The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-04-07
oar;an. who called Methuse}ah, Methuss-

garian, who Called Methuseihh, Methuss-
lem, was more than commonly CALLING.
Lorrimer had never felt what he felt.
The thing was impossible, but it was
useless to argue. and the young man
sat in a mournful and dignitied silence.
and slipped his brandy and water, I'M
til the other members of the conclave
dropped in one by one. and Lorrimer
began to expatiate upon his own good
fortune and the great things he was
going to do for Miss Churchill.
look here" said the manager,
poking at the rotund figure of the man
of the corner with his walking-cane.
" Here's chance for you. You used
to want to write poetical comedy,
you know
a. trust" said the man in the
corner, that we are not about to en-
ter on a course of recrimination. Why
should I be reminded Of the follies of
the past? l have heard it whispered
that middle-aged, forid, fat man,
who shall be nameless, had once a de,
sire to play Romeo"
&c No more of that, Hal an thou
lowest me, y" said Lorrimer. ':But if
you can write poetical comedy, my
boy, here's the woman to write up to."
SIR said the man in the corner,
u can write a pcetical comedy as
well as any whale in arctic waters can
dance a saraband."
..Well,' cried Lorriner. ''the man
who writes tirst-rate poetical comedy
for Miss Churchill has made his fort
une. know that much,
Good afternoon, gentlemen" said
the poet, rising YEARLY. There was
some protest against his going, but he
pleaded non-existent engagement and
got away, He turned disconsolately
out of the Strand into Catherine street,
and, after many indeterminate wind
ings, found himself at the head Of the
dismal thoroughfare in which Mrs.
Tregarthen had lodgings. He stood a
full minute in hesitation, and one or
two hurrying passengers hustled him.
At last he pulled his hat over his eyes,
sighed. cast out both hands with lit
tie gesture of surrender, and walked
home.
On the afternoon of the day on which
Mrs. Tregarthen entered her new
abode Lorrimer called, and showed her
two or three newspaper paragraphs.
1.-The game is afoot Already he
said; "and, much as Twas disappointed
at the moment, upon my word I'm be-
ginning to be glad that you threw me
over last time. 1t has excited GER
tain curiosity and interest, don't you
see. Only-you mustn't do it again,
you know. My credit and reputation
are at stake.
She2told him YEARLY that he might
rely upon her. but she took no interest
in the preliminary puffs of which Lor-
rimer was so proud. She glanced at
them and put them aside with so much
languor that the manager took fright a
little.
upon my word," he said. I'm
afraid you're not well. Or clse," he
added, silently, ''you're anything bat
sweet upon the business.
II am very WELL" she answered.
''Be candid with me- urged tho
manager. Il may rely upon you?
Now, may !. really?"
"You may rely upon me-, she safd;
adding, with more vivacity, Il could
not repay your kindness so poorly as to
disappoint you second time"
There are managers" said Lori
mer, "who in a case like this would
take advantage of youth and inexperi-
cnce. But know better; for my own
sake know better. l offer you such
terms, to begin with, that you can t inl-
prove your condition by running TO
anybody else. Before now, madam, I
have galvanized the town into the tenn
porary acceptance of Duffer. Histri-
onic genius, with Lorrimer behind it, is
guaranteed success. We shall take up
a permanent residence on the grounds
of Thomas fiddler, madam, and shall
pick up gold and silver. But-will you
forgive me for limiting at it?-you must
study, you must work-there is nothing
to be done without it,
"You shall not have reason to find
fault with me in that respect" said
Mrs. Tregarthen. II shall be willing
to rehearse as much as you please"
The prospect inspired her with inward
reluctance. There is charm in the life
of successful actress which any wom-
an can recognize for herself, even with
out the aid of experience. But Miss
Churchill had her experience already,
and stage career no longer showed
all rose-co1or to her. The stage-door
haunter, the green-room kaunter, the
insolent puppy in the stage-box or the
dress-circle, the coarse-tongued stage
manager, the Banished Duke, wko
when on country tour contrived TO
smell of onions, gin and stale tobacco
all at once; the tittle-tattle and envy Of
the women, and the lidless dragon eye
of professional jealousy among the men,
had all combined to dismay and disgust
her She knew that many of the mis-
cries she had endured aforetime would
be modified. Lorrimer was an amaz-
ing improvement on the travelling man.
ager, for instance. She could rely
upon him, not merely for the payment
of her dues, but for manly protection if
81 needed it; but at its best the inner
lie of theater was not to her taste,
and she looked forward to resumption
of her old pursuit without enthusiasm.
Arthur would know of it, too, but there
was nothing in the world which could
increase the distance between herself
and him. She even thought, as she
looked everywhere for excuses, that her
resumption of her old life might help
to bring peace to him by completing
their estrangement. He would be able
to despise her so heartily that he would
cease to regret her. There was no form