The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-06-30
LESTRE'S MASCOT.

city of Berlin when they first saw her
hitchcd beside dog 10 cart, upon which
beet roots and csbbages were piled high,
while upon the pinnacle OF the pile Herr
Lausbcrg was seated, smoking quietly and
overseeing things when the cart stopped
and the dog lay down TO rest, while the
young girl, Freda, went TO the back doors
OF tho residences and sold vegetables, or
II sho did not sell them received sharp
reprimnnd and blow on her return to the
cart from Herr Lausberg.
"Byrsa, cried Lestre, the star actress
Of tho troop. ''do you sec thatl Isn't It
too dreadfuiS What can the authorities
be doing to allow such thingf II makes
me shudder"
Thus called upon, Byrsa, alternately
strong man and low comedian upon tho
boards, came slowly across the parlor, and
insinuating his burly head and shoulders
between the two actresses gazed out into
the street.
"The fellow must be the snapper TO
mighty poor whiplash," he said at last
"But don't suppose we could do any
thing TO help her. Tho man II most
likely the girls father, and II we should
bring him I'D before the authorities the
Judge would shut his eyes three thicknesses
upon us and give us polite notice to quit
the empire or take tbs cold pisen' of It,
displeasure.
'I will do somethingl' replied LeGtrs,
stamping her foot decidedly. II will not
gaze upon such sight and be silent.
shall speak to the old wretch concerning
his brutality and speak sharply too"
''Be careful. We are In Berlin and not
In New York." continued Byrsa- But
Of course my warning is useless. You will
do as you like even II tho result be . cell
In German prison, he added bitterly.
Lestre understood every working of that
faithful heart, but shs slipped perversely
from the window and turned her back
upon him while she nestled into her cap
and long cloak Of swansdown and left the
apartment
Byrsa, after thinking . few seconds,
drew on his fur lined overcoat and warm
Russian cap and hastened down the hall
to the side door of the great hotel, deter
mined II possible to deter Lestre from her
object.
He was too late. He met her at the door
with the young German girl In tow, while
o little way down the street Herr I4ausberg
was hustling away beside his cart, having
descended from his thrcne to give his dog
q better chance TO draw his load alone.
~ have got herl' cried Lestre triumph
antly. ''She Is mine now, my mascot,
Byrsal'
How did you managei" asked he curl
ously.
"Oh, knew better than TO pitch into
him as ] should have done into you"
smiled Lestre. "I Simply. bought her for
a5. He IL her stepfather and seemed to
be glad to be rid Of her."
The little actress did not mean to enact
the part of heavenly being to the little
Freda. She only meant to act toward her
as had Lew Mortscript toward herself when
she had been In straits which she never
could have got out Of had 1t not been for
him.
He had educated her and had given her
money to go upon the stage respectfully,
all on account of her pretty face and =
promise sometime to marry him, and II
this were not acting the part OF an "angel"
Lcstre had no idea what was.
True, she tisiiked him and shuddered
even when she saw him In her audiences
smiling upon her, and there was some one
else who, II he only had the money
Here, with great Sigh, Lestre checked
herself Mr.. Mortscript was In Paris now,
but he had telegraphcd that he would join
the troop soon. How could her thoughts
lead her into such disloyalty toward himf
Lestre has salary enough for six now,
and she would expend some Of 1t upon
Freda.
Zone seldom hears of feminine angels
on the stage" she thought, 'but twill be
better for Freda can never importuns
her to marry me-"
The young German girl thought her
benefactress veriteble angel as years
went by, and she grew from q clumsy little
waiting maid into successful young con-
cert singer under Lestres supervision.
The troop had kept together, with Mort
script joining them sometimes for an hour
sometimes for an entire season, never
changing In all this time toward Lcstte,
who often was called upon to explain to
him that success for her meant freedom
from the martial tie. The idea of an act
ress whose future was not all before her
or, worse still, an actress with family.
But he kept her bound by her childish
promise, and once behind the scenes when
Byrsa, on bonded knee, begged her TO
break that promise and think only of him
and the quiet home that he would make
for her. now that his fortune as well as
her own was o good one, she turned
white, white face to him, and as she warn
cd him to silence with one small hand
whispered: ~.
II have taken his money"
They went on, and laurel wreath be-
gan to unfold Its leaves for Freda, and one
evening, whom she had been recalled again
and again, and Lestre had retired to the
farthest corner Of the theater to get AWAY
from the noise Of the excited audience
Byrsa sought her ought, and with a finger
ON his lip drew her with him TO a niche
where just on the other side of q half clos
ed scene two people were oonversing.
What are they doing--rehearsing'"
asked I.estre, when she Ind recognized the
fact that Mortscript was repeating love
words In Q most excited manner to the lis
tener
"waitl" begged Byrsa, with his finger
still upon his lip.
But this cannot bcp' camc TO them In
the voice Of Frcda. "You are engaged to
Lestre, my benefactress. could not do
such thingl'
4 ~ IA