Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-05-09

greater position OF the year she hlazed "a
bright and particular star at the var
ious provincial theatres of the United
Kingdom. II must be confessed that in
town she often played to empty bencl. -.
| but she was certain draw in the proyin.
ees. She had very comfortable income.
TOT her terms were stringent-half the
taklngs aud free benefit. Bnt Miss
Bellaston was six and-thirty; for the last
ten years Miss Bellaston had cen on the
outlook for husband, for some one who
should accompany her on her perpetual
JourneyiDgs, for some one who should
look after the seven black boxes and who
should adequately support her in her
numerous provincial engagements.
Bow nice 1t would be-" thought Miss
Beliastou to herself, ''if | could find some
good tempered fellow to be my hero both
on and off the boards, who wuu'd check
my hotel bills, bully my natural enemies
the managers, and who would hammer
my stage business into those duuder-
heads the stock aotsrs at the provincial
theatres"
Miss Bellaston was difficult to please.
She had plenty of opportunities. It was
her painful experience that at the end of
starring engagement in the country
as rule, the leading mar always pro-
posed to her. But none of these numer.
Gus aspirauts succeeded IN mileasing her
tastidious taste; some dropped their his,
more had red noses. and too many she
felt that the attraction was not Miss
Belaston's self, but Mics Bellastons
at her bankers. And so Miss Bellaston
upnnAaraA "a lT,,Tsal
heart whole, in maiden meditation fancy
free-at least, she did so till she came to
fulfill her annual engagement with old
Mr.. Brewer and play her usual round OF
iavorite characters and then this expert
enced lady fel bead over ears in love
with Jack Walton. But Jack did not
respond. In vain she invited him to her
hotel, under the pretense OF gong over
the business of the balcony score, so
that it might go" better in the evening,
but all to no pupose, to her intense dis
gust
But when a woman is six and thirty,
she does not stand upon trifies. She had
actually gone so far TO propose TO engage
Jack at ten guineas week, for six
months certain, TO support her while on
tour; but the ungrateful Jack had simply
replied that he was very comfortable
where he was. Women's eyes are pro
verbally sharp, and Miss Bellaston soon
detected that there was a tenderness be-
tween Jack aud Nellie. She determined
not to be banked of her prey, and so she
sent for Mrs. Brewer.
Mrs. Brewer, when she entered Miss
BallBston's room, sank into a chair she
a. a al ura tVstn n
chair.
" There is nothing wrong, my dear,
hope?n she said to Miss Bellaston. oar
ohibald John, trust, has not been max
ing fool of himself AGAIN.
Now, Archibald John was Mrs. Brew
er's second son, most deserving young
low comedian. Only last year he had
been impertinent enough TO propose 10
Miss Bellaston, and had been severely
snHbbed for his pains.
mo, Mrs. Brewer, it's not about MIR.
Archibald that | wish to speak TO you, but
about Mr.. Walton"
Goodness me, my dear he's suoh a
quiet young man"
"Mrs. Brewer replied Miss BellastUn,
with an angry toss of her head, "Mr.
Walton ia a wolf in sleeps clothing"
"Why, You don't mean TO say he's been
making dishonoraDle propositions to yOu,
my dear, do your" cried the old lady, with
a gasp of horror.
Don't be ridiculous, Mrs. Brewer. Mr..
Walton is not likely - make proposals OF
any kind to me. All | can say Mrs. Brew
er, is that the sooner they are engaged
the better"
90; you mean the extra supers, my
deary"
an, Mrs. Brewer, do not mean the
extra supers. mean That great, long
legged super, Mr.. John Walton, and your
daughter Nellie
Madam exclaimed Mrs. Brewer, ris-
ing suddenly from her chair, "my daugh-
ter Nellie is child"
"If she's child, Mrs. Brewer, the soon
or you whip her and put her TO bed the
better But perhaps the engagement is
with your sanction. | congratulate you,
my dear
II don't want to quarrel with you, M iss
Belaston, but neither Mr.. Brewer nor |
would ever sanction an engagement be
tween my daughter Nellie and pro
No, Miss Bellaston," she continued, cit
has been the dream of COR lives that our
daughter Nellie should make a brilliant
marriage When she takes q husband,
Miss BelastoD, il may be that she will
not marry into the profession. She has,
Miss Bellaston, before her the fatal ex
ample of her poor mother; if had not,
in the experience of early youth, listened
TO the fatal Establishments of Brewer, ]
might at this present moment have been
peerless, or, at least, the Wits of a
wealthy Daronet. With my daughters
talents, Miss BelIaston, with her beauty,
and her youth" she added, spitefully,
''she need never seek a husband in the
profession. I'm oblesged to you," she
continued with lofty scOrn lthe great Ed
mund Kean always SAID obleeged, and
Mrs. Brewer always follow ID the grand
old traditions), "for the interest you
take in her welfare; but let re tell you,
Miss Bellaston, that before the end of
her first London season, my daughter
Nellie will have half the British peerage
az her feet"
Now, Miss Bellaston was not a quarrel
some person. She had done all che want
ed, she had had her revenge on Jack
Walton.
That night old Brewer reluctantly gave
Jack weeks notice, for he liked Jack
but he was prudent father and he lived