Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-12-07

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wheeled cab passing the house,
she hailed the driver, stopped to
have few words with him, then, as the
man drew up at the door, she re-entered
the house, and was heard to run up
stairs. Reynell opened the door and
looked out. Half O minute might have
elapsed when the girl came down, carry
ing traveling-bag. AS she appeared to
be in great haste he did not attempt to
stop her, and, unwilling to seem on the
watch, closed his door. Presently heavy
footsteps were heard crossing The hall
and ascending the staircase. The same
heavy steps, after sounding overhead In
due coarse, slowly descended. Looking
from his window, Reynell perceived the
cabman carrying a large ladys travelling
basket. Then came the ring of female
voices and the noise Of lighter footsteps
upstairs. Miss Willoughby and the
landlady were coming down. They rap
idly passed his door. Surprised and
alarmed he rushed to his window-in
time to behold the object of his silent
worship enter the cab and to hear her
hurriedly direct the driver to the Euston
Square Station.
The street door having been closed,
Mrs. Bland entered the front parlor evil
IDENTIFY trimming over with news. "I
dare say, f." she began, ''you'1 be as much
astonished as I am. A telegram came
an hour ago as called my young lady
down to Liverpool. All! [ see the news
has shook you, Mr.. Reynell. Miss Will
loughby will be back in three weeks, so
at least she says; p'r'aps she'll write to
you" .. -#
"Perhaps she will" And in the hope
that she would her forlorn adorer found
a modicum of relief.
"Who's this new man underlined In
'Shylock at the Pantechnic %
ooh, he's very clever-a decided
acquisition to Ligh-class dramatic art y
English or Americana"
English-well known in the prov
inces; been for the last four years in
America"
The object Of these questions and
answers was that Mr.. Harold Mortimer,
concerning whose photograph we have
heard inquiries. He was now about to
appear as "Shylock, and the lady who
was announced to play "Portia' with
him was Miss Willoughby herself.
"Since his acknowledges departure
for Liverpool, Reynell has taken SO little
interest in theatrical matters as not to
have observed that she was shortly to
reappear at the Pantechnic in the play
of 1.-THE Merchant of Venice"
Lit was after an absence of month in
stead of three weeks that an early tele-
gram warned Mrs. Bland that her
drawing-room lady" would return the
same day. Mr.. ReyneI stood on the
doorstep, ready to receive the truant fair
one. Smiling, and with little apparent
surprise at his presence, she met him
cordially, though calmly returning the
ardent pressure of his hand. The poor
fellow was too overioyed to speak. It
was for her to break the silence, which
she did very abruptly with: "Im off to
rehearsal-I play 'Portia' tomorrow;
of course you'll go. Better let me get
you stall ticket-you'H find nCne left
if you inquired yourself There will
be a great house-good-by [ shan't
be at home this evening-see you to-
morrow"
Reynell failed not to remark upon the
discrepancy between her friendly man
ner and her apparent eagerness to pre-
vent him from following her to her own
apartment. But no time was allowed
him for circumstances, and before he
could even stammer out his satisfaction
at her return she had flown lightly up
stairs.
Mrs. BANDS "parlor gentleman had
witnessed the first, and, it may be added,
commonly successful appearance of Mr..
Harold Mortimer. Our friend was no
dramatic critic, but he recognized the
new actors exceptional powers. The oc-
cupant of neighboring stall astonished
him by the assurance that the seeming
ly old, bent, ugly "Shylock was a
man in the prime of life, and exceeding
ly handsome. He had known Mr.. Har-
old Mortimer in America and had paid
him visit that very morning. But, in
truth, "the Jew that Shakespeare
drew possessed little interest for Rey-
nell who had scarcely eyes for any char
acter on the stage but the young doc
tor of Rome" The play concluded, he
hurried from the theater, jumped into
cab, and was driven rapidly home. He
made this excessive haste because Miss
| Willoughby had invited him to meet a
small party Of her friends at supper
given in honor of the nights perform
ance. He found that he should have
more than one hour to wait before he
could set eyes on "Portia " in her own
proper character. A single arrival en-
boldened him to follow suit. Entering
the drawing-room with a beating heart,
he was disappointed at finding that the
hostess had not yet appeared. The only
person in the room was tall, handsome
man.
'Allow me to introduce you to Mr..
Harold M ortimer." Thus said Miss
Willoughby, who had glided in after
Reynen. ''Mr. Mortimer, this is the
gentleman I have mentioned to you
Mr.. George Reynel."
Mr.. Mortimer stared, perhaps more
wildly than he had ever done on the
stage. "Good God p he said. SIS it
possible? George! My brother l''
civilian! William I had given you
up for dead"
And the brothers were locked in ono
another's arms, presenting a nature
prompted situation which few scenic eff