The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1895-05-01
IN THE GREENROOM.

Sophie Cherubin, who personated Ma
rinette, was still ON the stage, Fabreo-
you know, perfectly we'll, Fabreo, the
deputy with the golden beard who has
so young an air despite his 40 years
half opened the door Of the dressing
room without knocking and called out,
"CuckooP'
He was not little disappointed TO
find the dressing room empty. Then
Constance, the old dresser, came out
from behind the screen:
''f monsieur will have the goodness
to be seated, madame will return i'll five
minutes +"
Fabreo let himself drop into tapes
tried armchair, crossed his legs, tapped
his patent leather boots with the tip of
his cane and lost himself in reflections,
while the old woman arranged the lit
tie things on the dressing table.
After all, for what had he come
here? Not from love. Hardly from de-
sire. One day, when he had urged his
claims, she had said to him, with q
show of reason:
Listen, Fabrec. You are very nice,
| Uub i udN6 4O3 WV VI QGUbSt hho
for you the beautiful days of Panama
are finished. Come here to gossip when
you will, but we will never be other
than good comrades. Frankly she was
right. Nevertheless an attraction drew
him always in that direction, content to
obtain here and there little privileges.
He amused himself near this woman Of
profession so beautiful and gay and
laughed heartily at her sallies of wit
and oynicism, and then again it was
necessary to kill time. While meditat-
ing Fabreo regarded mechanically the
dresser and was brusquely dragged from
his reverie by the face of the little old
woman that he saw reflected in the
glass. What ruinl What heart break
ing uglinessl Dry as a stick, wrinkled
as winter apple, soanty hair the color
of ashes and eyes like the dead. To
think she had been woman, perhaps
pretty, doubtless loved
She ought to be 65 years old, and
Fabreo, who was kind hearted, pitied
this lamentable old woman working un-
til the end. He felt also a disgust to see
this sorceress in her shabby black touch
ing the laoes, the silver brushes, the
blond tortoise shell combs and all the
delicate and perfumed objects do luxe
which shone on tho dressing table of
the actress. Suddenly the door opened,
and Sophie Cherubin appeared with q
rose III ner hair. The beautiful bruno
was as fresh bouquet and sparkling
with youth, beauty and the pretense of
effrontery.
"Ah, Fabrec," cried she joyously,
"you have come just in time. We are
going to give little farce at q benefit
at the Gate. They will call for us soon,
but in the meantime we will talk while
Constance prepares my things. Sit down
and be good.
Tho dresser had already passed behind
the screen. They joked, and, according
to her won't, Sophie began to tease the
handsome deputy about the number Of
his successes in the theatrical world.
Was it still true his devotion to the
singer at the Nouveaute's? But Fabreo
was discreet. The veritable lady's man
is always SO, because he loves women
for themselves and not from silly van
ity. To Sophie's questions he responded
only by pleasantries, admitting nothing.
She became little vexed. How sus-
picious he wasl Truly? She had never
been able to make him recount one Of
his successes behind the scenes-not
onel "Eh bien, ma ohere, " responded
Fabrec, smiling, "since you are so tena-
cious on this point am going to tell
you about my first passion. -
"For an actressf"
Eyes, only warn you it did not hap
pen in the Rue de Richelieu and the
heroine was not societaire. was 10
years old, l had just begun my law
studies, but ] was naif and timid. One
evening / went to the little theater of
the Gobelins, where VAS overcome
with love for the young premiere,
Blanche Lilas, the moment she appear
ed on the stage. Was she young? Was
she pretty? ask myself today when
know that the beauty of al actress may
disappear with some cold cream and two
towels, and that ingenues generally
have son who is lieutenant Of oayal-
ry or O sous prefet But then Mile.
Blanche Lilas appeared to me the most
fascinating of women. no longer lived
but to dream of her and then to admire
her upon the boards of the Gobelins, the
Montparnasse or Grenelle-for the troop
moved about sold all my old books to
the stallkeeper in the Rue Cujas. and
thanks to Blanche Lilas know all the
plays of that day. All, she was charm
ing in Polderi She is the only woman
for whom have ever made verses. They
were execrable, but sincere, and have
never understood how had the audacity
to send them to her. The vacation was
spent with my family in the country.
| passed it counting the days, and when
returned to Paris l ran to the Gobe-
Inns, then to Montparnasse, then to Gre
nelle The name of my idol did not fig
ure upon one Of the posters. The anx-
iety, the frightful anxiety, that l felt
gave me the courage to enter the theater
and make inquiries, when found that
Mile. Blanche Lilas had not been re-en-
gagged, and that they did not know what
had become Of her. Eth bien, ma chere
nmie, believe me. if you will, that that
day / felt the most miserable, the most
bitter grief OF love, and for long months
was not oonsoled.
"And is that alp" asked the come
3ienne.
"Without doubt +"
''Fabrec, you are hoaxer, and You
mock me with your souvenirs of your
student days
Suddenly the comedienne's maid in
terrupted them, saying:
Madame, madame, the monsieurs
and the ladies are getting into the car
riages. They are waiting only for you. "
And the voice of the manager was heard
mp tho stairway:
| mile. Cherubini Quick We are
later'
In a moment the waiting woman had
enveloped Sophie in her furs, taken the
packages from the hands of the dresser,