didn't say so, for he always gave way 10
me, because ! knew what was better
than he did. WA
One night Rose gets a letter sent
around to her from gent in tho boxes,
a.asking her to meet him outside, after
the performance. She was very much
hurt about 1t, for 1t was the first insult
she'd received-they gets used to these
things in time-and brought the letter
to me. Just MS I was G.reading 1t, up
comes Charley-that's her young man
and Rose snatches the letter out Of
my hand and puts 1t in her pocket; but
not before Charley had seen it. He
looks surprised, and he shys-
"Whats that" says lie.
"ohl nothing" she says, playful lice,
md runs away; and he turned away too,
but not in the same direction.
When saw Rose again, / says
"Why didn't you show 1t hima" 1
says.
"oh, fatherl" she says, ''he's SO ieal-
ous ; and II he'd seen il he'd have
thrashed the follow" she says, ''and
perhaps have got into arrow, and l didn't
want him to do that"
"She gave me the letter, for fear he
should ask for it; and put it in my
pocket, never p-thinking no more about
When work was done for the night,
me and two or three others used to make
our pipe and pot-which was half.a-pint
O fourpenny-at little pub, round the
corner, close to the theatre, where we
was known and respected. There we
used to talk over the events OF the eve.
ming; and sometimes, when things was
slow, we'd even condescend to talk poll.
tics, but not often-we left them frivi-
lous subjects to people rs hadn't the
sense to appreciate art. While We was
there that night, in comes n gent rather
mopsy; he staggered up to the couster,
and calls for q bottle o champagne, and
then asks us to drink, which We did-we
never refuses that. Well, hewas a.going
on about one thing and another, and at
last he says.
"That hose is nice girl"
Ipricks up my ears at this, and / puts
down the glass Of champagne as l was
Just arising TO my mouth-the glass rs
he paid for-but never says nothing.
Then he goes on o. .boasting, and says as
he was a.going to eeher home. Jumps
up, and says
"I'm thot lady's father, and il | wasn't
a old man I'd knock you down"
Then I turns to my mates and tells
'em OF the letter business; and takes 1t
out Of my pocket, and hands it to him,
and gives him o bit OF advice as he
wanted. He was in that rage, that he
was Just a.putting up his fist to hit me,
when Joe Pulter, one OF us, foorcd him.
Then We handed him over to police
man. We was rather excited afterwards.
what with having q extra half-pint, and
the champagne We drank afore we knew
who We got 1t from.
Charley used always tosee Rose home
after tile performance, aud stay with her
till I come; but he wasn't there that
night, and Rose said be hadn't come
with her as he always did, and laid the
blame to the letter. She was naturally
cut up about 1t, and said
L "I'll tell him howl was in the morn
ing"
1Noi II he can't think me true to
him without proofs, he sha'n't at all.
I seed 1t was no use a.arguing with
her, so gives in. My little beauty was
very proud, and I liked to see II; but !
never thought as how pride would turn
love over as IL did; although 1 ought to
have known better, a.seeing so often
how Pauline had such narrow escape
Of 1t.
She was very pale next morning, and
her ewes looked like mine do sometimes
when / mint got enough water to wash
,y;th comfortable. and leaves the color
round under 'em; but 1t wasn't from
that. i knowed, because Rose was q very
tidy pirl. Ineyer says nothing. but !
s,s GOES On a.eating and not pretending to
notice ANYTHING different; and by and
hy we goes 10 The theatre. l was very
sarious 10 SEQ what Charley would do
bat he only Just takesoff his hatTohar.
ley always was q geltlemanI,ana, ~ ~ sI.%i WI
away again. This here made me y. ieeI Y
~"''S - ..1 I dt1uH know what