Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1885-10-14
GOOD MATCH.

And Billy wiped his eyes and said,
brethren, never knowed!"
GOOD MATCH.
The season was drawing to close,
and already the earlier birds had de-
parted; the tourist was beginning to
crop up in strange localities, and the
lodging-house keeper, shifting the bat
tie afar off, to prepare for war with his
natural enemies, the visitors, groups of
whom I found scattered around the
railway station as l comfortably en-
sconced myself in the corner of a car
riage bound for Saverton Towers.
A very few months back, Clement
Sandering, with whom / was going to
stay, had been living in town on COM
paratively small income, which he had
augmented in desultory way by liter
airy work. He had written novel,
successful comedy, an endless variety
of articles on anaepdless variety of sub
jects, and was looked on as rather a
rising man.
Probably he had never heard of Say
erton Towers, when one morning,
among the letters and papers which
burdened his table, was note from a
firm Of lawyers in the city to tell him
that the Towers, a rather expensive
property in Meadshire belonged to him.
Sandering had met with such things in
the realms of fiction, and the intimation
seemed rather like the foundation of
plot for a novel than a real and ver-
liable possibility. 1t was true, how
ever; distant relative of the late own
er had died childlcss in Paris, and with
in very short time Sandering had re-
signed his chambers and left town.
In the former days had vaguely how
cred during the season round GER
tain Gertrude Leigh, Sandering show
ing slight disposition to admire her
sister Bell. All this was entirely hope
less, for there was not the very remot-
est chance of old Sir Thomas consent
ing, even if the girls had wished it; and
Lady Leigh would probably had fits if
the subject had been mentioned to her.
The affair was not very serious on my
part, nor, as l think, on Sandering's,
though some of his heroines bore sus-
picious resemblance to the fair Bell;
but, then what would you have? One
must get his heroines from somewhere,
for pictures painted without models are
seldom satisfactory.
Circumstances alter cases, however,
and his circumstances had very mate
rally altered his case. Since his Access
sion he had been in Paris, where I
knew the Leighs were also staying, and
though his letters had not said any
thing particularly pointed, it was evil
dent that they were much together, and
only natural to suspect that something
would come ofit-the usual something.
Immediately on his return he had
written to ask me down; there was no
one with him, he said, and if l had
work to do it would be much quieter
than the chambers; so taking heap of
paper to try and ease conscience
which demanded industry, and secret
ly resolving to do nothing but lie under
the trees and smoke, started anxious
to see Sandering, in case his bachelor
days were soon to be ended; for mar
riage sometimes alters man very con-
siderably, and a young wife has not al
ways an enthusiastic affection for her
husbands bachelor friends.
He met me at the station, and we
drove through some of the prettiest
scenery in Meadshire to the Towers.
The fine old house was striking con-
trast to the dingy chambers;
rs was the small army of men about
the place, gardeners, grooms and the
rest, to the dilapitated old woman and
the small boy who had attended him in
days of yore; But he had fallen quite
naturally into the now habits and in
terests, and it seemed years since the
old London days.
After dinner we retired to small
room to smoke, and to discuss all that
had happened since we last met.
''And how are things theatrical?"
he asked, when he had given me the
details of his journeying.
''Much as they were when you left,
think; and in one way as they will al
ways be. The good ones pay, the bad
ones don't. Isn't the same principle
carried out in everything? If managers
produce good pieces, publishers good
works, Or publicans good beer, thepco-
pie go, read and drink remuneratively.
All the same, suppose we are to I'M
derstand that the drama is declining"
THAT the silliest cry of all, Sander
ing answered. There are plenty of
good actors, and plenty of good plays.
don't mean to say that the whole
thing was in a perfectly satisfactory
state. A@number of gentleman, and
some ladies, adopt the profession now
and study it; but many, many fellows
60 on the stage with the idea that the
art Of acting can be learned any morn
ing before breakfast, and under the i'm
preston thas ease is the grand requis-
tie behave in drawing-rooms with the
sort of ease that city clerks exhibit in
there favorite liquor shops. l remem-
Der one Of the best actors in England
telling me that when he first went on
he was convinced that he could play
Hamlet perfectly; but, after twenty
years experience, he should be thor.
Oughly eontented if his Laertes satisfied
himself. = saas1t ~ - ~
:.But there is a bigger blot upon the
stage than what old actors call cuff
shooters. Look in the photograph
windows" replied.
Eyes, at he-the-those- the-well,
the popular actresses. Popular act