New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-05
ROWENY IN BOSTON
AT THE THEATRE.


o.yvrtsat; 1891 BIZ The Tribune Assoe,atton
young Foster glared back at young Barrett in
-. narrow hall on Hudson-st AS they locked
~ natural antagonism of one to the other sparkled
In their eyes
chat there was thunder in the air, but she could
not guess why.
The two men nodded ferociously at each other
,shen she mentioned their names
Madame Van Benthuysen shook hands in her
large cordial way with Philip. She told him
she hoped he would stay over and come to their
s.a-ants on Harrison-ave. that evening.
As Philip did not know what sea-ants was he
was not alarmed, and only thought this lady was
very kind Her fur circular and her black satin
oown made as much impression on him as the neck
tie and chain of her nephew. His heart sank at
the knowledge of what fine friends Rowena had.
Rut did he not desire fine friends for her?
He could not keep his eyes from Foster. He
was sure that if that persons ulster had been an
inch longer in the skirt or an inch
higher in the collar he could not have re-
Trained from throwing him out into the street
He vaguely heard Madame Van Benthuysen talk
ing about theatre party. The Queens Shilling, !"
balcony. supper. What did it mean Was Rowena
going with them?
After a few moments Rowena turned to Philip
and said she ready to go. Foster was trlum-
phant and smiling. He repeated two or three
times that they'd have no end of a jolly evening
He insisted on shaking hands with the girl before
she left: he bent over her hand with good
uatured swagger. He seemed delighted when she
laughed at his rattle.
When she and Philip were in the street she did
not notice that her companion was sulky. But
when they reached the theatre the great interest,"
and novelty of everything absorbed them BOTH
There was pleasure to Rowena in being gently
hustled by welldreSSed people. She liked The
semi-darkncss, the mingled odOrs of perfumes.
They both thought they had never seen any man
so wonderfully well dressed as the usher who came
sliding up 10 them to take their tickets and con-
duct them to a seat. Even before the curtain
rose the gliding the upholstery, the whole aspect
of the place, together with the murmur
NJ music from the unseen orchestral gave
Philip a strong impression that it must
be wicked TO be there. Anything so pleasant
and so unlike anything he had ever known would
necessarily be wicked. He recalled with pang
of conscience that the evangelist now preaching
in Middle Village had said distinctly that theatres
were works of the evil one.
In an awed whisper he gave this information
10 his companion. But Rowena laughed she was
much further from Middle Village than Philip
was She did not care what the evangelist told
those people Her face showed her pleasure.
There was not an attraction, from the dome down.
ward, that did not appeal to her artistic nature
with tingling sense of joy. The strains from
the hidden instruments thrilled her. This was her
first night You whose first night in theatre
is involved in the mists Of the past, do not
laugh at her. How much would you give could
YOU change places with her?
Very soon Philip lapsed into bewildered
silence All through the evening he was more
puzzled than entertained.
They were so near the stage that when the
curtain rose on the first scene OF the Iron
Master" Rowena felt shock of almost disiluslon-
ment; she saw 81 plainly how the people were
made up; and the pitch of their voices startled
her But when, in moment, Claire came H.
refreshingly unmsde up, speaking Electrically,
Rowena gave long sigh of delight, and from
the first sight of the heroine she gave herself
up to fervent love and admiration for her. She
went through with Claire with all her love and
ell her misery She longed to rush upon the
stage and fling her arms about her When the
husband went out TO fight the duel and the wife
beat upon the locked door and shrieked in her
agony, Rowena sprang up in her seat and made
frantic effort to get away, crying:
Il must let her out"
e curtain fell Rowena Shrank back to her
place and covered her face with her hands. Every
body looked at her Philip did not know what to
do. He did not know but that he ought TO aid
in the effort to unbar that closed door where
upon Claire had struck in her suffering.
Among those who looked at Rowena when she
thus stood were two people in box at the right.
man and woman sat in front, Miss Phillips and
her cousin, Keats Bradford. The lady's white
silk cloak on the back of her chair; her
slightly tinted gown was high in the neck and
long in the sleeves but still it gave with perfect
effect the impression of evening dress She had
flowers in her hair and in her hand; her pale face
was a little flushed with interest," and her cmer-
aldcoored eyes were very brilliant; her lips even
more than usually red The thick fluff of hair,
the straight brows, the keenly alive face, made
1t reasonable that her companion should have de-
liberately decided that she was in great good
looks tonight
He had just said that Mrs Kendall was satisfy
Ing, that she never overdid things, when he saw
Rowena standing there palpitating with the emo
ton reused by the before her. He half
rose, as if he would shield the girl, and he paused
abruptly in a sentence.
Miss Phillips followed his glance
Rowena Tuttle!" she exclaimed
The young man breathed long breath of relief
when Rowena sat down and people stopped gazing
at her He polished his glass on his handker-
chief and put it in his eye.
Is she alone With that man ?" asked Miss
Phillips. She had, in spite of her unconventional
spirit strict ideas on some topics
Not exactly alone" the reply, :" as there
are several hundred people with her"
The lady did not reply. She bent forward and
aimed her glass at ROwena persistently that the
girl presently seemed to feel it focused upon her
She removed her hands from her face and made
great struggle for cOmposure She was in terror
lest Philip should speak to her She did not think
she could bear the sound of his voice Just now
But when she saw the lady in the box she ex-
perienced glow Of pleasure. Miss Phillips re-
moved her nrera. nlass the instart sLn hnd cnurht