New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-29
A DAUGHTER OF THESPIS.
(C,pry1oht is9L: BY The Tribune Anonat'onJ
CHAPTER XLVI
By JOHN d. BARRY.

sively that literary men could write plays, and
It was TO be hoped that other American novelists
would profit by Ewng's example and turn their
attention TO the theatre. which they had too long
neglected. To Evelyn the article seemed In style
and In analysis far superior to any OF the criu-
cisns that had appeared in the New-1ork
papers; Webb's sympathetic study OF Ewing
methods his eulogy OF Miss Gordon-he gave
Evelyn a half-dozen lines of commentator Tor
her naturaness and restraint-and his summing
I'm Of the whole performance were skilfully
done that she could hardly believe that the
article had been thrown off under pressure.
In spite OF his optimistic views. however. the
piece failed TO win the immediate success pre-
dicted for It, For the first few nights the audi
ences were large; then. when period of hot
September weather followed they fell off But
early in October they increased In SIZE though
on no evening for the next few weeks could the
theatre be said to be crowded Saunderson.
however seemed TO be satisfied with the re-
ceipts. At first II was reported that after three
weeks the piece would be taken off. and there was
consterna ton among the actors. who feared that
Just at the beginning of the season they would
be thrown out of employment. Then rumor
was spread that the management intended TO
force the run to four five months. and with
the prestige acquired in this way TO send the
company
in their weekly reviews expressed doubts as to
the chance Of such play as Deception" win
ming favor In any city outside New-York. with
the exception Of Boston; 1t was just the kind Of
play Boston would like. 1t may have been these
comments that inspired Helen Gordon with the
belief which she communicated to Evelyn, that
as soon as the piece was withdrawn In New
York 1t would be taken for run In Boston
Miss Gordon hoped they should go to Boston;
the Bostonans she was sure, would just rave
over the performance and she could rely on Mr..
Webb for another lovely notice. What splendid
man he was and what beautiful English he
wrote.
Evelyn was much worried by the rumors about
the fate Of the play; the possibility OF losing
her engagement at time when nearly all con-
tracts for the season had been made terrified
her 1t made her lay aside all thought of moving
from Mrs. Leary's TO more pretentious sur
roundngs: after Oswald Webb's call she had
been tempted to do this; she knew that she
should probably meet good many people while
the piece ran and that some of those who took
delight in running after actresses would want
to call on her; indeed, Clark Ewing had asked
II he might not call some Sunday afternoon;
Madge had urged her &c come 10 the boarding
house on lower Madison-dve. where she was v-
ing but Evelyn had decided that the expense
would be too great.
A few DAYS after the beginning OF her season.
Evelyn received at the theatre note from MISS
Coffey in the upright extravagant scrawl OF
the Fashionable boarding school This young
woman announced that she had been trying 70
write TO her dear Miss Johnson for days, but she
hadn't been able to get round 10 1t TIL morning.
she never had any time, any way no one ga
in New York-there were so many Things 10 uo
She and Geneveve were just wild over the play
and over her performance; It mad seemed 80
strange TO them that they had actually NVed IN
the same house with Mathilde and had talked
with her and at the same table with her
They told Pa and their gentlemen friends about
II: that was Pa who had been with them In the
box. Miss Coffey wanted ever so much 10 go
behind the scenes and tell Evelyn how much she
and Genevieve had enjoyed the play and how
lovely she'd been. but they hadn't dared besides;
Pa said they wouldn't be allowed in; Pa had
been real cross about II. But what Miss Corey
was writing about was 10 find out Miss Johnson $
address: she wanted 10 call on her. She ana
Genevieve had had a good time at Long Branch
and lots Of things had happened nut she
thing when she came 10 call And wouldn't Miss
Johnson please send the address right on! She
forgotten to say that Pa had just raved over
her. and Pa didn't often rave. except when ne
got mad over Genevieve's love affairs. And
Speaking of love affairs-the most wonderful
thing-but she'd tell about that when she called
She was in frghtful hurry; she had to go
downtown-to the dressmaker's. And wouldn't
Miss johnson send that address soon she hopeu
this would reach ner az the thedre' Out she
didn't feel sure.
After reading the note. Evelyn dropped II IN
her lap and smiled. In It's exuberance II was 80
Characteristic OF Miss COffey. II made her think
M her ACQUAINTANCE with the girls from those
first weeks when they mad snubbed her 50 un-
mercifully. Then by a natural transition sne
thought Of their change Of attitude and OF the
evidences the older sister had given OF her SUI
preme good nature. She lived over again that
terrible afternoon when Harold Seymour had
been drowned; the recollection made her feel
cold and sick She wondered what would nave
happened II he had lived; she might have been
his wife now. But her engagement for Deep
tion'' might have prevented their marriage Tor a
time: at any rate. 1t would have saved her from
a miserable compromise. Perhaps he would have
used the engagement as an argument ior
their marriage; they would both be IN
New-York and they might just as well
be only folly to put the marriage off longer. She
knew Just how he would have advanced these
arguments. seriously and loosely and persist
entity. Till he had beaten her down. But now, she
felt sure it had been all for the best. Best FOR
whom? For herself. perhaps. 1t was cruel,
selfish to take that view Of 1t with regard 10
him. He had had before him career OF triumph
OF constant adula ton, possibly OF wealth II ne
took to starring Yet even in that career she teIt
there was something gnoble. something unworthy
OF a man. This feeling might be unreasohdDie'
but II was strongly impressed upon her. Inc
actors life seemed to her vain and superficial;
in Harold Seymours case II never could become
much more; he merely skinned the surface OF
emotion. If she had married him. the knowledge
Of this would have chafed her; she would have
had to struggle with herself to argue II away,
and the struggle would have been futile. When
the glamour OF her romance had passed. what
would have been left? She had not dared TO
ask herself this question before; now she did
not dare to answer II.
She reused herself and proceeded at once TO
reply 10 Miss Coffeys letter. In a few days II
brought the young woman 10 her door. The
daughter OF one Of New-York's leading Republi-
cans was in wonderful array; her tight-ftting
tailor-made gown set off her figure 10 advdn-
taRe: rich fur boa twisted itself around her
neck and a saucy little bonnet rested on the top
OF her thick black hair.
II come the first chance / got" she cried when
Ttxra1 de1 IN g.
ceive her II just dying 10 see you. You're
1ust the same as ever. amt you?"
She clutched Evelyn by the shoulders and
planted kiss her lips
II don't think I've changed very much. Eve-
lyn smiled, while she was still In Miss Coffey's
fervid embrace. 1T isn't such long time since
LIZ.