Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-05-01

M / L 1RS1 JUMM
"a wonderfully handsome woman
still she must have been very beautiful
once. | suppose the queer old fellow
at her side is her husband. Looks for
all the world like Paul Pry."
That was what my nephew said to me,
as her carriage turned into the park at
the Apsley house corner.
''Beautifulr' | replied; beautiful
doesn't express it; she was an angel.
She is an angel, a saint, and martyr,
too. Cad, how loved that womanh'
ooh, of course, uncle" replied my
graceIess nephew. professionally, |
SUPPOSED"
You see there isn't so much difference
in our ages. though [ am his uncle,
and we are more like brothers than
uncle and nephew.
You know you are a very bad lot,
uncle" the boy went on. You 90 on
loving 'em, till you put the last finish
ing touch. and then you start another
canvas and begin to love somebody
else. | believe that's the secret of your
success as a portrait painter"
My nephew is always saying rude
things to me.
Jack" said severely my success
is due entirely to perseverance and the
fact that | never fatter." And then
that impudent nephew of mine blew
out his cheeks, got very red in the face,
and very nearly choked himself with
laughter.
And then we sat down upon two of
the green chairs.
Tell us all about her, boss" said
Jack.
have three pupils, including my
nephew, they All three smoke short
pipes in my presence, and they all
three call me boss"
That's the countess of Wallsend, l
began. Fifteen years ago her husband
the earl, Paul Pry, as you call him
and you are not the first, Mr.. Jack, to
call him Paul Pry-became a widower,
and every right-minded young woman
in society duly set her cap to him. At
that time | lived off the Tottenham
Court road, and | was madly in love
with Lottie Vivian. | was the third
floor lodgcr. just earned living then.
and no more. 1t was before | had
learned to hatter, Mr.. Jack. Her
photograph struck me at the first. l
bought the photo-the photo of Lottie
Vivian of the Portico theater- paid
my half-crown at the pit-dOor. | saw
her in drama, and | saw her in an
Easter fairy-piece that followed |
saw her dance; | heard her sing.
used TO 90 to the pit of the POrticO
night after night. | made studies of
her as Undine, as Una and as Perdita;
and when Mr.. Melchizedec the dealer
offered to buy them, | was rude to
Melchizedec, and | declined to part
with them upon any terms. One night
as | came out of the pit of the Portico
found that it was raining cats and
dogs, but money was scarce with me
and | walked home through the rain,
because | couldn't afford cab. Just
as | neared my own door four
wheeler drew up at it, a lady paid the
driver, and then she opened the street.
door with her latch-key and disappeared
into the house. Great heavens! it was
Lottie Vivian herself, and stood in the
rain in open-mOuthed establishment.
In few moments the gas was turned
up in the first floor, and then it dawned
upon me at once.
Next morning | dined, as usual, at
the Cornwall Cannibals. Groper, the
low comedian, was a member there.
knew that he had been playing at the
Portico for the last ten years. There's
nothing comic about Groper in private
life; he's the most serious Cannibal
know. His seriousness and his constant
complaints about the cookery are his
principal characteristics
We are still Cannibals, Groper and I,
and fast friends. 1t was from Groper
by pretending that | had never heard
all his old stories before. that | as
certained the true history of Lottie
Vivian of the Portico theater.
''She was pupil of old Jack Slder's
most of the successful ones have been
pupils of Sliders," said Groper, lat
some time or other. It's strange
thing" he went on; ''she cane out at
the Portico and she has had a constant
engagement there ever since for the
last eight years. She's good all round.
that's what she is" said Groper, en-
Enthusiastically, and then he went on to
describe her various triumphs, with
ID
though she is IA popular favorte at a
fashionable theater there neverhas been
word against her." said Groper "She
is as good as gold and as straight as
die, and every farthing she earns goes
to her family-to her old father who
was a big man on the stock eN
change once, mind YOU" said Groper
land to a whole family of little broth
ers and sisters, who are entirely de-
pendent upon her. She is an am
bilious girl too" he added, land they
say she's going to marry Lord Wall
send"
..What! the mad millionaire" said l
''That's the man." said Groper.
Aud then Groper began to abuse the
dinner. and | heard no more abou
Lottie Vivian from him.
| went on paying my half-crowns a
the Portico and | got deeper anC
deeper in love with my fellow-lodger
and my love interfered n GOOD dea