The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-11-14
GREEN-ROOM ROMANCE
Chamber Journal
SCENE I.


Mr.. Percy Montmorency was seated in
front Of looking glass in his dressing room
at the Pantheon theatre, habited in the cos
tune Of Charles Surface, with the perruquier
In attendance The nams OF "Montmorency"
was merely a nom de theatre assumed by
Harry Stanley when he adopted the some
what singular resolution Of @fretting and
strutting his hour" on the boards Of a metro
poltan theatre for Mr.. Stanley was the only
child Of his father, Col Stanley, and conse-
quently heir to that gallant officers estates In
Yorkshire and elsewhere. For the rest, he
was three and twenty, undeniably good look
ing, and endowed with considerable abilities
Having completed the arrangement Of the
powdered wig, the perruquier withdrew
pace and contemplated the effect with we'll
simulated admiration. "Mr. Charles
Mathews never looked the part better, sir"
The actor seemed 10 coincide In the opinion
OF his fiattering attendant for he rose and
surveyed himself In the glass with admira-
ton, which he made no attempt TO conceal
"A good house, Jackson
Capital, sir. But little cold. They'll
warm up when you go on, SIR"
Tell the call boy want him, Jackson"
jackson withdrew, and Montmorency sur
rendered himself TO a mental soliloquy, which
assumed somewhat Of this form: II wonder
what my father wishes TO see me about
The same old story, suppose-the folly and
wickedness Of the step have taken. Well,
Of one thing ] am certain; am much better
Off In my present position than welded TO
that Barbados girl, Miss Anstruther, in
spite Of her money bags, and whom have
never seem
The reflections were put an end TO by the
entrance Of the call boy
III n gentleman giving the name Of Col.
Stanley should call, show him in here"
"He is outside, sir, replied the boy.
"Show him In at once" whereupon there
entered a small, wizen-faced old gentleman,
with snow-white hair, and supporting him
self ON a stick. Montmorency advanced,
shook hands with a great show Of cordiality,
and placed a chair on which Col Stanley
slowly seated himself, gazing round the small
apartment with an unfeigned expression Of
curiosity. 80 this is a theatrical dressing
room. You are pretty snug"
The room certainly deserved the enconum
Of the old colonel Paintings in oil and water
colors nearly covered the walls; fancy pipes
and cigar boxes and scent bottles Uttered the
tables; case Of champagne reposed in one
corner, while in the other was a small pile Of
seltzcr water.
The colonel, after indulging in a sigh. pro-
ceeded: Il have called, Harry, before / re-
turn 10 Yorkshire, % make one more appeal
to you TO give up your present mode of life,
settle down "A landed proprietor in your
native county, and marry Miss Anstruther."
IL was now the turn Ut t'c Young man to
Ugh as he re lied: "Impu~sib noe, my dear sir.
i am already wedded-t" thr Stage"
THAT may be; but ua.p!- can easily he
dissolved ~ divorce. ,s!-, tally in these
days"
Not where the contIac:!I.- Iarties are so
attached 10 each other as ] ala L. my profess
sion. No, sir. II a man could take a wife
on lease, for seven, fourteen, or twenty-one
years. the Gaze would be different. But the
feeling that my lot in life was tixed-cut and
dried, NO to speak-the matter won't bear a
thought" The young man felt strongly in.
clined to indulge in a stage walk, but the
limited area of the apartment forbade such
physical relief IL the reader should consider |
the remarks of the actor somewhat hippant, |
II must be borne In mind that no one whose |
character did not fall under that definition |
would have acted as Harry Stanley had
done
The old man scowled as he resumed: II |
wonder you can respect yourself, dizened out |
and painted like a hummer ut a panto- |
mime"
u am Of the same calling rs the glory Of |
England, Shakespeare, the actor
And poet-you forget that, sir-poet, SIR" |
ihuply retorted the colonel
i can assure you, sir, we have men Of good |
family playing very small parts tonight. |
Trip took honors at Oxford and Backbite Is |
Cnmbr idge man."
"Pray, sir" replied the colonel, "if that be |
, { Q case. why do you all sail under false |
q lorsf Why resign the honored name of |
;anlcy for the Frenchified one Of Montmo- |
rencyt'
The young man bowed as he responded: |
"Out OF Difference 30 the shallow scruples Of |
the IA Tow-mnded portion of society," |
"Of which constitute member, chr |
IL was In a mere conciliatory tone that his |
son took up the argument. spray, sir, let me |
ask you question. Do poets and novelists |
never adopt nom de plumei Did not Miss |
Evans style herself George Elliott the late |
governor general Of India, Owen Meredith
Mile de la Rance, 'ouida; Dickens Bozf"
"That'll do" interrupted the colonel. "Then |
one fine day you viii be falling in love, rs
you call IL, with one Of those artful and |
painted sirens, and shall find myself grand |
father TO a clown or a pantaloon! For, of |
course, you will bring up your offspring to |
the profession, as you call IL, as IL there were
no other profession in the world"
His son and heir drew himself proudly up |
as he replied "No, sir; trust shall never |
forget that own the honored name of STAN |
ley"
The colonel remained silent for several mo- |
ments ere he observed: ~ shall never under |
stand why you declined even to see Miss An
struther"
Because the very fact that the lady was
labeled my future wife," replied the son, |
"would have caused me to detest her at first |
sight"
The old colonel rose from his feet. Il can |
zee very plainly that am wasting both your |
time and my OWL suppose you will have |
TO do a little 'tumbling' presently"
~ do not make my entrance till the third |
act II you will go in front you can have my |
Iox." Montmorency rang the bell as he |
spoke, and when the call boy appeared d. |
rected h m to show his visitor into box A.
The u tor was INDUCING IN a sigh Of relief, |
when head appeare at the half closed |
door and a voice exclaimed, MAY come |
iug" |
Montmorcncy bounded from his chair Us |
he seized hold of the extended hand and drew |
The owner into the room. Tie newcomer |
was young man about the same age MS the |
actor, and was habited in moderate evening |
dress Montlncrsncy wrung the hand Of his |
friend Valance and forced him into seat |
DeilShbeu 10 ste YOU, JOCK! nave Weeu
and a sc zers
Ia u few seconds the two young men were |
,'in lnrly occupied. and immersed in the con- |
rdnfption Of couple VI choite Partagas.
Tue actor opened the ball. "You must |
lave met an elderly Iarty In the passage |
hat was the governor. He is very irate be- |
cause ] won't fall In love by word OF COM |
Inand and marry Mis- Anstruther, whom | |
have never seen. BY the bye, you have seen |
her What is she liker
"a lovely girl" re.l!ed Valance. II met |
her at a bt.ii ut scarborough soon after her |
,Tr.val FROM the West Indies. Faith, Harry, |
you might do worse.
And might dn better-eh. .Iacki E'.t |
-FOUR ideas OF beauty are 30 opposite 70 mine, |
as remember of old. Now, IL you wish 10 |
ice perfect vision OF loneliness, go in |
front and see Fonblanque, tho Lady Teazle
cf tonight
"You mean Miss Fonblanque, presume"
Exactly. The prefix Miss is frequently |
omitted in theatrical parlance. She Is be-
witching'
Valance shakes his head. slave a care,
Harry. 1t would be pity IL you allied YOUR
ielf with some unknown adventures, after
refusing the rich Miss Anstruther."
"Well, TO be candid, Jack, i am afraid Of /
myself. IL / did not constantly call to my |
mind the fact that am Stanley i should