Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1891-05-09
A RELUCTANT AVENGER.


ties. Florina Marsden did many
things of which we, in spite Of our
admiration for her, disapproved; but
as members of her profession, we
were not called upon to be critical,
she said.
Her very audacitY was her chief
charm to most. She rode well, walk
ed we'll, danced like Spaniard, sang
magnifcently, and took the stage as
if she were entering her own draw
ing-room.
Decidedly The critics were only
among her fellow actors. Society
raved about her--but she cared lit
tie for society. She drew the largest
salary ever paid to burlesque ac-
tress by the managers of the Holly
Street Theatre.
! cannot describe her. Sac i'm.
pressed one as q strange combinas
tion of almost masculine strength
and womanly sweetness. To see her
stride into the green room with her
nonchalant air and jaunty wave OF
the hand, with her lips closed over
the inevitable cigarette, and dimple
lurking roguishly in her cheek, re-
pelling the attention we men inyol-
untary rendered, was delicious. Only
we sometimes felt pang to see how
persistently she declined to ascend
the pedestal on which we were fain
to place her. We were all 'thail fell
lows well met" to her. Many suf-
fered a heartache on her account;
but she was all unconscious.
Her manner to men was occasion
ally condemned as too free and un-
conventional. She would clap q
man on the shoulder and send a
hearty aha ha ~ through the room
at some joke al their expense; she
would request the loan of flyer;
and offer her cigar case as naturally
as any fellow in our company. So
it was that we, in the theatre,
could not forbear our criticisms,
which she could i'll brook.
Who she was, where she came
from, no one knew. The manager
had picked her up somewhere, some
believed in America, but she was
not an American. She spoke sever
al different languages, and had been
all over the world. Oh, we men
would have done anything for our
leading lady in those days.
1t was in November that the man.
ayers put on new play, and new
member joined the company. a
handsome man he was, and he soon
became general favorite. He was
cast for leading part, and divided
the honors with Florina Marsden.
Whether sort of professional jeal-
ousy existed between our leading
lady and the new conner, or whether
it was just an instructive antipathy
which possessed them, no one knew;
but certain it was that slight ami
mostly sprang up between them,
which none understood, and was
soon apparently overcome.
From the start Florina eyinced an
unusual interest in Harold Hart
wick. / was beside her the first
day of his appearance at rehearsal
We were standing at the wings, and
Hartwick had just come ON the stage
with his easy speech and careless
bearing, which won for him round
of applause from the on lockers.
Florina, without seeing his face,
cried ''bravo y with a quet, snthus-
iastic clasp of her hands, all true
artists love of real genius kindling
in her eyes.
Hartwick bowed his acknowledge
ments with easy grace, and wheeling,
walked to the back of the stage.
l was watching Florina as she
caught sight of his face. She knew
my eyes were upon her; but she
quivered suddenly from head to foot
as if a shock had been felt. She
rallied Immediately, and walked on
to the stage as she received her cue,
and / almost thought / must have
been deceived, 50 perfectly was she
herself again.
Hartwick admired her, we all
knew that. She wore his flowers in.
variably in the second act; on hel
dress coat, in the duel scene, when
she and Hartwick shared the honors
Some way / conceived the idea
that they had known each other be.
fore. Her manner to him differed
from her manner to the other men
She never TESTED with him; she never
talked and laughed muck when il
his society.
! watched him keenly' hoping biz
actions would serve to enlig hten me
But ! could gain nothing. Only FOL
that chance glimpse of Florina, Al
Hartwick's first appearance, I woult