Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-01-27


sometimes very serious thing"
"But what's the harmi" persisted the
streak OF sunshine, dancing about the
greenroom and shaking her blond curls.
~ might tell you a story" said the eld-
erly actress in a hesitating sort of a way.
"Well, II you might. you will" ex-
claimed Miss Mischief, dancing TO her side
and declaring ''if there is anything that
am fond of il Is flowers and candy and
newspaper taffy and stories"
"Oh, we all like good notice." observe
the old lady.
"Look here, now," warned the petite
. sprite. "look out that you keep to your
lines. must have that story, and as for
good notices l have read them in your
great big scrapbooks and wondered and
wondered why you are not rich and retired
instead of having to play hateful, dread
ful old women when you are so good and
sweet"
A sad expression passed over the face OF
the old actress as she let drop the remark:
"My child, that is part of the story"
"Then must hear it. You will tell me,
won't your"
"On two conditions, FIRST that you do
not carry out your proposed joke, and, sec
ond. that you accompany me home to din
ner after this rehearsal"
Miss Mischief-that was her pet name
--demurred at this for q moment and then
replied:
"The penalty goes with the pleasure;
but, to tell you the truth, don't know
which would have enjoyed the best-the
joke and the lark or your feast-but your
dinners are good, and l must have the
story"
The rehearsal was a long and trying
one, "under the authors immediate per
sonal supervision" IL that dramatist had
only heard the comments of the players in
regard to himself and his play. he would
not have been fatterd.
The saucy and spicy soubrette pro
nounced him ga horrid old poke"
Rehearsals must end some time, and this
particular one terminated at last, much to
the relief of all parties interested. The
dinner at the home Of her who played old
women followed, and then the merry Miss
Mischief cried:
"Now for the storyp
This is the way that II began, word for
word:
"Wheu I was chit about your age, /
was acting In a stock company and was
quite as full Of mischief as you are today"
"Then you must have been holy ter
ror," was the interruption and confession
The old lady placed her fingers on the
lips of Miss Mischief as a command of 81
lence and resumed:
"We were very jolly company and got
along splendidly. Ipartly account for that
because salaries were regular, and prosper
ity is an aid to happiness and good feeling
In theatricals az in other walks Of life."
"The walks of life are good, auntie, put
In Miss Mischief, shut those who have got
money ride. When / am star, am not
going to walk step-Il keep my pair,
and I'll cut dash'-
"Hush, or I'll cut the storyp
The warning had its effect. Again
"auntie" proceeded:
81 never In all my experience saw such
a number Of people bent on mischief in
the way Of sells and practical jokes, and /
must confess that had more than my
share of the fun"
"You betr' exclaimed the soubrette
and then she promised not to interrupt,
and again the story went on:
"One Of the ladies of the company had
bested me in prank and turned the laugh
on me before the rest, and had resolved
to get even at the first opportunity"
Miss Mischief had to interpolate,
"Goodr'
The word just jumped out of her ripe
red lips In spite of herself.
"One night this lady was on the stage
In a scene. / did not come on until later
In the act. / peeked into her dressing
room, which was next to mine. What a
careless woman, to be surel That was my
first thought. There, In front of her mir
ror, lay her valuable diamond ring. You
see, she was playing part where jewels
would be out Of place."
"Out of placer" pouted Miss Mischief.
NJ would wear diamonds II my part re-
luired me to dress In rags"
Yes, and that was just what that SOU
brette did do, and 1t made "auntie" and
the critics grieve to see 1t too.
The old lady did not seem to heed the
Interruption, and she appeared to be look
Ing far away as she spoke:
"The idea entered my head that 1t
would be rare fun to take the ring, keep it
for awhile and teach her a real good lesson
for her carelessness. did not wait for
second thought. secured the ring and
was back in my own dressing room quick,
laughing to myself at the fun that would
have over her discontinue and the benefit
that the lesson would be to her. | finished
dressing and making up and went down
10 the greenroom ready for my part.
When was on, remained to the end of
the act, and 1t did seem to me that the
time for the curtain to fall would never
come. While was speaking my lines it
occurred to me-rushed into my mind
that had left my purse, with her ring in
h, on my dressing room shelf, on the ledge
under the mirror. Dear, how was wor-
riedl When finished, / fairly few up the
stairs. There was great commotion
among the company.
Some one has stolen Miss Mason's
ringl'
"I heard that on every hand. A dread
ful fear came over me before got to my
own room.
"What do you think, child, The purse
was gonsi l can tell you the thoughts
came to me thick and fast. Perhaps some
one had not stolen the purse. Perhaps
some joker-another joker-had taken it
TO teach me as 1 had taken the ring to
teach her. At last came to think that it
must be a joke, and IL il was a joke it
would all come out in good time. What
was the use of spelling joker There was
still another act, and had TO hurry that |
should be ready in time.
az saw Miss Mason just before we went
on and condoled with her-that was help
ing out the joke. was on pins and needles
all through the act. To be brief''-
TO come down to cues" suggested the
soubrette.
Drop oi Fifteen MIInona