The morning call., 1891-02-13
ALMOST A TRAGEDY.


billed" under two or three other names
which he varouSly used when he doubled
OF trebled, as the case might be; and there
was Mrs. Rawdor, his wife, who did the
heavy old ladies; and Miss Rawdon, who
was the same person reduced to celibacy
when going on for chambermaids. Also,
there were Tonless and his wife, who
styled themselves the Juveniles, but who
considered themselves extremely fortunate
if,they perSonated less than four characters
each al any performance.
Alfred Morley and Edgar Vatican were
the remaining active members of the COM
pany, and active members they literally
were, never having less tan fifteen lengths
10 study, and never playing any part that,
singly, was longer than two lengths. 1t
was great wonder how they ever remem-
bPred what their names were in the plays,
bu. greater wonder how they ever had any
of their beautiful curly black hair left; for
the frantic manner in which they would
rush off Il. and force on a wig while running
around 10 enter l.. and then rush OF J.. and
repeat the Wig changing while getting round
to enter Il. would seem to have been
enough to wear the capillary adornment Of
All Esau.
The two gentlemen left to make up the
eight were the leaQer of thu orchestra
tnwn, to scoGr the place for some musicians
10 lead, otherwise he had t. 20 it alone and
y ny both first and last fiddle and jim
Handy, the prOpeTty-mau, who did a little,
and Very often great deal, of everything.
Tie would disappear on morning and re-
turn in lime to take tickets that evening,
having billed the company for two weeks
ahead in other places ad interim. He was
baggage superintendent doOr-keeper. fly
man, flat-man, property-man, scenic
main ri M 1,A
sldeS going on as a mob or army. When
not otherwise engaged he held the prompt
book.
OF course there was manager, but he
didn't amount to anything. Managers never
do, except on one particular day each week;
and sometimes even then they amount to
less than a any other time.
We We're a cOutented little company, and
we're quite happy among ourselves, until
series Of bad houses ana q postponement of
the salary day made US gioUmily prophetic
and generally dls.TuStiul. Nor were our
hopes in any way increased by observing
long confidential conversations between Jim
Handy and the manager. We argued that
that auEured badly, and so after conSuta-
lions lnnuneraDle among ourselves we de-
cIded To request the manager TO hand over
our salaries. We drew lots TO see who
should demand the money and il fell 10
Rawdon. When that gentleman mustered
up courage enough 10 20 TO the managers
parted by the train for London, leaving be-
hInd note. stating he had gone to town to
engage a great lady star aud get some print
ing dne; that lie would be back in two
days, ana that lie had arranged with the
landlord for our board. This was all true;
and on the second day the manager returned,
accompanied by the celebrated tragedienue
Miss -, but why mention her name? II
was not RlstUri nor JGnauSchek, yet, as i'm
observed, she could howl both those ladies
Una five mlnutpS' a nd she pnftIj
She was a tall, stately and handsome
lady, and not at all aYerSe to homage from
the opposite sex. BY the second night
therefore. she had fairly captivated all the
gentlemen; but owing to the watchfulnesS
Of the wives of the two married men, The
field was left open to Alfred Morley and
Edgar Vatican. These two gentlemen paid
the lady all sorts OF attentions, and fell deS-
perately in love with her
On the third evening the great tragedienne
was honored by call, aud as she was COM
ing of, after having with great humiliation
acknowledged the favor, Morley stood ready
70 pull the curtain aside, so as 20 allow her
TO back OF bowling. Just as she reached the
entrance and was making her last bow, Nor
ley was thrust aside, and Vatican, taking
has place, held the curtain for the lovely
actress and received Ter sweet smile of
thanks
The eyes of Morley flashed fire to such an
extent that cigar could almost have been
lit at them.
Mi>creantw he Missed in the ear OF Wat
teau. - You shall pay for this"
. shall, sir" answered Vatican.
. You shall hear from me tomorrow
morn"
- hope So" replied Vatican.
Then, both Sowing at each other, each
one tapped his left hip-where the sword
ought TO be-tnrnOd up his nose, and, snap
ping his fingers as though flirting pinch of
snuI over his right shoulder, withdrew.
The quarrel might and probably would
have ended here had II not been for Rawdon
and IOnless, who. anxious for bit of fun,
kept the two rivals apart and encouraged
them in everything they suggested.
SO behold the adversaries on the field of
honor, the ground measured and everything
ready for one TO vanquish and the other to
fall, with one trifiing eXception-the pistols
were old-timers that had been made before
tlint-locks had gone out Of use. They had
been borrowed for the occasion from jim,
who had used them merely rs ornaments for
his villains, and if it was necessary for any,
bpdy to be killed in the piece Mr. Handy
fired nff his only pistol in one of the wings.
When the fact that the pistols we're use
less became known both principals, who
had been very pale before, began to scowl
at each other with renewed yigor, and whis-
pered each to his second that something
must be done.
foilS without buttons on them. | brought
them in case of an emergency" said Mr..
Rawdon, who was Watteau's second, to Mr..
TOnlesS, the second of Morley.
MY principal knows nothing of carte and
tierce,"' said Mr.. Tonless.
." All the better" answered Mr.. Rawdon :;
"nether does mine"
MY principal wishes me to state" said
Mr.. Tonless, that neither of the prin-
cipals knows anything more of the sword
exercise than that contained In the Richard
the Third combat, but as your principal has
invariably played Richmond to nv princi-
pals Richard it is manifest that that would
be somewhat unfair. Yet we are determined
to go on II You can suggest some mode Of so
DONG"
AS your principal. Mr.. Tonless." said
Mr.. Rawdon, mas played Claude Melnotte
to my principals Colonel Damas, l think
that balances matters. and If there's to be
fight they'd better proceed"
Enough said Mr.. Tonless. $50 let it
bev'
At this dread word each of the principals
bent the right knee, held the left hand high
up In the air, and commenced to bore with
the sword as though it were hugh brad
aNL
Clash came the weapons, and at the same
time a loud scream was heard. The scream
or rather screams-came from the throats
OF Mrs. RawdOn and Mrs. Tonless, who, ac-
companied by the manager, here arrived
upon the scene.
Hold, upon your lvesv' cried Mrs.
RawdOn, in her heaviest tones.
As this was exactly what both principals
bad been endeavoring TO do all the morning
the advice was pleasant to them, and they
dropped their weapons.
TO fight for such thing as she IS"
said Mrs. Rawdon. in contemptuous voice.
Airs. X. had been cut out of all the heavy
parts since the arrival of the star and was a
trifie jealous.
What is all this about?" inquired the
manager.
He was soon told, and then bidding the
four men follow him he led them to the
hotel and into the tragediennes room.
There bidding them TO be seated, he left and
soon returned with Jim Handy.
Tell Jim what the cause Of the affair
was" said he
Rawdon thereupon told Jim how the duel
was TO be fought, because each man loved
the fair actress.
Why, you COMPOUNDED FOOLS" said Jim,
she's my wife; I've been married to her
three years"
This put different complexion on the