The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1883-03-04
A LEADING LADY.

not such fool as 10 follow M the steps Of the tfa
dictionary leading LADY, who r. recorded to have COM
planned indignantly 70 her manager that she had
been playing JVtict Tor forty years In his theatre
aud then found little chit Of child put over her
head into the part. No, sir, such fool I am not
have not been In this theatre one-quarter Of those
forty years; and I have no desire TO play Juiict.
But must say that tho constant preference shown
by the management to this Miss Melrose--a mere
noylce-a mere inexperienced novice sir--ls moro
than can lie expected 10 bear In my position II is
very clear that either she must leave the theatre
or I, "
with these words Mrs. Hartford swept round the
confined space OF the green-fOom, In her grandest
attire, with manner rather potiish and irritable
than profoundly diguined, as was probably her In
tention TO appear.
ought to explain, perhaps, that heightened stay
with friend who had q considerable estate n few
miles distant from Greathampton had enabled me to
establish myself as sort Of 'tamo cat - In the
theatre, aud to be ON familiar terms With the whole
company.
Mrs. Hartford was indlsputabiy tho leading lady Of
the establishments; aud II was generally whispered
among the rest OF tho troop that she presumed on
this indlsputablc position to give herself "cOnsum-
mate airs.N u cannot no denied that hon manner
was generally imporious, US becomes leading lady,
perhaps, but OcCasOnaylquetuous also. She was In
qnoruons phase OF temper lust nova state OF mind
easily accounted for rs I know that she hated poor
dear little Miss Merose Were not the youth, the
beauty, tho grace, the bright intelligence Ot the
Juvenile lady, to say nothing Of her obviously
increasing favor with the public, quite SUFFICIENT TO
warrant the most iusthabo feelings Ot hatred In the
heart Of the established aud fayorlte actress, who
fet tas, IN u weak moment, she had previously
out Of Joint by the little MINK"
Mrs. Hattotd was nnc, handsome, very attract
| we woman. should have given her some slN.and-
lhirly yeats Perhaps should have been below the
mark; for she herself admitted to thirty She gem
etally passed lot widow, although tlttle.tatuors
and where does the genus abound " not In theatre,
especially . provincial ono Y-icoWd insinuate, In
tibet own little circles, that ehe had been separated
rom het husband ON account OF incompatihllity OF
emperthe evil balance Of the temper being Of course,
In the minds Of the ittlet atters entirely ON the side
| of the wife. What could bo expected NJ awoman
who - gave herself such unfOunded ats -
otpretty Miss Merose, whose manners. 49, wen as her
appearance hal charmed me. So /, rather mall
ciously, fred OH small shot OF two.
"Wcll YOU must admit, ~ | said, 90 that this
girl although novice, has great deaf Of lady-lkc
! 'Lady-like giace?" snected the angry actress
| Lady like, t,nsoulh where lid yon discover that,
| wonder. why the gill, rs I know tue very
best authority, "a the daughter Of mere GARDENER
! mere common gardener Like you men spoony
| ON her, suppose -
'' Come, come, - resumed ''You canno, deny
Mrs. Hartford, that You yourself have been spooned
on, many time, by . common gardener -
! 'What ~ shouted the leading lady, In her
| gfnndest explosion OF stage indignation.
Yes when you played Pauline IN 'Ihe Lady
''pShaw - was tho ouly rcpartee that tho lady
could find as She staked out OF the room qualifying
herruleness however by the explanatory remark,
! Ct am called (which she was not
In short time II came to my knowledge that very
dlsagroeahe reports were being circulated In Great
| hampton aud the neghborhoOd respecting Miss Mel
rose. She was denounced asa designing hussy, ~
vile, Intriguing GIRL - aud, even In some coarse
| mouths, as mo better than she should he. How
these scandalOus ingnuations first set anont 1t
was, of course impossible to prove. They gathered
and grew, however, as does &c la caiut,n'd ~ al
ways. But the famous coipo III cdnone fell at last
on my own head, when found my own name mixed
up with these scandals, and heard that was pointed
out among all the old maids Of treathamptou as Misy
MelroSo's lover. may well protest at once that
had never shown the poor girl more attention than
DENTS gentleman to show to lady In whose society
| he finds himself.
was profoundly vcxed at all this foul scandal. mon
gering although did not see how to battle with It.
lntp al, 40 30
the source fium which II had originally proceeded
Jealousy on the stage Is sin hiterer than jealousy In
love- aud jealousy Is apt IN be vengeful. endeavored
| to think that was doing the lcadirg lady gross
wrong IN hNng IN her as the orginaor ~ the scandal
INT suspicion, spite of All my efforts, ,oouid grow
until II assumed tue sh nf certainty What should
| do? I could not attack Mrs. Hartford openly On
snrnses so vague and yet felt that II was impea-
lively necessary should take some steps to defend the
maine aud fame O mallgned girl, well as TO
tn" stigma resting On myself
This trouble absorbing me as sat In the library
OF Crawford Castle where was staying. a servant
came In to tell me that Mr.. Parker desired to
begged that he might come In. wondering what he
could have to say To me- Now, Mr.. Parker had lately
become the head gardener at Crawford Castle, rather
the chief superintendent uf the decorative portion of
the grounds, and aS such occupying the position Of n
man Of science and an artist. had seen him seldom
but had always looked IN him as gentleman.
To my surprise, as Mr.. Parker entered, saw that
his face was flushed, his brow darks knitted. |
bowed, and pointed ont u char to him, hut he re-
maiued standing.
"Itis with considerable raiu - no said steinly,
"tlat feel myself compelled To address you. sir,
matter at once awkward aud delicate. Cannot you
guess 10 what would aliude?'
was puzzled, aud said so.
'IOur name sir ~ lie continued in an excited
manner ''has been connected In a most srerutable
manner, with that uf young la'ly-Miss MelrOse-in
whom feel the strongest intcrest-no matter why.
! would hear from your own moutlI-you are gentle
man, and VIII speak the uutli-what your relations
with her may be-
! protested that my Intercourse with Miss Nlelrose
| had been only dictated by hccacy and propriety
'And She pursued.
lie checked mewith gesture almost of defiance.
~ know her to he the soul of purity aud virtue,
sir, - he Interrupted. ''She does need your lie
tense, I ask what your designs on her may be-
had none whatever, assured him.
''Tbe scandals To which you allude have reached
my ears, - added, land, at the very moment yot
came IN, was devising in my mind the best means
refuting them.'
''That shall be my task. - said MIR. Parker, some
what proudly.
" hut your interest In Miss Mclrose ~ asked.
'lt IN perfectly legitimate one, he answered.
cannot do otherwise than avow II 10 you now. an
her father
1.-THE father, am sure, of as noble a girl AS eve
Ived.''
For tho first time smile passed over MIR. Parker
lips. lie advanced to me, aud, not without SON,
hesitation, held ont his hand, which Grlsped warmly
as rose.
~ have given up fine POSITION" he continued
land accepted that at Crawford Castle in order I,
he near my daughter, who has Chosen--nut withOu
my sanction-thc stage as her profession. am thu
able to see her from time to time. ~
We sat down aud could not refrain from detail
ing to him my suspicious rs Ia the origin OF all In
scandaous reports. he could not understand me
'Why Ito You think thiG?'' he asked.
''Is there any accounting FOR female thearica
Jealousy or Its eifects?' | said 'But may IN
IIarfnTd?''
NO., he replied. From foolish feeling i
slIyness have never visited the theatre, alih0ugl
my dear Emmy has often wished II. But | will e
this evening"
After while we again shook hands aud Parted
both of ms resolved to ait the matter 10 the bottom
aud to clear away the cloud On the name OF the 200
maligned girl.
II was long before was able to make up my MINI
hesitation that ut last resolved To risk bold
ure, by seeing Mrs. Hartford, and In common par
lance ''hlying II out with her - hut, necessarily
with al the caution and diplomatic tact could CON
mand. did not visit the theatre that evening": but
on the morrow I went over To Greathdmptou, de
termlned to call on the lllustTOus ieadinE lady.
had done so before, and there could be nothiu
strange In a visit On my part.
Mrs. Hartford had contiived To secure eXCellen
lodgings on the ground floor of one of the prettes
houses in which " furnished apartments" were lie
In Greatbampton. The serving girl, who opened I
me, said that Mrs. Hartford was engaged told he
l would walt. sat down In the entrance passage
' Intending to compose my mind TO the proper fran
necessary for tho delicate Interview In which In
embarked. hut my attention was Immediately
aroused by the sound voices IN Mrs Hartford room
They were female voices aud they sounded as N raise
, In considerable excitement. Mrs. IIarfoId's deepe
! tones were easily distinguished. But those OF III
other? surely II was the voice of the very girl whoI
looked upon as her victim Yes. l could not Il
mistaken. 1t was certainly that OF Miss NIelrosc u
a sudden unrelected Impulse opened the door, ail
, entered the room unannounced.
! The two women stood facing one another Mrs
Hartford was HuSled IN CountenanCe, and her eye
flashed. The girl was deadly pale.
y The leading lady started as entered. But instea
OF displaying any anger at my Intrusion, she turne
! on me with an air of triumph and defiance.
$50 - she cried, to Miss McroSe, ''you have sen
; for your DEFENDER II seems, my young lady ~
might use cOarscr word, did not fain TO dehe n,
lips with TIA doughty champion, can well SUI
mise ~
81 was not aware that this gentleman would |
present. - said Miss Mclroso quietly, but with II
dgnatlon.'
- Both In a tale, Of course - sneered the Ieadn
' lady.
o ''Perhaps, sir. - she added. turning with her be
Of stage dignity, To me, 'yOu viii add To n
obligation your haterng visit has conferred by oGe
ing the girl your arm to conduct her from my hons,
where SHE has come with the evident purpose Of on
!. raging and insulting me-
81 had 10 such purpose said Miss MelrOs
y firmly, hut quietly. al came only in q friend
spirit, to ask this lady protection against some ca
u umnes with which have been cruelty assaed.r
. Sand Of which cana here, ~ | exclaimed excl
. eddy, "tO seek the origin and sOurce.''
. fixed my eyes, as spoke, with distinct meaning
y on Mrs. Hartford, who for the first time grew vel
= pale.
u She mastered herself however, sufficiently to a,
" dress me- with some degree of scOrn, In the word
" feTe IN matters which In no way concern you. -
u simply because my name has been coupled wi
q that of this young lady, ~ answered.
young Lady - repeated the angry woman, .
E wish you Joy Of being coupled in any way with Il
low gardeners daugher,'
}, simple Miss MelrOse was now fully reused. nefG
Uan "A hmm IuNg. sal