The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-04-21

fearful OF appearing before PeoPie VIZ
had known him in his old aspect; but
he conquered these sensations in IT.
tie while, and was content to go about
like an average Christian, and to carry
no badge of genius upon him:
Such great events from little causes
spring, that the chance overhearing OF
a hostler's speech made a tender, life
long friendship possible for our poet,
and thereby SO purified him and hiteo
him as to make him at last an excep-
tionally good man a very toleraple
playwright.
Miss Churchill read the poetical COM
edy, and thought well of it. The prac-
ticed writer of melodrama had seen to
the situations, and, though ne had
chosen to be modest about his part OF
the work, he had enriched its dialogue.
and motive, until the poets smile OF
the work, the rickety child and the
beautiful woman was very fairly de-
scriptive of the changes he had wrought
in it for the better. But there were
still things which the stage instinct OF
the actress rejected, and news came TO
the poet that Lorrimer and MISS
Churchill desired to meet him ana MS
collaboration, with a view to the re-
moval of certain blemishes in the piece,
and then to its early production. Inns
announcement was at once source VI
DELIGHT and uneasiness. To be played
bv Miss Churchill was fame and glory
enough in itself. To meet MISS
Churchill after his encounter with her
at Tregarthen was not pleasant
thing. Looking back at that meeting
he felt that he had intruded himself mn
pudentlv. and he remembered the
magnificent snub his insolence had de-
servedlv received. And apart from
that-not to pretend disguise about
matter which must be tolerably PLAIN
by this time-Ronald Marsh had been
falling more and more in love with the
actress since the hour when he had dis
covered her poverty, and he was by
this time farther gone than any man
can be with safety. He had admired
her and had then had to pity her pro-
foundly, and then to admire her anew,
and now he had been thinking OF her
for months, while he labored at his
comedy, with her voice constantly IN
his ears and her form and face con-
stantlv before his eyes.
He had listened anXiously to what.
ever news of her private life hac
reached him. Her record was blame
less. No reproach came near her.
1t was not easy to encounter he
again, but he did not see his way tt
an avoidance of the engagement
William John Smith. ''merchant il
murder" and Lorrimer were at tn
house before him, and Mrs. Tregarthel
sat talking with them when he arrived
A mild sad-mannered lady, who acte
as Mrs. Tregarthen's companion, an
wore readable proclamation OF re
duced circumstances, sat at a wlndo'
knitting.
The poet had long since besougf
Lorrimer not to remind the actress
: his former meeting with her. Thel
was lust chance that she might NJ
!, recognize him, and that he mlgl
! escape the consequences of their la
!. meeting. If he had only known VIII
J the meeting had led to on her side
d would never have had the courage
u face her at all. Now, Mrs. Tregarthe
y would almost beyond a doubt ha'
recognized the picturesque young ms
> who had helped to work such mischie
= if she had seen him in his old guis
- But the poet shorn of his disorder
u y halo was man disguised, and, than
y. - to the hostler's philosophy, he pass
II without recognition.
" y. The actress suggested the alteration
- - she desired. Lorrimer and the pla
~ ~ wright discussed them with her, a
q the poet kept very much in the bac
u ground, thankful to be unobserved.
a. escaped at last with a feeling OF mu
" relief; but he was not nearly so atr'
to face Miss Churchill second tin
.e During the rehearsal of the accept
- comedy he met her frequently, and
- came more and more witt
"a, "a her influence, and fell m,
=. and more in love with
~ She on her side was prepossessed W
= the poet, and treated him kindly.
,st was q gentleman, and cultured;
10. 10. never pestered her with batteries;
ns she. who had a native inclination
ntt worship genius, thought she discove
%. touch Of that rare quality in him.
NY the poet was admitted to sort OF
w. timacy, and, being busy upon see'
, &c" comedy, was allowed certain half b
10, 90 ness-like, half friendly conferen
Nv ~. about it, and was so lured forw
snJ1 that, after hanging back with all
iia % might, he surrendered suddenly
he went all the way.
,rt- 1.-THE Lady Marguerite Capucine
Of woman whose delight it was to kl
not singers, musicians, actors, autl
: a and such curious folk, and she
ferred fashionable actress to
.see other lioness who roars. The l
and Marguerite had found her way to
Churchill, and, being herself a CHI
,er ing woman (apart from the one &c
,wn tricity which prompted her to /
. trouble to all the intellectual pc
ker she could lay her hands on), ha
no first secured the actress liking an
O a gard. A little GOODNESS sprang up
tween them, however, on the gr'
Her that Lady Marguerite had asked
me Churchill to oblige little circle o
he guests one day by the recital OF
not from Gas you like it." Miss Chul
took it i'll that this request shout
,ost- made to her, and excused mt
nave courteously but coolly. The nc
took it i'll that the actress shoult
osed cline, and "my deared" Miss Chu
m something more than she need
,yor- done for the rest of the evening,
still began 10 dislike hei' -.