Middletown transcript., 1892-09-08
A PLOT FOR A PLAY.

"A lLVl EUh "A ThhII
HE men were talking in the
smoking-room after dinner.
The Jew, Pereira, the theatrical mana
ger, so well known by his marbled
shirt collars and his triumphant neck
ties, stood before the fireplace holding
in his hand a small glass of curacao.
"The anecdote," said he, "the
necdote-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 COM
edy at my breakfast hour, I stop him
Immediately. Can you tell me your
business before I finish this soft-boiled
egg2 Ifhe cannot, the play is Of no
value.
And Pereira swallowed his glass Of
curacao.
81 am not dramatic author" said
the tall Maurice, the dttdcle of embassy,
from the depths of the large armchair,
where he was half hid "but still, if
you wish it, Perrira, will tell an
anecdote, from which, it seems to me,
man in that trade could get an idea.
But the time it takes to eat an egg is
very short" ,7a
"Well, | grant you an omelet, said
the Jew with loud laugh. "But the
ideas for plots Of fpeople Of the world
II mistrpst it, as said the man who
was about to be guillotined. But go
ahead"
every WE'LL The story made the
rounds Of the drawing-rooms at Vienna
when 1 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 DR.. Arnold. Scarcely forty
years old, be had a magnificent prac-
tice. He was a handsome man; very
elegant, with regular features, large
blond whiskers in the Australian 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-Iet us name them,
if you will, the Skebeloffs-called the
doctor in consultation on the case of
the daughter oflthe house, in whom
the specialist recognized after the fret
examination the commencement Of
aneurism. 1t must have been deli
cate thing to auscultate Miss Macha.
just think it! To apply his ear to
the chest of beautiful brunette of
nineteen years, and knock upon her
heart, as if to say "Can | come in r.
Maurice" interrupted the master
ofthe house, "no vaudeville pleasan-
try. You promised us drama"
"You will have it, rest assured.
Although they were received in good
society, taese Skebelofs were a little
suspected. They lived at the hotel.
The father Skebeloff had too many
cords, knots.and frogs on his furred
cloak. They had quite number OF
servants, and the mothers diamonds
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 de-
manded Miss Macha in marriage; was
allowed to make bis court, was mar
ried at the end of three months, and
the Skebeloff family, suddenly disgust
ed with Vienna, fitted away to new
tables d'hote. The doctors wife, frau
doc.orin, as they say there, was we'll
received in Vienna society. The
newly-married couple were very inter-
estiDg; the doctor loved Macha both
as his wife and as his patient. He
adored her and he nursed her. This
little romance enchanted the senti-
| mental. Already Mrs. Arnold, whose
| health was to all appearances re-estab-
lished, showed herself often to the
| world, and even waltzed there some
times"
notwithstanding her disease of the
hearth"
"Yea. The young wife seemed 50
entirely cured that her husband per-
| mitted turn of waltz, as q physician /;
but / believe he would willingly have
forbidden it as a jealous husband.
For the handsome Captain de Blaze
witz-an Apollo in white uniform
was alWays the first to write his name