Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-01-08

out the facts, but he amt fellow to
talk. If it was you, now, / might want
I to buy you off; but he's another sort"
And Gen. lingo tossed off his cocktail
with renewed serenity.
I'll bet you you're mistaken, said
Jocelyn.
81 don't bet with you, my good
friend" replied the impresariO, shak-
ing his head and chuckling sardonically.
''I'l tell You what 1 will do. though"
he added, after a moment. He took
from his pockets a check book and a
MackinnOn pen, and wrote a check,
which he showed to Jocelyn. 1t was
SO 900, and was drawn to JOcelyn's or
der.
You can have that check said
lingo, land be lingering the bank notes
in half an hour from now, on one condi-
ton"
$50 on" said JOcelyn.
"On condition that you take yourself
out of the whole business, and leave me
to deal with the girl direct. It's a
damned shame. by Jupiter, that You
should be putting 80 per cent. of her
money into your pocket every time she
sings, and making her think 1 pay her
that much less than do. I'll buy you
out for 10000. cash down, today, and
take the risk of her bursting up, and
everything else I'm talking money,
that's what I'm doing; and there it is!
VIII you do it,"
You may go to the devilI' said Joce-
Ign, pushing back the check book, though
| not without an effort. "Tll have you to
know that moneys not the only thing
I'm after. I've got my own views about
/ the girl, and I'll manage the business my
own way"
The impresario detached the check
from the book, ard having rolled it into
an allumette lit mis- cigar with it.
That's all right" said he, crushing the
burnt remnant under his foot, ''Only
don't you talk to me no more about bet
! ting! know a man when clap eyes
on him. and know a woman, too, and
| 1 guess You'll have time to grow to be a
bigger rascal than yOu are before You
rope in my prima donna! She's meet for
your betters, my boy, and they're not far
| to look for
Jocelyn cOntrived to maintain con-
! temptuOusly Indifferent demeanOr, but
it is certain that whoever made money
out of the impresario was obliged to
earn it in one way or another.
Meanwhile Miss BeatriX Randolph, or
! the Mariana, as all the world now called
her, was in more cheerful spirits than
she had been before her reception at the
DinsmOres. She liked the Dinsmores;
! she was inclined to like almost every
body. She tried to take a charitable
view even of the young gentlemen in
high shirt collars who complimented her
so badly, and said things which she knew
were witty only because they laughed at
them. She reflected. that she knew moth
ing of the freemasonry of modern So
ciety, and that probably the young gen
tlemen intended only to be polite and
entertaining Mrs. Bemax. when APP
pealed to on the subject, said they-Mr.
Whitman and the rest of them-were
wealthy and well connected, and that it
was desirable for lady connected with
the stage TO cultivate their acquaintance.
"A little social relaxation is an excel
lent thing for you, my dear mademOi-
selle," declared this worthy lady, land
capital way to get rid of that little
frigidity and stiffness you have brought
with you from the country. Ladies con-
nected with the stage have to work hard,
but, en- revanche. they are allowed more
freedom in social intercourse than other
people. 1t will be quite proper for You
to let Mr.. Whitman drive you home
from rehearsal in his brougham if am
along, or even without me at pinch.
All the others do it. You will not let
him take any liberties, of course; but
don't betray any timidity; he wouldn't
understand it.
st is one thing for me to do as like,
replied mademoiselle, land another thing
for me to let other people do as they like.
1 don't mean to be stiff, but there is nc
reason why should be bothered either. y
at will be no bother when you are
used to it, Mrs. Bemax replied; but at
the time she did not advocate her view
any farther.
The finishing touches were being put
to the theatre, and Godfrey BelllLgham
was constantly on hand to oversee the
work; consequently he and the prima
donna must needs meet occasionally. He
said very little to her, and was generally
very busy when she might have entered
into conversation with him; but she had
an impression that he kept his eyes upoT
her often when she was not looking al
him; and his appearance at the theatre
was generally coincident with the hOul
of her rehearsals. One day after sht
had been singing grand scene very eff
fectively she happened to catch his eye
in the stage box, where he stood leaning
against the curtained partition, abstract
edly. knotting and unknOtting piece Of
tape. His gaze was so earnest, and a
the same time so melancholy, that the
prima donna, obeying an impulse tina
was partly curiosity, but partly some
thing else, went round to the box whel
the scene was over, and met him as h
was coming out.
! ''How unhappy you iooSedF' she said
! "Was anything wrong?
He stared at her for moment, anC
said ironically, ''Oh, you're grea
artister'
Il mean to be" she answered smiling
"a great actress, too, 1 should Xix
to see you when you are yourself"
II am myself now" replied Mile
Mariana. Then she remembered tina
she was not telling the whole truth
and blushed and looked down.