Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-07-22

| ne WOfhtu uP ii5 SSch' WIN ~
doubled energy. 1t was no use. In
stead of his own face, he saw in the
glass that of the managers daugh
ter. Othello at last had encountered
rival. The horrible truth dawned
upon the mind of Phineas Gunny
that, instead of one master passion,
he now had two The first was
| Othello the second Virginia Fran
CHS.
"This, he reflected, ais too much.
Love, that has hitherto Stunned the
poor utility man and confined hls at
tentions to the bosoms of the lead
ing, the juvenile and the walking
gentlemen, now comes to me. What
have | to do with lover Alasl / can
only worship her at distance"
! And he was as good as his word.
He watched her every movement,
whenever she was in the theater.
Asfor her, it would be foolish to say
she did not notice this. She was a
woman and an actress, and admira-
ton was the perfume of her life,
Therefore. she quickly saw that Phin-
eas admired her. Nay, more, she
perceived that he was deeply in love
with her.
Poor fellow" she reflected; 'fhe
has fallen hopelessly i'll love with
me. 1t is too bad. | didn't mind
the sighs of the fashion, bic young
men in New York, because | know
they bestow them upon every actress
in the city. But this poor fellow, he
is in earnest, and yet he does not
dare to speak to me-"
These thoughts grew in Virginia. s
mind. She found herself continual
ly watching Phineas to sec if hewas
watching her. He daily became
more moody and melancholy, and
she daily became more sorry for
him. At length, one morning, while
she was sitting at the prompt table
during rehearsal, she sew Phineas
standing well back in the first en-
trance and devouring her with his
eyes. She arose and carelessly
walked up to the back Of the stage
and then, passing around the wings
she came down behind Phineas and
attracted his attention by little
cough
He started and began 20 tremble
when he saw her
why do you stare so at me2' she
asked.
"'S deathl" said Phineas in q low
voice II may not tell thee that
Woman, / have only two passions.
One is to play Othello and the
other--is a secret which must not
pass my lips"
Poor fellow" she said very soft
ly, as she turned away.
"Perdition catch my soul, but do
love theel" exclaimed Phineas under
his breath.
She heard him. She felt that she
ought to have been very angry, but
in spite of herself she was pleased.
The next time she passed Phineas
in the street she completely upset
that gentleman by bestowing upon
him smile and bow.
The days rolled on, and Phineas
Gunny's new passion grew. AS for
the young lady, her pity for her
strange lover also grew. She always
spoke to him kindly, which added
fresh fuel to the fire which was con-
suming his being Thus matters
went on until Virginia had been in
Cohonk two weeks.
The citizens of that enterprising
city then conceived the brilliant
idea of giving grand benefit to the
young lady whose talents shed luster
upon the town.
Manager Francis was, of course,
delighted, and announced that his
daughter would appear on June z in
her famous role of Desdemona.
The play was at once put in re-
hearsal. Phineas, as usual, was cast
for Ludovico, and had to endure the
misery at rehearsals of hearing his
favorite part butchered by the lead
INK Illtll, OSCdT mODlTOSc.
Then Phineas gnawed his lips.
Then his heart beat in anguish un-
speakable. He knew how he could
play that part, and his soul burned
with anxiety to act with his beloved
Virginia as tho Desdemona, But his
wishes were Of no use. She and he
could not be brought so nearly to-
gether. At rehearsals he stood in
the entrances and murmured the
well known lines while Montrose
was muimuring them on the stage.
Virginia, who had fallen into a
habit of watching her queer lover
saw him rs he was going through
his daily performance. She found
an opportunity to speak to him.
What were you muttering here
few moments agol" she asked,
II was speaking" he replied, las
they should be spoken, the sublime
lines of OF clio"
'Do you know the partl"
'Do know it For fourteen years
it has burned and seethed in my
brain Othello is my one grand pas
sion-or was. l have learned the
business of all the greatest exponents
OF the role who have ever lived.
But my time win come, but until
then | must so on, on, on, as-Lu-
dovico"
AT last the festal night arrived.
All Cohonk turned out to do honor
to its fair tragedienne.