St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-02-21
"THE PLAYERS.'

three gowns, her notice book. her char
acter photographs and her letter of in
PRODUCTION in the attic room of New
York boarding house her JOY was uncon-
fined. The boarding house was east of
Third avenue, and the attic oom was
four flights from the street; but when
one is talented and twenty, and visits
New York for the first time with
fattering Introduction to an influential
manager, one does not count stairs.
On the first evening Mellicent ate her
grestly roast and Wilted salad with the
air of young woman who is assured OF
champagne and sWeatbreadS at the
weeks end. and wondered whether 1t
would be three days or five before she
''signed" with the influential manager
and engaged quarters better benefiting
the comedienne OF metropolitan
company.
Two weeks later Mellicent occupied
the same attic room on the east side, but
boarded cheapIy at Third avenue eat
ing house, where one could breakfast
heartily for Is cents and dine luXuri-
Ously for 20.
One week more and Mellicent was
boiling her break fast cocoa over the gas
jet, and washing her handkerchiefs in
the bathtub and f1attening them on the
window pane to dry. In those days she
BACKED her boots with ink and stuffed
her mirror frame with newspaper adj
vertiSements tor ballet girls and lady
fencers. The letter of recommendation
which the influential manager had
kindly returned was streaked aud worn
by constant sanding, and the notice
book was dog-eared.
On one end of her bureau was box
of letters from the man who wished to
marry her. AT first Nellie eat used to
read and sigh over these pledges of. at
lection. 1t was such pity, she thought,
that he cared like that for girl who
never could marry him. Now she read
and signed over them with difference.
1T can't come to that" she would say.
At the start there had been a certain
pquancy in the venture. 10 be talent
ed and twenty. and to seek her fortune
alone in great city, read uncommonly
like the first chapter of a romance. Be-
sides, New York captivated the girl
Her rounds for the Gay finished, she
would ride from the Battery to Harlem
on the elevated. price diamond neck
laceS and air her three gowns with the
best of them on that Broadway prom
enade, whose glitter was constantly
suggestive of fOOtlightS and an orcheS-
trail accompaniment.
The agencies charmed by their abSo-
lutte novelty.
To penetrate to that private territory.
to see a slip bearing her name and ad-
dress placed in a pigeonhoe labeled
''SoubretteS and lngenues," seemed to
Mellicent unique and exciting expert
ence, one we'll worth hours OF waiting.
and the comments. sarcastic or lndlffer-
tnt, of the manager and his satellites.
All this, however, as l said, was at
the start.
To be the heroine of a romance is one
thing, the heroine of realistic novel
quite another.
Ppm beginning to suspect the truth
of all these horrid stories of baff1ed
genius struggling against adverse fate"
she wrote, near the close of the third
week, to the man who wished to marry
her.
Managers all seemed in league against
her--all save one, who, from the be-
ginning. had treated her with unac-
countabe forbearance. He had even
was a soubrette part in it that was
badly done. he said. The author was a
friend Of his, and-well. he couldn't
promise anything, but he'd like her to
see the part.
The soubrette was bad-worse even
than Mellicent had hoped; weak, com-
mon and self-cOnSciouS.
If such people can obtain engage
ments, then why not l?'' she said the
next morning in reporting the play.
Pm not raw amateur: L studied for
two years with we'll known actor and
stage manager. Fve played over and
over again at students matinees, and
later in professional performances in
small towns. It's only a chance L want,
a chance to speak dozen lines, that's
all; but they won't give me even hear
ing.'
Mellicents cheek burned. She shook
the brown locks from her moist fore
head, and eyed the agent agrees
sively."
He shook his head deprecatingly. He
was slim and blond and boyish. with
drOll, captivating accent that height
ened the effect Of his dry utterances.
"Pll tell you what it is" the man
said; "Tll see Boyle at luncheon today
and put your case to him. Ii he reports
favorably I'll let you know this after
noon Don't hope too much. though. II
you don't hear from me by 5 at the lat
est you'll know there's nothing to eX-
pect from that quarter"
Millicent grasped his hand in parting
almost atfectionately.
Its a chance she whispered, as she
climbed the stairs at the east side board
ing house. ''If 1 get it, why, Pm bound
to succeed. If lose it,. The girls
heart sank.
Go homeo The worn face of her
father, the shabby gowns and meager
faces of her mother and little sisters
were constant reproach to her idle
ness. Write? A years devotion to
literature had barely supplied her with
pocket handkerchiefs. Clerk? Her
handwriting was bad, her accounts in
accurate. No: tights-or sulcide-or
matrimony! These were the only alter
natives.
At four the maid brought card to the
door. "John Walker" Melllcent read
incredulously.
In the parlor below tall figure rose
to meet her.
Look here, Milly," the man said de-
cisively. live come to take you back
with me tonight. You might as we'll
marry me now as any time. You ii only
waste time fooling round here"
1t was as though the walls of destiny
were closing in upon her.
II can't, john" she protested, IL
never promised, and you have no Ii
cense."
But there's no need of a license
here" he returned, ignoring the other
clause of the girls objection. There's
an old friend of mine, a Methodist min
lister, only block away, who's all
ready. Why, Milly, it's the easiest
thing in the world if only you make up
your mind to it. We'll get supper at the
Metropolis and take the next train back
to Boston. l must be at the Office to-
morrow
Millicent shook her head.
II can't decide ali at once, john" she
entreated. II must have time to
think"
She glanced at the black marble clock
on the mantel. Halfpast four. In half
an hour her future would be decided for
bor ,uoc almost rpliQF IN cbiff tba