The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-05-28
A PLOT FOR A PLAY.
Eoom ne rrtnrh Of E,raneoi, Comm.

3 hW me fTturh OF frnHfoIs Coptfe.
Tho men were talking in tho smoking.
room after dinner. The Jcw, Percira,
tho theatrical manager, SO vol known
by his marblod shirt collars and his
triumphant ncckties, stood before tho
fireplace, holding in his hand II small
glass OF curacao.
THE a%nccdotc,n said he, "the anec:
dote--o everything depends on that. A
play Is good only II ono can recount tho
plot in five minutes. When an author
comes TO talk to me OF n comedy at my
breakfast hour, stop him Immediately.
Can you tell me your business before !
finish this soft-6oiled cgg2 II le can.
not, the play is OF no value"
And Pereira swallowed his glass OF
curacao.
II am not q dramatic author said
the tall Maurice, the a.tdche OF embassy,
from tho depths OF the large armchair,
where he wis half hid "but still, II YOU
wish it pcreira, l will tell an anecdotc,
from which, it scdlns to me, II man in
that trade could get an idea. But the
time It takes to scat IN egg is very
short"
SWELL, l grant you an omclct,n said
the Jew with loud laugh. "But tho
IDEAS for plots OF people OF the world.
I mistrust it, as said the man who was
about TO be guillotincd. But go ahead"
""Very we'll! The story made the
rounds OF the drawing-rooms at Vienna
when I was there. There was then in
Vienna a physician renowned for his
success with heart disease. IIe was
named-1 change the name, natu n,!ly,
Tor the thing was tragic-hc was named
DR.. Arnold. Scarcely forty years old,
he had already n magnificent practice.
He was Il handsome man.; very
elegant, with regular features, large
blond whiskers in the Austrian
style, but n pair OF eyes like
an American, blue and cold as steel,
which flashed in the light. A Russian
family which resided in Vicrna-let us
name them, if you will, the sk~ebcloffs-
called the doctor in consultation on the
case OF the daughter OF the house, in
whom the specialistrccognized after the
first examination the commencement OF
aneuriam. 1tmust have been a delicate
thing to ausculate Miss Macha. Just
think OF it! TO apply his car to the
chest OF abeautiful brunette OF nineteen
years, and knock upon her heart, as ii
to, say: Can l como inr"
"Maurice," interrupted the master OF
the house, "no vaudeville pleasantly.
You promised US a drama"
you will have it, rest assured. AL
though received i'll good society, these
Skcbcloffs were 4 little suspected. They
lived at the hotel. The father Skcbe-
LOTT had too many cords, knots and
frogs on his furred cloak. They
had quite O number OF servants,
and the mothers diamonds passed
for false. With Fall this two
daughters to place, too beautiful to be
OF any use; i'll fact, doubtful characters.
But the doctor fell in love; he demand
cd Miss Macha in marriage; was allow
ed to make his court, was married at the
end OF three months, and the Skebelotf
family, suddenly disgustod with Wen
ma, fitted away to new tables d'hotf. The
doctors wife, frau doctorin, as they say
there, was well received in Vienna So
ciety. The newl unmarried couple were
very interesting; the doctor loved Ma
cha both, as his wife and rs his patient.
He adored her and he nursed her. This
little Ill enchanted tho sentiment
tai. Already Mrs. Arnold, whose health
was to all appearances re-established,
showed herself otter to the world, and
even waltzed there sometimes"
Notwithstanding her disease OF the
hearth" ~ .
eyes. The young wifc' seemed SO en-.
tiroly cured that her husband permit
toda turn OF waltz. as a physician; but
l believe he would willingly have for
hidden it as a jealous husband. For
the handsome Captain de Blazcwitz-
an Apollo in 4 white uniiorm-was al
| ways the first TO write his name on
Mrs. Arnold's ball programme, and
| pressed her tenderlr against his aislets.
| Once more the old fable OF Mars End
Venus was revived"
Good" said Pcrcira. ut is clear
enough that your ~sood-naturcd people
posed" as
perhaps! One day the doctor dis
covered n package Of le!ters-"
That's old-the package OF letters"
"Pcreira, you are i%nsupportable. You
may sneer, ii you wish, but in my ancc.
dotc there are some letters"
(which furnish to tho husband the
certainty OF his dishonor.-is that not
so?"
Certainly"
"And which make him conceive the
project OF vengeance
ado you know the story, Percira?' Ii
go tell it."
mo, my friend, but i cut doun to use d
torn OF our trade. I cut down, that is
all. Then tho husband avenged him
seli-" e
by one OF those crimes which, always
remain undiscovered-"
"Thcn how do you know It'll"
because the doctor talked. Yes, the
guilty one himself, yielding 10 that ir-
rcsistible, that fatal need OF %impartiny
secrets which exists in all men, and
which makes tho Catholic confessional
ono OF the most
keep to your story, Maurice; keep
to your story"
II won't say another word" grum-
bled The vexed young man.
Don't DO angry" said tho grossly in
solent Pcroira. Eve saved You tho
trouble Of finishing your sentence. II
is the true theatrical style. See Scribe
and Sardou. All in dialogue, with points
of suspension. ] am sick Of repeatingit
to the. yonng authors. No style! No
knowledge OF literature! There have
been plays that have failed on account
OF an adjective. No one knows what
harm a%mctaphor may'do. So with ro-
manccs-"
TN your turn, Pereira," said tho mas.
TOR OF tho hnnsn nnEinnn 81 tho ro.r ,u.;IL