Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-02-28

The girl smiled, and her black eyes
glittered.
"Do you know who plays MeInotte
to her Pauline?
"Yes, certainly. 1t is Harcourt."
"And would you know who is the
man of whom have spokenP"
"Not Harcourt, surelyP"
The same. You need not look so
surprised. Such great actors fall in
love with very common people some
times. This one grew fond of dancer,
and then of a dressing girl. Harcourt
will not play Claude MelnOtte tonight" "
He is on the stage at this moment
with Marie"
"True; but still he will not be at
hand tonight when he is most needed"
"What do you meanP' asked Steele,
wondering. "Is this some plot against
| Marie"
Perhaps So" she said, smiling Bit
| terly. "I shall not be surprised if
Mr.. Harcourt becomes too tipsy to
make his appearance when the curtain
is run up tonight. You know his fail
ing. If you were not fool you would
wish me success"
"Ninette, you are madl If you are
telling the truth it is my duty to report
all this. Marie must not fail.n
She placed her hand upon his arm
and said, quietly: elf Marie Frondat
succeeds tonight she is lost to you for
ever. She has told you as much al
ready. Should she fail, that pride will
be broken. Then perhaps she will
look with better favor upon your suit.
Help us, then, for your own sake-for
Marie's sake-for my saker'
A look of great trouble came into
the clowns face. All that Ninette said
was true. Marie's failure might insure
the fulfillment of the cherished dream
of his life. II she did not succeed to-
night she would never attempt the
stage again. But he could not lend
himself to SO despicable plot as this
against her, even if it would give him
the eventual possession of her love. He
was not 50 base as that. Yet, while he
was determined that Marie should sue
ceed in spite of Ninette, he deemed it
best to dissemble before her. No
warning from him to Harcourt would
avail against Ninette's pretty blandsh-
ments he knew that well enough.
Neither had he the courage to bring upon
him the hatred of his fellow-players by
reporting the conspiracy to the mana
ger. So, for the present, he deemed it
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 will promise to say nothingP"
she asked, turning upon him suspic-
| iously.
Il promise, solemnly," he said, with
forced grimace.
She placed her fingers on her lips
and withdrew, while the clown went
upstairs after a certain yellow-covered
| book, which he took home with him to
study diligently for the rest of the day.
ACT II.
At the hour for the commencement
of the performance that evening the
theater was filled to its utmost capacity.
From pit to roof a crowd of expectant
| people eagerly awaited the rising of
the curtain. The dress circle, brilliant
with costly toilets, blooming with beau
tiful women, was alive with the flutter
of hundreds of fans and the rustic of
silken robes. The sparkle of diamonds
and the perfume of bouquets lent their
aid to the enchantment of the scene;
and the murmur of many voices filled
the air with languid, muffled tone A
certain measure. of romance in the
history of this unknown daughter of
Peter Frondat had given to her debut
degree of interest which brought half
the elite of the great city to witness her
| failure or success. Her appearance
had been well managed. Discreet and
judicious advertising, editorial notices
of the marked evidences of her genius,
careful cooking of the public ear, all
that could be done in her behalf to
bring theater-goers to the X-of1ice.
had been done by her two best friends,
Steele, and Beamish, the manager. The
result thus far more than Justified their
hopes and expectations. Whether their
endeavors were destined to be re-
warded by her success tonight, an hour
or more at the most would certainly
prove.
Eight o'clock arrived. The orchestra
finished the overture and stopped.
There was no bell for the curtain, and
the audience waited with some impa-
tience. In a few moments the leader
began to distribute music to his musi-
clans; and supplementary piece of
lively dance music was played to keep
the house in good humor. Still no cur
tain. The pit began to get somewhat
noisy, and the dress circle murmured
its disapprobation of the delay. Thus,
at quarter past the hour, stood mat
ters before the curtain. Behind it q
somewhat different scene was pre-
sented.
The green-room was filled with peo-
pie, dressed ready for their parts-some
rushing about with an appearance of
considerable excitement, conversing
eagerly together, some laughing at Ma
rie's unhappy predicament. The man.
ager was nearly in state of apoplexy.
The overture was done. The impatience
manifested by the audience was becom-
ing only too audible. Still, Harcourt
did not make his appearance. Marie,
IN her dressing-roOm, sat trembling
with excitement and rougeing to ex-
tremes to hide the ashy pallor of her
cheeks. Steele, who had made his ap-
pearance in the green-room much ear
Tier than necessary, as he was only cast
in the pantomime, sat in one corner
poring over the leaves of his yellow
book. Twenty minutes passed and still
no Melnotte!
"What the deuce Ito be doneP" cried
Beamish, foaming in desperation. I'm
give him ten minutes more; and if he
doesn't come then, shall have to set
the stage for the pantomime. Too bad,
too badr'
He drew on pair of white kids and
went before the curtain to pacify the
people, explaining the cause of DELAY
and asking their kind consideration for
few minutes longer. When he re-
turned TO the green-room he found Ma
rie there. Harcourt had not come.
The clown put his yellow book in his
pocket and came forward from the cor
ner.
~ will undertake to play Claude"