New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-27
A DAUGHTER OF THESPlS
tcopvyloM 1891: by 7ne;7rfbune A''oc'aho"j
CHAPTER XVIII.
BY JOHN d. BARRY.

This was the first time during the seaSoi '''
had invited him to dinner the summer peiore 'e
had been a guest at Mrs. Applebys table al least
three times week. 1t was great coilceSSio'i'
and Seymour showed his appreciationb by accept
to tho invitation with alacrity. At table Mrs
cohn asked a great many questions ABOUT 'he
rehearsal. and IT formed the chief topic OF con-
y.,sation during the meal The Misses Corey
IN brilliant array listened eagerly. though they pre-
.ardsd N he absorbed In the antics Of Miss Gene
,,,ovo,s dog which in defiance OF Mrs. Appleby's
mandate and disregard of their promise the!
had again brought into the dining-room lie
,ras an ugly little mongre with shcepish eyes
and restless tail.
"Ain't he sweet Miss Genevieve cried % heI
sister. holding up the dog TO the cage Oh the
table Hes Jest the sweetest fing on the oiocN'
SO ne u.s. Yes. 90 is a sweet pet she went oi'
irving 10 bury her nose in the dogs race. 90 Is
the sweetest doggie on the block. AS she rel'e'-
ated this compliment Mrs. Appleby' crowned
with the sailor cap. entered the room ana siareu
a. her: but Miss Genevieve continued her ell
dearments with fine air OF uncohsclo"sneSs'
r,nauv the descendant Of the American In
dams. with a look of mingled rage ana oesp""
In her face, tore out Of the ROOM
..Ohr' cried Miss Genevieve-the sisters always
conversed in loud tones, If no one else were
nresant-"I felt so embarrassed lahst night; l
wos walking I'D 10 the pahzza with Mr.. Wells'
and Satan was running ahead of me- Poor
ann Satan: 90 sweet dogge! Well. what do you
,b,nk that woman did? She actually kicked the
dog. Just fahncy"
"She did," cried the elder eXcitediy WI nat
did you dor
"ITnder the circumstances. what could 90!
I just took Satan up in my arms ana husseu Mill
Oh no cried So an he so frightened lie
trembled like a leaf"
"And didn't Mr.. Wells say anything!
ono he didn't; not one word. You Kno" lie
doesn't like Satan. Just because Tom JORDAN
gave him to me, spose
EVELYN had noticed that for few DAYS Mss
Cenevieve had been cultivating the oIoau "
under the influence. presumably. of Mr. Theodore
Wells But she applied 1t IN way 'na' vas
necul,arlv her own, and produced very neon
gruous effect.
After dinner Seymour asked: DO you have TO
r.. through that three times a day.
ooh we're getting quite used to It," said Mrs.
Cohn with a smile.
while they were sitting on the piazza oswald
wehb came up the Jerusalem road. He was
about to pass the house, but on seeing them he
stopped and spoke: -
"Hov did YOUR last rehearsal so Off" he cried
from the road.
"Oh canitallyr' Seymour replied, stepping DOWN
from the piazza TO shake hands with him.
.eNon't YOU come and sit with us?' said Mrs.
cohn with an almost quaint politeness.
"ru give you a cigar. II you will cried Sey-
mour with a laugh And when Webo mad taken
a seat on the piazza, he went on:
..T'hat is there was only one hitch in the re-
hearsal I'm afraid we've lost our wrestler.
"Ah how is that" Webb asked hghtihs 'ne
bod
When the story of Mr.. McGuirk's disappear
ance was told he burst out laughing. I'm
afraid your theory is right" he said. Then he
added turning to Evelyn: Perhaps my services
would be available after all. Do you remember
our conversation. Miss Johnson?
EVELYN did remember II perfectly. .
81 thought of volunteering to do the Wrestler.
Webb laughed. isn't that what you say on the
stage? DO the Wrestler? But got frlghteheo
when heard Miss Finley was running the per
Torrance She's the terror of my life I've tI1ed
10 have her suppressed at the Telegraph once,
but it's OF no use. She's always running In little
paragraphs about me-
shes genius in her way" said Seymour.
blowing wreath Of smoke from his mouth
shes so unconscious OF her Offences WeDo
went on. "She seems to think people want 10 De
written about. She must have very low opn-
ION Of human nature. Stebbins. the editor OF the
Telegraph. once told me that when complalned
of her she said I posing.
but many people do like TO be written about,
Evelyn remarked 81 know plenty that do
"Yes, I'm afraid that is So" Webb assented
sadly Besides there s morbid rage for per-
sonalities nowadays. and it grows by what it
feeds OF course. editors say that the public
demands them"
That's one Of Miss Finley's expressions said
EVELYN. "Tve heard her use it several times this
week The public demands the personal note.
she's always saying. It's kind OF war-cry with
her"
"But believe the newspapers-the ed.tors-are
really to blame. The public didn't demand per-
sonalites until the papers created taste Tor
them
Madge Guernsey had been silently listening
to this conversation. At first she felt bewiidered
she thought that Mr.. Webb was very queer
sort Of person. anyway. Finally she spoke up:
'Well. don't care. think it's lovely TO be
written up in the newspapers. And for one
just adore personal gossip"
They all burst out laughing and Madge was
covered with confusion.
''well, / must say like your frankness. Miss
Guernsey" said Webb.
"Oh, Madge has been playing Miss Finley this
week. I've been watching you. Madee Sey-
mour exclaimed.
"Well, what If I have?' cried Madge. assert
ing herself again. It's all business. amt IT,
Mrs. Cohn patted Madge approvingly on the
back. "Oh, you're delightful" she said.
The night clear and warm; there was no
moon. but the sky was thick with stars. Sey-
mour proposed that they all go for a sail; but
Evelyn shook her head and the novelist excused
himself on the plea that he was expected home
at any moment
The girls have stayed for the performance"
he said. They're immensely excited over 1t.
They've been reading the play aloud with me.
It's very amusing 10 see them try 10 initiate you.
Miss Johnson. Emily really reads very well"
Evelyn acknowledged the compliment with a
smile and then turned to Seymour: Il don't think
we'd better go out tonight; we might get some
OF the dampness in our Threats. / need all the
voice 4 have for tomorrow.
Mr.. Holden had come trembling out OF the
screen door 20 the piazza, and as his wife hap
pened not to be with him, Ned at once seized
upon him.
II want to introduce Mr.. Webb to you Ned
cried in the old mans ear. "Mr Webb" he said
IN lower tone, "this is Mr. Holden who came 10
Cohassett forty years ago. II you want 10 please
him ask him II he has ever been here before
Mr.. Webb politely acted on Neds suggestion and
for least the thirtieth time since his arrival
at Appeby Terrace, the old man told his story.
a hoA q hat .rh IN.