Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-08

He made some pithy but rude remarks to
the effect that he'd be dashed IL O drama which
had to be explained on the program would 60
down on his side the water, and then opened .
running FIRE Of vulgar, but forcibie, criticism
Of what was said and done on the stage. As he
turned to me every time he spoke thought the
people around would begin to imagine that
sympathized with him, so lent him my opera
glasses to keep him quiet.
"Oh. crickey?' he exclaimed in what, on his side
the water, no doubt, passes for . confidential
whisper. "Look AT the old geeser in that box.
Disgraceful, call it, and at her age, too.
just tske squirt, governor"
Sophy might have known that should do
nothing of the kind, even though to humor him
l made pretense, and, therefore. she need not
hidden them under her cloak.
As the FIRST act Of ''Gentie Gladys" is devoted
solely to detailing the pedigrees Of all the char
| actors Tor the last ten generations, SO that you
may understand why they are compelled to act
| as they do later on il is short one. and before
the Objectionable Character had time to distin-
guish himself again the curtain went down and
| he went out-probably for beer
Al through the act the few remarks which
Sophy had condescended to address to me had
had an acid favor about them that did not
relish, and, ~ she showed no signs of return
ing to sweet reasonableness when the interval
began, Tor once in my life was glad to see
Barker
"Hullo! Swaddle," he said. coming from be-
hind somewhere and appropriating the tempo
rariiy vacant place In front OF me. "what are
| you doing here?''
| Wherever ] meet Barker be asks me what I
am doing there, in tone which implies that
| have no right to be anywhere without his leave.
on, replied; nothing much brought
stare which began in curiosity and ended In adj
mirstion. II haven't the pleasure, fear. In
troduce me, Swaddle, NV boy"
81 introduced him-what else could do?-
and hoped Sophy would snub him, but again
she disappointed me.
II have often heard Of you, Mr.. Barker" she
said, smiling upon him most graciously.
Nothing to my disadvantage, hope?" he
replied, laughing, Is If he thought that very
| simple remark concealed an excellent Joke.
Barker always laughed at his own jokes, and
they were generally very well concealed.
mot at all" said Sophy. "Algernoa has
always spoken so highly of you that I have
been quite anxious to make your acquains-
ance"
How easy it is be deceived in awomanl How
| could she have been anxious to make his &C.
quaintance after the things / had told her
always thought sincerity was one Of Sophy's
greatest charms.
'Swaddle. you are sly. sly dog, /" said Barker,
chuckling idioticslly. "Do you know, Miss
Bell. that until this suspicious moment was
Ignorant OF your very existence"
II am not surprised to hear it, Mr.. Barker, I"
retorted Sophy, tossing her head "Algernou
Is not at all proud OF me, can assure you"
more unfounded accusatioon never pro-
ceeded from q woman's lips, yet could not
refute it without laying myself open to an
| equally groundless charge of jealousy.
had not told Barker Of my engagement, II
is true, hut that was because he is such an in
4
II must know the little girl, swsddle. You
must settle down somewhere near my diggings &C
that can look you up in the evening. I know
| the very house to suit you. Where are you
| buying your furniture? know Q place
and SO on. Indeed, he would have made me
play second fiddle at my very wedding il hs
| had been asked to 1t, and surely IL 10 no,
jealousy to object to that
| They both looked at me as II they expected
an explanation, but as could not tell Barker
my reasons for reticence there was an awkward
pause In the conversation / felt that Barker
had once more placed me in . false position
and when feel that am in false position ]
reflection / regret I was blushing and abou
to speak when the Objectionable Character
saved me by coming back to claim his seat
According to the etiquette prevailing in gal.
ieries Barker should have yielded it to him
and perhaps be would have done 80 had moi
Sophy told him in . whisper to stay where he
was.
ERE, governor" said the Objectionable
One. "that's my pitch"
His tone, must admit, was not concilistory,
and Barker is q man who must be treated to an
| ell OF consultation before he viii yield an inci
Of concession.
sis it?'' he asked. 81 was under the impress
sion that. like the rest Of the thsater, il be-
longed to Mr.. Crummles Delawnay."
WAS your" sneered the other. "Wef, I was
a-sitting in it, anyway, during the whole OF the
first act; appeal to this lady and gentleman
Barker made no reply, but beckoned the at.
| tendant.
'Are these seats reserved?" be asked calmly
swell, no. sir" replied the man "No,
strictly speaking, they're not. But when
gent goes out for a mouthfui Of fresh air OF
/ in his place in his absence"
Never mind about that" said Barker. '.Ii
| the right to find it empty when he returns in
cluded in the price of admission"
mo. sir" admitted the attendant Mot tn,
right exactly. but
THAT will do, thank you," said Barker. COOL,
sitting down again.
| Ere. say" grumbled the previous occu
pier. that's not good enough, YOU know
You're a precious sight too big and ugly 70,
there to be any sense in me talking Of chuckins
| you out, but if"
"Now, look here" said Barker, turnins
around. 'if Won had asked me civilly to move
L would have done SO with pleasure, but yor
didn't, so won't. Stop. Don't use bad Ian
guage before ladies. but take this, and thinl
| yourself lucky to get il.
This was a shilling, and the Character tool
1t and departed, muttering some nonsens,
about being glad to find that, after all, the gem
| was gent, and knew how to behave as such
The people round about laughed. and seemed
to think Barker had done something clever
| though where the cleverness came in failed tc
perceive. Any one can bride a lout, but il
Sophy had seconded nv policy Of Cancellation
| as she ought to have done, there would have
| been no need to waste money or make our.
selves conspicuous.
OF course We were conspicuous after tina,
| alteration, which, as Barker was concerned IN
| it, had not, You may be sure, been carried or
in whispers. Everybody stared at US or
| thought they did, which, as far as destroying
my comfort went came to the same thing
Barker. too, behaved disgracefully throughout
the rest OF the performance. He did his best tc
| firt with Sophy, who, however, did not en-
courage him, but though she kept saying
| Don't, Mr.. Barker" "You shouldn't say such
| things" and, do be quiet" he won't on Saying
the things-jokes he thinks them-and hs
wouldn't be quiet
He talked to the girls next to him, whom
am sure be had never seen before, and though
| they had SO plainly resented the advances O,
the Objectionable Character they didn't seen
to mind Barker q bit, while even the devotees
| as have called them, smiled indulgently a
him when he made fun Of the play.
| How il II that Barker can do such things with
| impunity? II had talked to those girls which