Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-02-16
PLOT FOR A PLAY.

The men were talking in the smoking
room after dinner The Jew, Pereira, the
theatrical manager, so well known by his
marbled shirt collars and his triumphant
neckties, stood before the fireplace, hold
ing in his hand a small glass of curacao.
1.-THE anecdote," said he, 1.-THE anecdote
everything depends on that. A play is
good only if one can recount the plot in
five minutes. When an author comes to
talk to me of a comedy at my breakfast
Hour, l stop him Immediately. Can you
: I'll me your business before | finish this
soft boiled egg' II he cannot, the play is
of no value"
And Pereira swallowed his glass of cura-
Goa
81 am not dramatic author" said the
tall Maurice, the attache of embassy, from
the depths of the large armchair, where he
was half hid; but still, if you wish it,
Pereira, l will tell an anecdote from which,
it seems to me, a man in that trade could
get an idea But the time it takes to eat
an egg is very short"
well, / grant you an omelet," said the
Jew, with loud laugh. But the ideas
for plots of people of the world-T mis-
trust it. as said the man who was about
to be guillotined- But go ahead"
VERY WE'LL The story made the rounds
Of the drawing rooms at Vienna when |
was there. There was then in Vienna a
physician renowned for his success with
heart disease. He was named-I change
the name naturally, for the thing was
tragic-he was named DIR. Arnold Scarce
ly forty years old, he had already a mag
nifcent practice. He was a handsome
man; very elegant, with regular features,
large blond whiskers in the Austrian style,
but pair Of eyes like an American-blue
and cold as steel, which flashed in the
light. A Russian family which resided in
Vienna-let us name them, if you will, the
Skebeloffs-called the doctor in consultar
tion on the case of the daughter of the
house, in whom the specialist recognized
after the first examination the commence
ment of aneurism. 1t must have been a
delicate thing to auscultate Miss Macha-
Just think Of it'll To apply his ear to the
chest of a beautiful brunette of nineteen
years and knock upon her heart as if to
say, Can l come inp"
Maurice" interrupted the master Of
the house, mo vaudeville pleasantly You
promised us a drama"
you will have it, rest assured Al
though they were received in good society
these Skebeloffs were a little suspected
They lived at the hotel. The father Skeb
eloff had too many cords knots and frogs
on his furred cloak They had quite a
number of servants, and the mothers dia-
monds passed for false. With all this two
daughters to place, too beautiful to be OF
any use-in fact. doubtful characters. But
the doctor fell in love. He demanded Miss
Macha in marriage, was allowed to make
his court, was married at the end Of three
months, and the Skebeloff family, sud
denly Disguised with Vienna, fitted away
to new tables d'hote.
1.-THE DOCTORS wife, frau doctorin, as they
say there, was well received in Vienna
society. The newly married couple were
very interesting. The doctor loved Macha
both as his wife and as his patient. He
adored her and he nursed her This little
romance enchanted the sentimental. Al
ready Mrs. Arnold, whose health was TO
all appearances re-established, showed her
self often to the world, and even waltzed
there sometimes"-
Notwithstanding her disease Of the
heart"
Eyes. The young wife seemed so en-
tirely cured that her husband permitted a
turn of waltz, as physician; but believe
he would willingly have forbidden it as q
jealous husband. For the handsome Cap
tain de Blazewitz-an Apollo in white
uniform-was always the first to write his
name on Mrs Arnold's ball programme
and pressed her tenderly against his aig
lets. Once more the old fable Of Mars and
Venus was revived"
Good, /" said Pereira. ut is clear enough
that your good natured people posed"
"Perhapsi One day the doctor discovered
package of letters"-
THAT'S old-the package of lettersp
"Pereira, you are insupportablel You
may sneer If you wish, but in my anecdott
there are some letters"
(which furnish to the husband the Ger
tainty of his dishonor-is that not sol"
Certainly"
And which make him conceive the pro
ject Of vengeanceP
DO you know the story. Pereirai If so
tell it."
mo, my friend; but cut down. to use
term of our trade. | cut down, that is all
Then the husband avenged himself'-
by one Of those crimes which always
remain undiscovered"--
"Then how do you know iti"
Because the doctor talked. Yes, the
guilty one himself yielding to that IRE
sistible, that fatal need Of imparting Sc
crets which exists in all men and which
makes Of the Catholic confessional one o.
the most
Keep to your story Maurice, keep tC
your story"
II won't say another word" grumblec
the vexed young man.
Don't be angry" said the grossly inso
lent Pereira we saved you the trouble
of finishing your sentence. IL Is the tru'
theatrical style. See Scribe and Sardou
All in dialogue. with points Of suspension
j am sick Of repeating il to the younl
authors. No stylel No knowledge o
literature There have been plays tina
have failed on account of an adjective. NJ
one knows what harm metaphor may dc
So with romances"-
I'm your turn, Pereira," said the maste
OF the house, looking at the jew with
jeering air through his monocle. "Whel
will you be through