, 1888-12-02
were Obliged to don the 'Direotoire'

the report in regard to the beauty in
the cast was not exaggerated.
In one corner was a little maiden in
robins egg blue satin, reading her
lines and devouring caramels with
equal earnestness, while near by a fat
young dude made up as an old village
innkeeper, with q lady on each hand,
was struggling with a new step for the
march Near the stairs a young man
in a magnificent scarlet uniform was
rehearsing his part to a sweet little girl
robed in black velvet and yellow satin,
while fitting from the dressing rooms
to the stage was a constant stream of
excited, nervous, laughing amateurs,
looking for a lost bouquet, a missing
glove Or a forgotten fan. A~gorgeous,
betiowered, antique gown, surmounted
by an artistic black bonnet, partly
concealed one of the graceful amateurs
who was lamenting the non-arrival of
her bouquet. Around her were grouped
several sympathetic directoire cos
seemed about equally divided between
looking into her eyes and into my face,
for my popularity did not diminish.
L was bright enough to see all that
was going on, and l observed Brown
Lake sketching Miss Swansdown, who,
i'll a sleeveless costume of antique cut,
looked, if possible, more charming
than ever. Mr.. Roberts, who had been
SO often in the studio, was also hover
ing around in evening dress, which
was useful for contrast with the bright
costumes. 1t seems to me he had i'm
proved his acquaintance with Miss
Swansdown very rapidly since their
first meeting in the studio. And l fan
cied Lake didn't welcome him with
the old time cordially.
Roberts had rather an important
part to play in connection with Miss
Swansdown, and naturally she would
have considerable interest in him for
the time being, at least.
While Lake was drawing Miss
Swansdown, he was also carrying on
a lively conversation with Miss Car
son, a charming, black eyed girl,
dressed in the Village beauty" style,
in which costume she was sufficiently
attractive to fascinate any one-ex-
cepting, perhaps, some of her own sex;
for I'm sure l heard Miss Swansdown
u~nfavorably criticise her becoming
attire.
Now, 1 make no pretense of great
depth-IQ acknowledge I'm shallow;
lllOob vi NY opStTNdllOIIS dTO OIL lIlO
surface, but still l felt sure that it was
that made Lake so attentive to the
little black eyed Village beauty"
whenever Roberts was near Miss
Swansdown.
Suddenly 1 heard the ring of q bell,
followed by a commanding voice; then
there was a grand rush-yes, every
one, dudes, officers, Directoire cos
tuned gentlemen and maidens fair,
rushed for the stage stairs-I-I who
had been SO much sought after, SO
coveted, so fondled, was as suddenly
dropped as if l had been a last years
fashion. However, I'm always treated
this way-the moment there is an ex-
element I'm forgotten, but 1 was
more than usually disappointed this
time, as l had anticipated going into
the rear of the stage where l could see
the play. If Miss Swansdown had
only seen me, l felt hat 1 would not
have been thus neglected.
Brown Lake himself had never seen
the whole play, though he had re-
hearsed parts of it many times.
For a few moments there was n
great hustling of feet over my head,
and half suppressed, excited talking;
then again the commanding voice,
next the ring of a bell, the orchestra
opened fire, the curtain rolled up and
the play began.
But my loneliness was not of long
duration; down came Lake. I read
his face at a glance-he was not yell
low; he was white, but it was jeal-
ousy.
Now, according to all the heroes in
stores, he should have bit his lip till
drops OF gore ran down his firm but
delicate jaw f" he should have clenched
his nails in his hands till nothing but
his wrists were visible; he should have
paced the room like a man that was
very angry at something, and, above
all, he should have talked aloud; then
l should have learned the cause of
it all.
But he did nothing of the kind. He
simply walked to the fire, bit a lead
pencil into small pieces, then, his eyes
falling on me, he snatched me up, feel
ing ure of meeting a friendly face.
l noticed his hand trembled as, looking
me straight in the eye, 1 heard him
mutter, "Am 1 a fooli" The room
filed again as the curtain dropped ON
the first act.
Miss Swansdown and Lake were
soon deepi in an animated conversation.
l heard his jealousy was caused by the
first scene in the play, when Roberts
is supposed to meet Miss Swansdown
in n garden-a garden made resplend-
ent by the shopworn verdure of six
potted plants, a canvas back stone
wall and graceful card board vines.
Here the noble knight in a modern
dress suit kisses the hand of the lovely
maiden, which part Miss Swansdown,
in her artistic antique garb, filed with
ease.
This was the scene which caused the
scene that was nov going on between
Miss Swansdown and Mr.. Lake. The
former was opening her big brown
eyes till the white showed above the
pupil, a habit with her when she
affected surprise or pretended indigna-
ton. He turned abruptly as Roberts
joined them, and touching the messen-
ger call gave an order for a bouquet.
Then l felt easier. Again the com
manding voice, the rush, the bell and
the play continued. At the next in
Permission Lake took me to the gentle
mems dressing room, and was about
placing me in his overcoat pocket When