The state herald., 1891-09-11

like Paul Pry,'
That was what my nephew said to
me, as her carriage turned into tho
park at the Apsley House corner.
Beautiful" replied; beautiful
doesn't express it she was an angel.
She is an angel, n saint and martyr
too. God, how l loved that womanr'
"oh, Of course, uncle" replied my
gracelcss nephew. professionally, l
SUPPOSE"
You SEQ there isn't so very much
difference in our ages, though ! am
his uncle, and we are more like broth.
ers than uncle and nephew.
"You know you are very bad lot,
uncle" the boy went on. "lou go
on loving EN-, till you put the last
finishing touch, and then you start
another canvas and begin to love
somebody else. ! believe that's the
secret to your SUCCESS as portrait
painter
My nephew is always saying rude
things to me.
Jack" l snid," severely, "my sue
cess is due entirely to perseverance,
and the fact that / never flatter."
And then that imprudent nephew of
mine blew out his cheeks, got very
red in the fnce, and very nearly choked
himself with laughter,
And then we sat down upon two OF
the green chairs.
'"Tell us about her, boss" said
Jack.
have three pupils, including my
nephew; they ull smol:c short pipes
In my presence, and they all three call
me "boss."
That's the countess of Wallsend, I
began. Fifteen years ago her hus.
band the earl, Paul Pry, as you call
him-nnd you are not the first. MIR.
Jack to call him Paul Pry-became
n widower, and every right-minded
young woman in society duly set
her emp mt him. At that time lived
of the Tottenham Court Road, and
] wns madly in love with Lottie
Vivian. Twas the third floor lodger.
1 Just enrned n living then, and, no
more. 1t was before | Ind learned
to Antter. Mr.. Jack. Her photo.
graph struck Inc Mt first. bought
tho photo-the photo of Lottie Viv.
ian of the Portico Theatrc-and
paid my half crown at the pit door.
! saw her in drama, and saw her in
mn Easter fairy piece that followed.
i saw her dance: ! heard her sing; |
used TO go to the pit of the Portico
night after night. made studies of
her rs undine, ns Una and ns Pcrdita;
and when Mr.. Melchizcdec, the dealer,
offered to buy them, ] wns rude to
Melchizcdec, and I declined to part
with them upon My terms. One
night ns ! came out OF the pit OF the
Portico | found that IL wns
raining cats and dogs, but money
was scnrce with me, md walked
home through the rnin, because
couldn't afford cab. Just ms |
neared my own door, n four wheeler
drew up at it, n lady pnid the driver,
and then she opened the street door
with herlntch key md Disappeared in.
to the house. Great hcavensl IT was
Lottic Vivinn herself, aud ] stood in
the rain IN open-mouthcd nstonish.
ment. Ina lew moments the gns was
turDedup in tho first floor, and then it
dnwDed upon me Mt once.
am not n curious man. ] knew
that nn actress lived on tho first
floor, and TINT II teacher oflnngunecs
lived on the second, but !, the third
floor lodger, had never troubled my
hend about them IN tho least. had
never cycn nskcd their names.
went up to my rooms, mud flung my
self into my cnsy chnir, and thought
of the strange fatality TINT the won.
nm ] admired nbovc all living women
should he actunlly dwelling with mo
under the same roof ind TINT wc
were separated only by nsinglc floor.
But though ! wns in love hnd II cor.
tnin amount OF common sense lett,
and Ind remembered that there was
n grcnt gulf between Lottic vivinn
the popular nctrcss mud tho pninter
oil pot boilers on tho third floor.
Next morning ! dincd. ms usunl, mt
the Convivinl Cannibnls. Groper,
the low comedian, wns n member
. i,.e. Loa~ that T.. hat "A h<o, IL, q, .
ing mt the PortIco for tho last ten
years. There's nothing comic nbout
Gropcr In private life; he's the most
serious Cnnnibnl I know. His scri.
ousncss md his constant complaints
about tho cookery arc his principal
characteristics.
wo nro still Cnnnibnls, Gropcr.
md !. nnd fnst friends. II wns from
Gropcr, by dint oi pretending That |
had never heard NIL his old stories he.
fore, that ] ascertnincd tho true his.
tory OF Lottic Vivinn Of tho Portico
Theatre.
"Sbc was pupil OF old lnck Slid
cr's-most Of tho successful ones have
been pupils OF Slidcr's. said Gropcr.
"at some timc or other. It's n
strange thing" he went on; "shc
cnme out nt tho Portico, and she hns
had u constant engagement there
over since for the last eight ycnrs.
She's good NIL round thnts what
she In. |" snid dropcr enthusiastically.
md then ho went on to describe her
various triumpbs, with which | shnll
not trouble you. "l'ut though abe
In n popunr iavorte ut n fashionable