Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-27

| that he had not q particle. He roomed next TO
| me, and we became somewhat intimate ne
told me Of his arduous practice as an amateur
actor, and how the injudicious applause OF ms
friends had befooled him into the belief that
great professional career was possible to him:
He told me. also, Of his failure under the test
| conditions Of . role in q regular drama before
| . regular audience. He said that the manager
had engaged him to enact . not very I'M
portant yet aristocratc young lover,
and, looking at his fine personal appearance
| and bearing, could readily understand why
his application for the employ ment had been
| successful, in spite Of the fact that he was a
novice. But his suitable aspect had not awaited
him much. in the absence of all facility in act.
ing, and ne had dropped, after one week OF
fruifiess endeavor to improve his performance
down into assignments to utility parts. For
this comparatively ignobie service he received
only fS week. He was living snugly,
not to say meanlv, on that scant income when
| he and fell In with each other. His outward
man gave MOI sign Of inward trouble. however.
| for his wardrobe was still excellent, and his
| aristocratic air was unimpaired
III was while in a state of detection, old fell
up my mind to become rascal fortune hun
ter-a what you call in America confidence
man. Oh. did, indeed. OF course can urge
that it was sudden and powerful temptation
that yielded to- but the fact that did yield
stands against me. This is the way it hap pcned:
Being hard up awhile ago, was glad one day
to get chance to sing and recte at private
house. 1t was no great affair else my small
| talent wouldn't have been satisfactory. The
young lady who played piano accompaniment
to my feeble songs a Miss Pullen-a Miss
Polly Pullen. Do you know her!"
An exclamation Of surprise on my part had
caused Frank to ask the question. The name
Of Pullen had caught my ear on account of my
acquaintance with the Pullens of Viso square.
but, rs knew that they had no daughter and
re in I
once that l didn't, and couldn't, know a Miss
Pullen.
Its your misfortune that you don't know
her, Frank resumed, land it Is nv misfortune
tnat 90: Listen She was the gentlest, sweet
est loveilest creature you can imagine. try
to think it was partly love at first sight and not
altogether dlabolical scoundrelism that made
me deceive her. Yes, did deceive her. This
is the way it came to pass: She overheard some
body utter the name Of Count D'Arcev. You've
heard of him2 The French nobleman who
would be wealthy il he could cash up his an
cestral richness of lineage, perhaps. who is
poor OF pocket because no such financial
operation Ii possible. Howeve,, he has rela-
tlves with fortunes. and believe they make
sufhclent allowance to him to enable him to
live III ldleness. Now. by some accident. Miss
Pulien thought the name was addressed to me-
ny strange sequence to that acciden It she was
LED to believe that was Count D'Arcey Now nv
dear boy, ask you to believe that had at the
mistake further than to bask temporarily in the
sunshine OF that dear girls smile
only knew her on that occasion as
Miss Martin. an American, and l assumed
that she was guest. But before the evening
was over she told me that che was a paid enter
tainer. l shouldn't have known it, for her
piano playing and her singing, although pretty
good. were no better than one comes across in
drawing rooms often. Why oh, why, was not
correspondingly frank Why didn't 1 tell her
Wpa mi EranL
actor, earning fee OF E3? Because !
was In love with her and l feared that to tell
her the truth wonld disenchant her. So 1 let
her go on under the misapprehension that l was
count ID Arcey. When We bade each other
good night audaciousiy begged the privilege
OF further acquaintance. What was the use of
being Count ID Arcey if wasn't to Obtrude
myself on pretty professional vocalist when
chose to! But she repulsed my advances
kindly but firmly. She wouldn't give me her
address aud she deprecated any informality or
preclpltancy OF acquaintance. At length, be-
ing persistently pressed. she admitted that she
might be at the academy picture show on
certain afternoon week later.
Did you meet her there?' asked of Frank.
DO two and two make four?'' he responded.
will make one.
i thought it would, and it did, said Frank
ruefuliy, but went to the picture show and
soon came across Miss Pullen. She was accom-
panieu py ner mo'her, who neither frowned
nor smiled on our renewal OF acquaintance,
Whleh ripened rapidly, l assure you Why,
Poiiy and were lovers at once. We looked al
'he pictures Two or three hours without really
seeing them, and at parting she said-shyly yet
might cau on her at her home
Ia Eigo square" -
ih DaA'ef' l interrupted, what are
you saying! 1 know the PuIlens OF Vigo
square.
anu mat are they!
miihohaire family from America"
soon learned Twas astonished when
Paio my nrst Visit to md myself in lux
urious residence. Then, seeing curiosity de-
picleu III my race, foliy explained that she
WASH PROFESSIONAL singer, as she had mis-
u'etousy ie1 ihe 10 beileve. but an only
oaughter OF Tue Puuens. In short, she was a
sreat american heiress. II you know the Pull
'en .I YOU mus. know her.
never heard OF daughter" insisted,
Uu' rank described the house Enthusiastically.
.t ne saiu 'nat ar. fuiIen had gone on trip to
Tue comment. leaving his wife and daughter in
me Gharee OF a trusry butler l exclaimed,
De eamy
,u..s %aiamy, my friend echoed; "Yes-an i'm
presslve creature Why. one day found him
,ilstructing the ladies. -actually-he stood
oeiCLe Mrs anu Miss Pui!en, who sat almost
eeA'y III 'ner cnairs. and was delivering some
.nihs ,na., yudging oy the Few words heard,
was iee'ule on american pronunciation and
anne5S VI course ne stopped instantly
Gn d;d ian; ana an three seemed bit Mustered.