Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-01-09


"Show me the list"
counted them and there were exactly 1855
in all. The cards were printed In blue and
gold, and inclosed in monogram envelopes
furnished by Tiffany, who is not noted for
giving such things away.
"Only coffee and cake" said my wife, in
an injured tone, "when they are invited to
such beautiful play"
"Then the play alone ought IN be worth
the price of admission was my reply, which
was followed by a very animated argument
Gu both sides; but the order for the supper
was given to Froscati, and I might as well
say here, at once, that the whole entertain
ment cost me S275. Decidedly, was
In the swim, and in pretty deep. As the
time approached, / began to be haunted
with the most dismal apprehensions OF fall
ure: or that the floor would give way under
the weight of 80 many people, and the house
be set on fire by the colored lights, which l
was assured were necessary 20 give proper
effect to the tableaux at the end of each act.
have read of authors who could not be in
duced to enter the theatre on the first night
performance Of their works, and confess TO
many inward agitations, as / sat before the
draped folding doors on the eventful evening
even the large and hatteringly expectant audi
ence dismayed me. Far better TO have fewer
witnesses 10 our failure, felt like replying
to old Mrs. Tavistock, who complimented me
on the size Of the gathering, just as the sig
nal sounded for the curtains to be withdrawn.
As for the play, modesty forbids me to say
anything further than that the play was
complete success. My niece, Miss Waters.
especially distinguished herself, rendering
her part in "a manner that, for an amateur,
was really remarkable. She had grown up
into tall, splendid looking girl Indeed,
when the folding doors were thrown open,
and had singled her out among the crowd,
l would never have recognized the little Mel
lie Waters who used to steal buns from the
table and put them under her pillow, to eat
at night, she said. AS she seemed to know
nobody, l made myself as agreeable to her as
l could, although felt certain just then that
caught Ned Waters laughing behind one of
the portieres. was in sufficiently good hui
NOR over the success of the play to over
look this impertinence, though l thought
Maria and the girls need not have been
quite so stiff with her, after all their profes.
sions, even supposing she had cast them
somewhat in the shade, and her mother had
married the fish dealer. So to make
amends for their neglect, paid her good
many little attentions, inquired kindly con-
corning her mother, and, although IA little
shy about answering questions, she was al
together SO modest and sensible that when,
shortly after supper, she took her departure,
| imprinted upon her rosy cheek hearty,
paternal kiss. This time Ned laughed again,
but didn't care for that. Everybody was
full of praise for author and actors, as we'll
as for Froscati's ice cream and chicken salad,
so that went to bed that night in a state of
great satisfaction, and paid the bills the next
week without any poignant regrets.
And now the worthy reader might suppose
there was nothing moro to be said. Indeed
this might have boon the case had not hap
pened one evening about a month afterward
while walking down Broadway, to observe
Ned Warning standing in front of the box
Office window of the Colosseum theatre. l
knew that before long the boy would have
very important question to ask me concern
ing my eldest daughter, and l was really
very fond of Ned, and had an evening to
spare l slipped quietly in behind him,
bought ticket and turned down the next
orchestra chair to his III the row directly in
front of the stage.
"Heaveusl" he exclaimed turning little
pale, thought. ''What brings you hcre.n
"Remorse, perhaps; possibly recreation
said |, laughing, as the curtain was rung up.
The play was well enough, though of course
greatly inferior to "rhe Governess," but
tDD TeIIftFRhDlo DOlDI HDOuJ IL WAS ONO Oh LDb
players.
"Why, bless my soul" said I, as the heroine
entered, "if there is not Nellie Waters. You
never told me she was a professional actress"
"Nonsense," said Ned, coloring slightly be-
hind tho ears, nevertheless MERELY "A slight
resemblance, coincidence, nothing more"
Just then she SO plainly recognized Ned that
could not help regretting aloud that any
member of our family should have taken to
the boards even granting that her father
was a fish merchant. When the curtain fell
1 turned to Ned for an explanation.
'That is not your niece at all" he said,
'but professional actress, though she is a
real good girl too, The truth is, we hunted
up Miss Waters i'll New York. as you know,
and, after one or two rehearsals, we found
that she would not do at ALL Professor
Barnstorm couldn't make anything out OF
her, and she was lazy and wouldn't study
her part Then she wanted to have all the
best things cut out Of the others parts and
put into her own; and because we wouldn't
do this, she got hutfed and fatty refused to
play on any terms. The invitations were all
out, it was too late to get a substitute, and
we were at our wits end to know what to do.
There was only Sarah Berkeley Qmogene
Milliheur, you know, on the bills, a pro-
fessional, to be sure, but we knew how much
your heart was set on having your play
acted"
'"This is really too much" said l, "but go
on.n
"There was nothing else to do but to go to
Sally and tell her how matters stood, and
being good natured soul, she came to our
rescue. l am sorry that your gratitude
should have led you to-anyway, think !
saw you'-
"Bless my heart" said !, turning very red
in the face snow think of it, believe
did kiss her, but do you think that after
wickedly inveigling a respectable, middle
aged gentleman into such an indiscretion
with pretty actress, you have any chance
of marrying his daughterF
He had though, for the wedding took place
within lively anonth-J. A. Joy in Home
Journal.