The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1883-02-11
ready to - 20 on for Esther at a moments notice.

ready to "go onn for Esther at a moments notice.
should anything happen.
How Mabel answered the unexpected call made
upon her she herself has already told us; but she uu.
drated rather than overrated the impression she had
| made.
Received at first coldiy by the disappointed audi.
ence az q possibly respectable, but more probably
! weak substitute for Miss Hcathcoto, sho gradually
worked her way into their hearts, and In the great
scene she acted with abandonment and power that
completely electrified the apathcc spectators, round
after round OF applause testifying to their delight.
/ At breakfast tho next morning Tom dudley
gently but clearly pointed ont to his daughter that she
must not build her hopes too firmly the probability
| ot being retained Tor the part.
'Nou know, my dear, ~ he said, "the public be-
llcye In namo, and the managers know that thor
| oughly we'll I havono doubt that YOU both surprised
ana satisfied Albyn at tho time and probably Moseley
too; but he may conceive that In tho interests Of tho
Theatre he must have strong name In the bills and
very llkey no VIII engage some woll-known leading
! lady for the part. ~
at win be shame II he docs, - interrupted Ma
/ bel, holy,
cor course, In your eyes; and shall he very sorry
But remember, MIR. Alhyn is only n manager after all
aud looks ut these things from purely business point
OF view lie may keep you In the bill, but think 10
best TO warn you so you may not he dsprlted u you
/ ind nat he means TO engage some one else After
last night YOU have, ut all events, shown that You
work, and for that opportunity you should be thank
fu II VIII insure your not being passed In tho
next piece, and VIII bring You prominently before the
Nab
In the managers study ut the Phmnix stormy i'm
tervlcw had Just taken place between Albyn and his
stage manager, The latter while admitting that the
Young actress had scored an unexpected success In
sisted that some lady should lie engaged for Esther
VINO na, Already won name whorowith TO conlure
ihe public bnt the manager was determined that Ma
bel should reap the benefit of her pluck.
Aud, fortunate for Mabel, he proved sufficiently
stubborn In his determination.
1.-The theatre is mine Moseley, ~ he said, rising
ana gazing sternly at tho now obsequlous stage man
ager. 81 VIII do rs think best. You seem to for
get your POSITION
Therefore 1t was that when Miss Dudley arrived at
the theatre she was instantly summoned to the pres
cnce OF MIR. Allyn, who In few kind words told her
night before that he would not think Of deprlvng her
OF the part-urged her TO make the OF her unex-
nected good fortune and concluded by informing her
that her salary for the future would lie more In keep
Ing with her altered position In the company.
al may as we'll tell you, ~ said MIR. Albyn, tthat
MOseley strongly recommends the engagement of an
other lady, but have reminded him that the theatre
is mine-whlch Moseey Is apt occasionally to forget
and that shall manage i my own way. Itwillnever
he said that Godfrey Albyn was ungrateful to one
who SO ably helped him of the horns OF q dilemma.
While manage theatre, Miss Dudley, you may rely
on my friendship
Gcoifrey Allyn was stlll Young man when he
opened the PhmnN Theatre, and, having made very
decided 'hlt' with the first production, followed II
up with Increased Successes
Tall and handsome, with bright, manly look and
an Impressive manner, he was admirably fitted to
play the heroes In the romantic melodramas for which
hts theatre had become famous, and many were the
hearts in boxes and stalls pit aud gallery that beat
pearance In some picturesque costume.
Whatever men might think Of him-and he was
artist enough to satisfy even the critical among his
rude nudltOrs-the ladies' one and all declared that
he was, without exception, tho most delightful actor
on the stage; aud the lady who had the privilege of
being Clasped In his arms and made love to every
night, even although IL was acknowledged TO 10
"only acting, " was generally looked upon by her
sisters In ''front >, ms a woman to lie enyled
Among his professional friends Allyn was very
reserved on all points OF his private affairs. lilo dis
played little or no curiosity regarding the Inner lives
I.a
made 1t clearly understood that he was able to keep
his own counsel.
All the efforts Of pryng curiosity failed to win his
confidence IN matters not connected with the theatre.
such was the man who now engaged nightly In the
task OF making mimic love to Mabel Dudley. At
first Mabel (absorbed heart AMI soul In the exercise
OF her taents) thought very little about who her
stare-lover hut gradually change began to manifest
itsef-mperceptibly at first, but soon deepening and
expanding until the girl awoke to the consciousness
that the love she so cleverly simulated had become
reality.
II was with something approaching to terror that
Mabel made this discovery. She strove to keen II
down, and battied with herself against this growing
passion.
Bravely she struggled to banish the idea from her
mind aud force herself TO look upon Godfrey Albyn
merely as a fellow actor, thrown by accident
Into close professional contact with her. She argued
with herself On the folly OF allowing even thought OF
such thing 10 harbor In her breast for a single
ment.
An lnvan.
Like a mountain torrent that rushes all the more
violently when obstacle is momentarily thrown in
Its way, her love grew nercer and stronger the
resolutey she attempted to stem the current.
In two months from the night OF her unexpected
debut Mabel found herself madIy hopelessly In love
with Godfrey Allyn.
bay by day her only wish was that the hours would
slip quickly past, and tho moment would arrive when
she might for a brief space abandon herself to the
rapture OF her uncOnfessed passion.
hut poor Mabel had no conidant. She kept her se-
crct hidden from the world And her Lowell strength
and power to her acting.
over and over again Allyn was astOnisled at the
force and passion with which she threw herself into
her part little dreaming that her nightly scenes with
hin were the only moments of her life when she could
lot her imagination run riot In the vast 'what might
have been.'
''By Jove, sir ~ he exclaimed evening to n
well-known critic, Dudley will be the greatest
actress the stage at distant day She makeslove
AS IL she meant It,
'rerhaps she does ~ replied the critic, with half
concealed sneer at which Abyn laughed lightly, and
turned off the subject, while faint shadow passed for
a moment over his handsome faca as he muttered:
" No, good Heaven, not that ~
Many times he had pressed her to sup with him and
few friends after the play, or perhaps dine at his
house on Sunday. His sister kept house for him. and
Mabel knew him To he an honorable gentleman.
But she resOlntely declined his Invitations, pleading
the state of her fathers health as her excuse
1t might have been better for Mabel Dudley II she
had gone, If only for once.