New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-13
A DAUGHTER OF THESPIS
BY JOHN d. BARRY.
COPYRIGHT: 1891: By The Tribune ASseeidtion)
CHAPTER XIII.

Mrs. Webb continued III so long that Evelyn
began to think the plan they had made Of read
ing together would never be carried out But
one evening she received a note in a trembling
feminine hand asking her to take luncheon next
day at the house on the hilltop; 1t was signed
Constance Wilson Webb Evelyn interested
by the middle name 1t belonged to family
that she had often heard of at the Museum; one
OF the Wilson's had some financial interest in
the property he. IL said. differed from most
of the Wilson men by his extreme sobriety;
the others were notorious for their extravagant
and corrupt living. The family, of the oldest
and richest in Boston was revertd by those who
cared more for place than for worth. 1t seemed
strange to Evelyn that Mrs. Webb should belong
to such bad lot" as Mrs Cohn might have
called them.
Evelyn had gone over the part OF Rosalind so
often with Roscoe and he had studied II so
closely in the privacy of her room that she felt
able to bring out clearly the full meaning of the
lines. So when she started out for the Webbs,
she had no hesitancy in taking a copy Of "As You
Like 1t A" with her. Mrs Webb in her note had
said nothing about the reading: but she might
feel in the mood for hearing a few scenes of the
play
When she left the house Mrs. Cohn was sitting
on the piazza. and she followed Evelyn with
wistfu eyes up the Jerusalem road.
IL wish l were going with you" she cried, way
ing her hand
For a moment Evelyn felt desire that her
friends wish might be granted. She dreaded
encountering Mrs Webb; there no knowing
Just how the invalid would behave and II would
be horrible to go alone through such a scene as
she had witnessed during her first call. Mrs
Webb, however. she found TO be in the best or
spirits and with none OF the artificial brilliancy
Of eye that had previously confirmed some Of
Mrs. COINS suspicious She ief; her book on the
hall table and as Mrs Webb did not refer to
the reading she said nothing about having
brought it, The invalid announced that she had
invited Evelyn that her two nieces might meet
her. Miss Johnson remembered the two nieces
she had spoken of the other day. didn't she?
They were sweet girls. and Evelyn would be sure
to like them; they her brothers children
their names were Hester and Emily. Mrs Webo
had told them all about Miss Johnson; they mad
been very much interested and had expressed a
great desire to meet her; they had never known
an actress. ao,r. Gotta Nrs
Webb but we don't take luncheon till 2. 1t was
Just little trick of mine I'm great schemer.
as you'll find out when " know me me better S6r
So l sent Oswald off with the girls. They've
gone down to the rocks. and now we can have
nice cosey chat
Her idea of a cosey chat consisted apparently
OF talking about herself She began one Of her
monologues stopping only now and then TO take
breath and to ask Evelyn II her views were d hot
agree with her. for it was evident that Mrs. Webb
was one of those women who could not brook
should serve echoes to their own thoughts:
Her petulant manner with her husband showed
how she chafed under the expression OF opin-
ions which she herself did not fully share.
Yet 1t was evident that the strength OF his nina
had largely mastered hers. Many Of her opinions
were plainly not of her own making: they were
stamped with the impress Of a finer intelligence.
Mrs Webb told how she had first met her hus-
band her fondness for explaining. for inter
Dreting him showed she was still in love with
him. 1t was soon after his first novel appeared.
while he was still reporter on Tine Argus. Her
uncle Farnsworth Wilson. had an interest in the
paper: he the richest member Of her family,
and ii seemed TO her that he had an interest
in everything: Well. Farnsworth took Oswald
up and had him constantly at his house: 1t was
there she had first met hm-one night at
dinner party. They had fallen in love at first
sight or rather she had fallen in love with him.
AZ first he hadn't seemed to care for her. though
he afterward said he really had cared. but he
was afraid to show it-she was so rich. Wasn't
II absurd? Well, his novel was very successful
people did talk about ii; Uncle Farnsworth
was immensely proud Of him and had him made
literary editor Of the paper He came to her
house and finally they got engaged. And then
the trouble began. The Wilson's, all Of them
with the exception OF Farnsworth. yes, her
father included. objected 10 the match. said II
was disgrace for Wilson. a Wilson Of Boston.
to marry low reporter from the West Ana
mind you, he wasn't reporter then. he heid
a very fine position on the paper. or course, his
salary wasn't much But what Of that? She
was her fathers only child and her father had
enough for both Of them. At any rate, she was
determined to marry him In spite Of the whole
lot When Oswald heard Of the trouble they
were making he wanted TO give her up: ne fet
dreadfully hurt that they should think he WASH I
good enough; he was as sensitive as a girl. Oh.
they had had such a scene together. 1t was In
the big drawing room at home; she should never
forget IT, never! Oswald declared that he
thought In Boston the only aristocracy was an
aristocracy Of brains. He was just as angry!
Miss johnson could never imagine it-he was so
changed now, so much milder. Well he said
he'd give her up. hed go back TO the West. ned
shake the dust Of Boston off his feet and he'd
never come back. In the West they made no
pretentons and they respected brains and char
acter. Oh II was dreadful! She thought she
was going to lose him. and she cried and took on
ard begged him. If he insisted going back
TO the West to take her with him. she hated
Boston. too; she should be glad to shake the dust
of Boston off her feet. OF course. Miss John
son could understand, she wouldn't have left
boston for the world. and life in the West would
have killed her. But love makes US say,and do,
too--a great many queer things: Miss Johnson
would find that out At any rate he Gained
down and promised That he wouldn't leave her
behind. And he was actually going 10 resign
from the ARGUS" and carry out his threat but
Uncle Farnsworth wouldn't let him. and talked
with her father and got him to give his consent
10 the engagement. They had been married very
privately she had wanted public wedding but
Oswald had put his foot down he wouldn't
"show Off" he said. before people that despised
him. wasn't 1t silly? They all worshipped him
now the proudest of the Wilson's. But she
thought Oswald had never forgiven them. He
had such strange disposition: she couldn't
understand II sometimes. II nurt him so because
her family didn't have higher appreciation OF
Only professional people regarded literature in
maj way. Wasn't 4 kind Of trade like any
thing else? This writing all the time-Mrs Webb
Thought Il was horrid. II really seemed almost
vulgar TO her. to expose ores inner life in books.
especially In novels. People who wrote great
deal couldn't help doing that. After their mar
riage Oswald had written one novel. He used
10 shut himself up all day in his library 1t was
dreadful; for months she saw practically nothing
of him. She had scolded and scolded. but TO no
purpose. 1t was such unnecessary labor; they
rad penty OF money and the second book was
not nearly so successful as the first The papers
said such horrd things. such personal things
abuut Oswald. that he had given himself over 10
Mammon and all that 1t worried Oswald so:
ne used to get dreadfully depressed about II.
Whenever an unfavorab.e notice about the story