The Forrest City times., 1893-09-22

learned and shivered at the remem- brance of those scenes which called for nervous action. A year of peaceful pleasure followed. He was very happy. and why not? he kept asking himself again and again-so often, in fact, that he began to doubt if he felt so sim cerely.
 This happiness at the bottom was monotonous Yet he was not willing to acknowledge that ennui had crept into that pretty little house which he had longed for so much, and the more he assured himself that he needed nothing the more he saw that the days that dragged by were abominably void and dull.
 To-day, seated in an arbor taking his coffee, he allowed his pipe to go out as he read over some old plays, occasion ally pausing to exclaim as he came to some familiar role: "Ah, I was great in that" And the old memories of the past that he thought were buried came to the present and sang siren song in his ears. An, the music of applause, the shouts and bravos that set the lights trembling after an impassioned speech! And the little servant coming to remove the dishes surprised him standing there flushed of face, his hair blowing in the breeze, apostrophizing an imaginary parsonage.
 ''Ah. monsieur le comte-at last we are face to face.'
 "A count here! Where is this count of yours?"
 And the girl laughed till the tears ran down her cheeks.
 Oh, these old habits that we can never lay aside. One fine day Darzin court was forced to acknowledge that he regretted the theater We'll, yes, why not? One cannot live on the boards with impunity and not suffer from nostalgia He subscribed to the town paper, and followed the theatrical notices written by a young lawyer clerk who had literary aspirations When he read the eulogies on his old companions his bile rose: besides, they were playing in roles that he had filled. He had hesitated before; he hesitated no more
 One morning he abandoned his linen suit. put on his holiday clothes and sought the director of the theater. The latter appeared to be surprised at the visit, and learning the motive, raised his hands with gesture of deprecia- tion.
 What, Darzincourt at his age wished to reappear?'
 And he noticed the comedian stopped ! ! l11 i, and had accumulated fresh crop of whskers. Still the prospect of fruit ful evening, on the strength of the actors reputation, tempted him, and he had already formed plan announcing l the reappearance of the celebrated 1 DarZincourt.
 Well, why shouldn't you return to | the stage?" he said.
 Radiant with the idea of again filling this dingy hall with his sonorous speeches, the old actor began to dis cuss the piece. He didn't need any re- hearsals, of course; he had played the part so often! With the joy of child 1 he sought the costume room, tried on again the clothes he had worn more than a hundred times, requested that few changes be made, and passed the | day in consultation with the hair dresser and costumer of the theater.
 Not a wig pleased him; he ordered a new one. nervous gayety possessed 1 him; he could have turned somersaults.
 The advertisement produced its effect. | When the time came the hall was crowded to witness his reappearance, | but the feverish enthusiasm he had counted on was lacking. He appeared, a little applause saluted him, but it was not continued. The audience be- came apathetic. What. was this the parzincourt that had charmed them in other days? Why, the poor fellow was grotesque. He felt disconcerted, but not alarmed Since his departure they had missed the fire of the old school of acting; he would show them what it was
 The old patrons of the theater whom he knew uttered little exclamations of surprise. The newcomers began openly to ridicule. The rest of the company sulked and gave Darzincourt his cues reluctantly, until he began to lose his assurance little by little. He stumbled | in a pathetic speech-turneda a sentence into ridicule - the parterre howled. From that moment every word, every gesture provoked a tempest.
 Darzincourt felt a cold precipitation gather on his forehead. Around him in the boxes people were going out, and he murmured, pale with anger: