The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-05-24

tinued. Improvement was shown at each
successive trial, and even the prima donna
behaved quite decently. Changes natural
ly suggested themselves to the author and
composeS, and q short scene with a few
solo lines was introduced into act 2 of
1.-The Wayside Inn" 1t seemed to strike
both Kenyon and Henley at once and alike
that Constance Marriott would do this lit
tle"bit part" nicely. Therefore that young
lady was made happy and proud by being
chosen to play this small part and also by
the knowledge that her name would no
longer be submerged and hidden in the
line-villagers, peasants, ETC., by the la
dies and gentlemen of the chorus. No, al
though it would be the last on the list
there it would read; ''Stella "a dairy maid)
Miss Constance Marriott"
Ii was quite pleasant, too, TO find that
the choice had been a good one, for Miss
Marriott sang and acted the little scene
charmingly. True, both Henley and Ken
yon gave her an unusual amount Of time
and attention in the early rehearsals, but
soon, however, she needed no further in
structiOns.
Thus it went on till the Friday night
before the Monday night on which "The
Wayside lnn' was to be first produced.
The local papers had been full of glorious
"advance notices" Of the event, and every
c atsalable had been secured for the open
ing night. Indeed the London journals
had taken up the story, and the musical
critics OF The Times, The Standard, The
Telegraph and a half dozen more of the
leading dailies in the metropolis and else
where had requested "seats to be set aside''
for them for the first night.
Henley was happy. Kenyon was conf
dent. As the former said, Everything is
coming our way" Had he foreseen Friday
nights happenings and their consequences
ho might have added, "And the devil came
also"
There is a very strict rule regarding
smoking in the dressing rooms of a thea
ter. Actors-yes, and actresses, so far as
cigarettes go-often break the rule, but if
caught it means n sure fine, unless for
some special reason there is a winking at
the oiIense, Now, Henley could forgive
anything almost but the ladies smoking
cigarettes in their dressing rooms. Too
much lace and tlimsy stutis hang around
or lie scattered about on the chairs not to
make it very dangerous if a lighted ciga-
rette should be dropped carelessly about.
1t might result in n dire and dread panic,
q co%nilagration, the loss Of many lives.
On the third floor of that part of the the
ater devoted to the dressing rooms in a
large room where some half dozen of the
chorus ladies were won't to attire them
selves for the stage between the acts Con-
stance Marriott sat alone on this Friday
night. There was no change of dress for
the beginning of the next act of the opera
being played, and the fair chorus girl had
sought seclusiOn from the chatter of her
companions in the dressing room. Per-
haps she was ''blue." At any rate, she
seemed to bothinking deeply of something
or somebody, and with closed eyes she
leaned her pretty head against the wall,
her chair carelossly tipped back. She was
aroused from her reverie by the sound of
voices, not near by-no, they seemed, al
though every word could be distinctly
heard, to be far away. Comparing sight
and sound, she heard as one sees through
opera glasses reversed. Miss Marriott was
mortal, a woman, and-well, she listened.
She cven blushed at the sound of the voices,
for she recognized the speakers.
Miss Blanyille, I've asked you n score
of times not to smoke cigarettes in your
dressing room. It's against the rules"
"You don't like it, chr" The sound of a
woman's voice came up to the listener.
mo" was the quick reply, a little loud.
or, "but that's not the reason of the rule
nor of my request. Smoking in the thea
ter invalidates our insurance. II T'--
"Ouri instrumentation Our insurancel'
was the sarcastic interruption.
81 beg your pardon. The insurance"
Hero came n pause.
"Will you be so kind as to throw that
cigarette away2''
Eyes, when pve smoked all l wish to of
it and not before" was the answer.
"Then, Miss Blanyille, 1 shall fine O
e5."
You will, will you? And I'll not pay
it," said the feminine voice.
81 think you WILL was the subdued
but firm rejoinder in male tones.
And know blamed well III not, an
swered the woman.
Just rs the conversation ended at this
point anothero the chorus girls came into
the dressing room where Constance Mar
riott had been listening.
"Oh, Mile" cried Constance Mt the
sight of her companion, "when you 70
down stairs will you tell Mr.. Henley Pm
ill., Ask him to excuse me the next act,
VIII your There's dear! don't want
to be fined"
"Why, Connie, are you sickS"
Yes, dear, I'm truly-my head aches
fearfully."~
"Of course I'll tell him. I'll come back
in a minute if I can help you any," said
Mile, running out and then returning to
say: Connie, dear, in the pocket of my
sack-the gray one-there's a bit of sher-
ry in n flask. Take n drop of it, dear. It'll
do you good.n
Constance didn't wait for the drink or
for Miles return. For only a moment
she pressed her ear against the wall and
listened. She heard Rose Blanville utter
q mans oath, and evidently talking to her
waiting maid heard the prima donna say:
''1he COMPOUNDED upstart! Fine me.
will he? | fancy he'll notl I'll pay him
out, Wait till Monday night! He'll find
leading lady out of town. WhereIl his
blooming opera be thcni'
"You can't do that, miss, can your"
the maid.
81 can't, can'tI2 You see if l can'tl Ny
mans been begging me to give up
here. He'll take me to America, he says.
He'll buy me a Doctors certificate. I'll
play Walker with Mr.. Henley, the duff
ferl tn be Tommy Dodd' with his old
opera"
That was enough for Constance. Poor
girl, she was in aquandary. All the Blan-
ville's talk might be mere boast. What
was Constance to dor She couldn't be n
and warn Henley. 1t would look,
too, like currying favor, and how could she
tell him thesource Of her information? OF
course she knew as well as If she had
shared In the scene all that had taken
place in the star dressing room on the first
hoor, knew who the speakers were as well
as il she had seen their lips moving.
She hastened from the theater. Saturday
morning n kind note from Henley advis-