Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-11
PlNDER'S GHOST.
An Interesting Romance from the Green
Room and the Wings

ftNDEh y G7OSI.
An Interesting Romance from the Green
Room and the Wings.
Joe Pinder, the property master of the
Iheater Royal, -, was poet, not that he
was any the less property master, for a
more conscientious and Woodworking serv-
bnt never submitted 10 be sworn at by a
stage manager; but at times the cdcsthes
Fcrsoe7aaa would be strong upon him, and
then, II the work was at all slack, he was
10 be avoided by all prosaic persons who
did not want to be seized by the first avail
able button, while Pinder, with his eye in
q fine frenzy rolling, poured forth "a
Poem to the Pit" or "Stanzas to the
Stalfs''
At the beginning Of the season a pretty
and intelligent young girl had joined the
company to play small parts. She was the
only daughter of a poor widow who gained
her livelihood as seamstress at one Of the
large theatrical costumers in London.
Her name, or rather her professional one,
was Rose Hazledean. She had begun her
theatrical career as o coryphee; but, by
Eint Of sheer hard work and perseverance,
lad obtained sufficient education to qualify
herself FOR more responsible position
During the season she had 80 improved by
practice in o varied range of characters,
and had gained SO much confidence by the
praise and encouragement Of the manager
and company, that q bright and successful
career was predicted for her
Among others whose general kindness
and practical suggestions had been of great
assistance to the struggling girl was John
Lester, who played the leading juvenile
business. de was capital actor and
good fellow, who would probably have
achieved much higher position but for an
unfortunate penchant for playing practical
Jokes. Managers did not always appreciate
a species of humor which sometimes made
them the butt of their own companies and
servants, and Jack Jester frequently found
that his managers sense of humor did not
extend beyond an envelope placed in his
hands by the prompter on Friday night
containing fortnight's notice.
Forced by necessity and experience to
spare the managers, and finding the COM
pany at the Theater Royal, too wide
awake to become his victims, Jack Lester
had seized upon the property master for
his prey, and Pinder, who in other respects
was remarkably intelligent and clever
young fellow, would be beguiled into read
in his poetry and giving copies to his
hypocritical patron, who would then in
geniously pervert and alter them into such
extraordinary productions that when they
were read in the green-room with exagger-
ated gesture and burlesque emphasis, his
listeners would be convulsed with laughter
Jack Testers amusement, however was
one night brought to a termination by the
extraordinary and unexpected behavior of
Rose Hazledean, who Indignantly protested
against the ridicule that was being heaped
upon the devoted head of the UNCONSCIOUS
poet; and who avowed her intention of
warning him unless the cruel amusement
was at once stopped Jack Lester per-
sisted, and Rose Hazledean speedily proved
she was a woman of her word. The result
of her championship of Pinder was seen the
next day, when, in response to Testers in
vitation TO write him {, poem for recitation
between the pieces, not to take more than
five minutes, describing the history and
wanderings of the lost tribes of Israel,
Pinder replied: 'Write it yourself!"
A GOODNESS now sprung up between
Pinder and his quondam patron, more than
counterbalanced, however, by the in
creased and genuine interest evinced by
Rose Hazledean in the poets verses, which
rapidly developed a more amorous ten
dency, and when one of the ladies found
some of the verses left accidentally upon
Roses dressing place, suspicious were
aroused which appeared to gain confirma-
ton when another effusion was discovered
in her handbag, which she had left on
chair while rehearsing, and which con-
Guided
With the ring upon your finger
In the vestry you viii linger,
With your anxious hearts at ease,
While pay the parsons fees.
All doubts, however, were st rest toward
<bao I.Nf -
~ announced that Hiss Hazledean had be-
come Mrs. Pinder
The autumn season had drawn toward
the close. Pinder was busy modelling for
the pantomime, and the programme was
being changed nightly, in vain attempt
to draw q goose -pudding-saving pub
lie, when drama founded upon East Lynne
was put into rehearsal for the same night.
Miss Rose Hazledean Mrs. Pinder), in con-
sequence Of the indispostlon of the leading
lady, was cast for the runaway wife The
rehearsal was hasty and incomplete one ]
The manager was busy drilling the ballet
Tor the pantomime The prompter's atten-
ton was distracted with scene plots, and
Finder was hurriedly sent to Birmingham
TO purchase certain necessaries for the
property-room. In the drama letter was
supposed to be written by the runaway
wife addressed to her husband in which
she announced her intention of leaving
him forever. The prompter being busy,
Mrs. Hnder copied the letter herself, and
at the end of the evenings performance it
was left on the prompters desk, where it
was noticed by Jack Lester just as Mrs.
Pinder rushed up TO the prompter and in
an excited manner asked to be excused re-
hearsal the next morning. She had re-
ceived telegram to say that her mother
was i'll. There was just time to catch the |
last train and be back in time for the next |
nights performance; might she gol
Permission was at once given. She
wrote a hurried note To her hus-
band, explaining the cause of her alb
sence gave it to the prompter to hand to
Pinder, who was expected back before the /
farce was over. She then hurried away
with hasty goodnight - to Jack Lester,
whose busy brain Immediately conceived
the idea of playing practical joke upon
Pinder. II was a sudden impulse, acted |
upon without thought; the prompter's at
tentiou was engaged, and il moment the |
envelope, insuficiently fastened, was
opened, and the property letter bidding /
farewell TO her husband was substituted 4
for the real enc.
The performance was over, the lights /
were lowered, the company and employees |
had left, and Jack Lester was in the act Of !
saying goodnight to the hall-keeper when .
flnuer returned and the note was placed 4
Al ms Aah1s- He read il through by the /
solitary gas Jet over the door, crushed it 4
III nus hand' aIld, without a word, walked 1
into the diEaly-hghted and gloomy theater
and up into his property-roouo. which was
situated over the flies.