The morning call., 1892-08-09
GETTING ON THE STAGE.

My dear, that girl is born actressl
How different private theatricas are now
adaysl When / was a girl-realiy-
Will have her on again thenP'
The curtains dividing the audience from
the mimic stage were once more drawn a
little apart, to admit pretty girl, with
dark, ripping hair. and sparkling eyes. who
advanced to make her bow in recognition OF
the plaudHs which rang through the room.
WHO is she ?" asked a visitor.
"a Miss Geraldine Norton" was whis-
rered back. Hasn't any money; lives
with al aunt who rather dlslkes private
thestrIcals. Might set her face against
them utterly, only, luckily for the gil, she
Is engaged TO a well-tO-dO young fellow
Sydney AseOt-else she'd have to be q
governess."
rs he here?"
ooh, yesl Behind the scenes. Ia. ha.
hap
SYDNEY Ascot was behind the scenes. In
deed. at the wings with his back against the
wall. his arms folded, he had witnessed,
with the graveSt of faces, the triumph or
bis hetrothed. In 1.-The Bellies Stratagem.'
"By Jove, sgd doesn't she do 1t well p
exclaimed a friend. standing at - slde;
why. man, what sol""'" couhtenSncs'
Aren't you pleaseG
'pleasod p was the response. Il wish to
hsavsn they'd-they'd hiss herr
"By JOvs! why Z
Because such applause is enough to
turn a girls head, and give her false no.
lions. She'll believe she is q genius. 4 Il
this will make her restless to achieve more
public glories. aud be dsconlented that
she can't, willis you knew as we'll as L, LED,
what vastly different affair is the real
thing from the Imitation. The Successtul
amateur imagines he or she has but to step
from the mimic To the real stage TO score
an equal victory. and, oh the disappoint-
mAnt! Geraldine is too fond Of acting SIS
Here she comes, +" remarked Ted Downes.
who deemed it best to slip away round the
"0b, sgd, what did you think Of me?"
exclaimed MS betTOthed, dancing up to him.
"Was il not delightful And 20 know it's
all oyerl Oh, II il were only every. every
night But you don't say what you thought
Of me?"
81 thought you excellent-foT an ANA
s~ur"
e girls cheeks flushed a little deeper;
tt expression settled on her features.
lou are not very ENTHUSIASTIC at any
y she said, her lip curing. ~ Gu shall
hear what the others are ssyIng-thAt l IN
born for an actress"
"Thelr praise is very injGdicIous, my love,
II makes YOU think that your acting here
would be accepted at once on the real stage.
There would be a lot Of hard work. Of drill
ing, Of hesrt-burniBg disappointment, my
darling, befors you could obtain even half
success 10 q secOnd-rRts part.
Complimentary, certainly. she ex-
claimed with short laugh
There is 8 true saying" he smiled
"'ssYe me from my friends Their ap-
piause has sent many young asuirent on the
stage TO sup cruel disappointment, There.
darling, you are very clever as al amateur.
Be wise, and think mine the truest
praise. Thank heaven, little wife, you
have not 10 experience the falseness Of auy
0ther."
III were not going to marry you" she
exclaimed, with TOSS, Il would 90 on the
stage tomorrow. / love i'll adore i'll"
Because they applauded you" he smiled.
''SuppoSing they had Kissed? People are
Kissed on the real stage, You know"
She flashed an angry glance at him from
her dark eyes.
Il love acting better than anything" she
Esid, poinledly. 81 don't believe what you.
ray. l think you cruel. unjust to say il, and
begin TO fancy We may not be as happy TO-
sether as we thought AtRny rate, HeshalI
disagree on this point"
"GerRldneP
IT'S true, love acting. Oh, I would so
ake 10 be an actress"
"GeTaldinel GeraldInew cried a young
ViTl running up. Come here dear; old
Mrs. Hudson says she must be introduced
10 you. Every ones talking Of your sue
ess."
Geraldine nodded triumphantly, and
rianced back st her betrCtheG. as much
As TO say, There, you see, as she hurried
s'She is one of the sweetest. dearest Of
girls" reflected Sydney. as he slowly fol-
lowed. land they will spoil her. If they
snly knew what getting On the STAGE
Gsans they would be careful not to turn
sirls' or male idiots heads by their folly.
I will see GeTaldine's aunt Thank Heaven
shall soon be my dsrling's guardian and
protector"
Geraldine slept very little that night.
being too excited with her success. Sydney
Ascot slept perhaps not quite so much for
thinking Of her.
The following afternoon be carried out
his Intention of seeing Miss FTobshere, the
aunt of his betrothed.
My dear Sydneyp' exclaimed the old
lady, ''the girls Just lost her head about it,
wish all the private thestricals were at the
bottom OF the sea. that l do. II girl, or
young man, Is only praised enough by
friends. they think they have but TO step
upon the real stage to become at once a
Charlotte Cushman or an Edwin Booth.
There Is no fever Ike the acting fever.
Why" added tue old lady. to Sydney's sur
prize, II eveR caught the disease little in
my young DAYS; only my parents, heaven
bless them, stamped IL out"
~ don't mind private theatricals." put Ia
sydney. grayeiy,'", save where 1t leads to
false IDEAS, and"
my dear boy, you can't separate the one
from the other. Now there Is a letter come
from the Griggses to Geraldine, wanting her
70 play Polly Eceles In Caste and since
not q syllable can | get out OF her. tried
by the most enticing subject. Ny love- /
said. 1 was thinking a bout your trousseau'
oh. aunt she Interrupted, don't disturb
ne. want TO learn this part. The Griggses
have given me such short notice. Here
shsis."
As she spoke Geraldine came slowly into
the room through the conservatory. Her
eyes were fixed upon one of Samuel French's
httls yellow play books, her lips moved
Miss Frobshere shrugged her shoulders
An, SydneyP exclaimed his betrothed
locking up, her eyes dancing, II hope you
cont want me- to go outp really must get
tnis by heart. Oh, it's such a nice part-I
wish you'd give me my cues"
AL right" he lejoined, taking the book
"What good fellow" and she began.
We'll. what do you think ehP"
why, I've seen Ada Rehan-a born act
ress." be SAID quietly; land Imusto own th al
you don't quite understand the character
or course il may please your friends of last
hight"
Geraldine snatched the book from his
hand.
III you cannot approve you need not In
suit, she said coldly, haughtily.
He is right Dine. What he says 10 for
Yeur good" put in Miss Frobshere.
My dear aunt, at present being depend
you please" replied Geraldine, as. with the
stately step of a Fanny Dayennort aha
Quilted the room. "'
She did not appear again while SYDNEY
was there. He went away dowpheaTted
That golden future, which be had regarded
ss so securely his, seemed vanishing in tbs
dim distance. y.
The next morning, while be sat at break.
fast. hurried note reached him from MIS-
Erobshere.
Come to me at once" 4. ran. 81 ar
distracted. Geraldine has goneP
SoEel
For few saconds he sat motionless. nm.
tbie to realize The words. Then he snranp
up and was soon Fastening 10 the villa. II
was quite true. Geraldine had gone to bed