Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-02
THE COURIER.
A COMEDY.
CHARACrERs,


MISS hsaDs snaIt +, e s@Sou'
SLA B. CA CAMsE9s; the compsnion.
URBASo, the courier
s sse sYis e s' Ri.Ss Doors e. and ire
violent struggling with the door-knob r.,
jingling Of key, &C., for a few moments,
and then enter, R., srR BERrRAx, key in
hand, also small satchel, and with cigar
between his lips .
SIR BERrRAM. Hello! [Inspects key.l Well,
the fellow said No. 81; this is the key of No. 81;
must be correct Confound that courier of
mine! Why did he want to leave me in the
lurch in this outrageous way? Deuced hard
on, fellow who isn't used to this
sort OF thing to be looking after fell
lows self. Throws down satchel and hat ]
Pretty decent sort of room they've given me,
although why they couldn't send some one up
to open it couldn't make out; their French
conversation was not in my line. Confound
that blasted courier again! Locks the door,
If he had only stopped with me long enough
to settle me in new quarters, it would not have
been so bad but Well! Takes off coat and
saunters to the mirror.1 What the deuce did
want to change my quarters for, after all? /
am an ass. believe. Here have /, for the sake
OF finding myself beneath the same roof with
a pretty girl-ye gods! such pretty grill
here have l, a sane-I suppose I'm sane ICON
templates himself in hand-glass, which he
takes from tablet II look sane; yes, quite SO
well, sane, sound, quiet fellow-given up
rooms at the Continental, where always stop,
and come here. and, by Jove! I
don't even know her name; I only know
she lives here. How do l know? Because
| she told me SO, bless her! [sits told me 80
when, on the ver-to-be-remembered evening
OF the Tuesday of last week.-Mrs. being now
Monday of the following week. came to her
! rescue when she had lost her way in the Boule-
ward Poissonniere, became separated from her
| friends, and was almost in tears poor child!
How sweet 1t was to see her blue eyes gazing
up so trustfully into mine! to hear her lovely
English voice saying, TREMENDOUSLY, Il can
| never thank you, sir, for your goodness!' to
feel [risesl the touch Of those small fingers on
my arm as l lead her through the mazes of the
streets OF Paris and put her in cab! Lights
fresh cigar.l By Jove! now that's the kind
OF looking woman l could care awfully for
| sort OF thing. Pshaw! [sitsl dare say if one
got to know her, though, all she'd care
| about would be-hard cash. [Risesl I'm q
brute, a frst-class, thoroughbred, out-and-out
brute to say that. She's not that sort at all.
know she isn't. She's Jupiter! fEleyates
his feet to the table and smokes heartily; picks
up newspaper and throws it carelessly on the
| floor She's just the lovcliest, sweetest dar-
| lingest-Hello! Rises; noises heard without. I
OH fsits, resuming former postionl the
| porters with my luggage and traps. suppose.
Come in! Entrez! Oh. that courier, how 1
| shall miss him and his gift of languages before
can find another to take his place! ATTEMPTS
are heard from without to open the door; also
voices and EXPLANATIONS of surprise and con-
sternation.l Entrez! Come inl By Jove!
sounds like women's voices. Can any of my
numerous relatives have found me out SO
soon. wonder? fLoudly.l Wait an instant
please. tRises and gets speedily into his coat. I
Pshaw stuff and nonsense! it can only be
mistake. All right! One moment Crosses
and unlocks door, cigar in mouth disclosing to
his astonished gaze the bewildered counte-
nances OF Mrs. Smalle, Hilda and Clara. They
enter; Clara well in the rear, carrying the
wraps, parasols and parcels.l Ladies /
Catches sight of Clara. Asde.l BY Jove, the
| darling What in thunder!
Bows to all three profoundly, and throws
cigar behind him dexterously.
Mrs. SMALLE.-This is most extraordinary.
[Surveys the room.l 1 believe my note ex-
pressly stated that should not desire you to
O'clock TGlances at clock
SIR BERTRAM CbewiIdered). Madame. /
HILDA.-well, mamma, am sure that Over
punctuality is not very bad fault, and since
our new courier tSIR BERTRAM starts; CLARA also
| starts comes to US with such remarkably nice
recommendations, think we can forgive him
for being in advance Of the hour
MRS. SMALLE.-Quite right, my dear; recon-
mendation from Sir Bertram Lloyd means
rather more than one from some mere ordi-
nary person. aside to HILDA:l You are wise,
my love; we can learn from the courier a vast
deal about his former masters ways and means,
habits, likes and dislikes II you are prudent.
my dear, tempering amiabIe condescension
with mixture OF interrogatory and hauteur,
fancy we can guide the ship safe to harbor
N he lorf0 f orio nd
its introduction to us
HnDA (sside) Have no fears for me-
mamma; am determined to win-to be Lady
! Lloyd.
Sir BERTRAM (aside listening).-By Jove! and
Is 1t thus that we are disposed of nolens volens
during our absence? We will see.
MRS. SMALLE.-Urbano. [Pauses for reply;
Sir Bertram oblivious.] Urbano! Urbano!
HnDA.-Miss Cameron, have the epp od 70
say to the new courier that Mrs. Smalle is
speaking to him.
CLARA (timidly).-Mrs. smalle desires to
speak to you.
SIR BERrRAM Gin a maze).-I beg your par
doni
HnDA.-Mrs. Smalle would like to speak to
the new courier.
Sir BERrRAM (aside). New Courier!" All! I
see; tits they who have hired Urbano; it's he for
whom they mistake me. IT'S in their apartment
that though blessed chance I find myself I
Will be the courier. Twere to hold fate in
contempt were to proclaim my name, and
ostracize myself from the exquisite propin-
guilty Of yonder [giances at Ciaral angel
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. is your name, I
think?
SIR BERTRAM advances. -Urbano.
Mrs. SMALLE.-I am glad they showed you
up to our apartments at once, Urbano, and
pleased to note that your discretion and fidelity
prompted you to lock the door from within
during our absence.
SIR BERTRAM.-It is best, madame-safest.
MRS. SMALLE.-You are correct Well
Urbano, as all details, terms, &C., were salts
factorily arranged by note between u.s. l can
easily install you in the routine of your daily
duties. Whilst we remain in Paris they will
not prove very onerous-to accompany us to
the shops and galleries, conduct our purchases,
orders. &c. For neither Miss Smalle nor
speak French with sufficient fiuency for such
purposes, and my dame de compdqnie, Miss
Cameron mods introductively toward CLARA;
SIR BERTRAM bows; CLARA blushesl, although
a capital German and italian linguist, is not
quite up in French. There is your desk
Indicates desk, r. upper] where you will find
ample material for conducting our French cor
respondence. Miss Smalle or Miss Cameron
will dictate it to you every morning. Your
room you will be shown to by snd-by; the num-
Der is 43, au quatrieme. Ours is Is.
SIR BERrRAM aside .-Eighteent-S upside
down! There's luck in numbers. ITO Mrs.
SMALLE.] Yes. madame.
tRetires up to R.; desk; sits; looks over
HnDA.-Mamma, have we any French notes
A<l zA T. 4 =