The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-18
A VILLAINS WOOING.

been bad, and the climax ut hand was
spoiled because it had been expected. When
Vance had been taken out of a low comedy
part and put into the shoes Of the dress
suit villain, he had been angry. He knew
he was not equal to the part, and the stage
manager knew it, and it only took the
manager three weeks experience of poor
criticisms, poor houses and poor meals to
know it too. But after he found it out he
did not put the cause of his trouble back
to the realms of white grease paint and red
wigs, but coolly informed him that after
Saturday night he could go to-some 9TH
er company, for all of him.
Not that Vance particularly minded do
ing that for the salary's sake, for it was
by no means munifcent, and a continual
series of cursings, hard notices and misap-
piled Kisses had taken all the soul out Of
his work. But a certain heroine's part in
the same show was taken by Miss Eaton,
for whom Vance had a great regard, and
being torn from her seemed even worse
than being torn from $50 week. At first
he had meant to ask her to go with him,
but he had reflected and counted the
house, and decided that proposing mar
rage on So cents and no prospects took
more cheek than that possessed by a badg-
cred heavy villain. At the last moment
he repented and wished that he had risked
it anyway, but it was too late. After the
show there were just time for dressing and
nine minutes to catch the train for a long
jump. If proposing was only matter of
three minutes, he would have taken
chances even then, but a man with 50
cents feels more like proposing by tele-
graph than word of mouth at the best, and
three minutes-neverl
When Vance had summed all this up, the
hero had come off the stage and the orches-
ira was playing music that would have
made the theft of a chicken seem blood
TN
tempting to murder the heroine was max
ing noise that justified its name and left
a margin. Vance got up and brushed him
self before trying murder for the last time
If the scaffold had been the end awaiting
him, he could not have felt worse. The
manager was in the audience, and the un-
happy, would be scOundrel would have
given all of his false jewelry to see him die
of apOplexy in time to queer the show for
the evening.
''A1one and unprotected drifted in from
the stage, and with the consciousness that
Miss Eaton was waiting to die he walked
past the wing to the front with angry
strides. The heroine looked at him pity
ingly, and he turned away and wished it
were manly to weep Then she delivered
her first line, and in moment they were
Quarreling. Everything went smoothly
until within a few minutes before time to
ring down the curtain, when he discovered
that she wanted to speak to him and de-
cided to let her. He had line coming,
and he walked up close to her before say
ing it.
enough" he said loudly, in accordance
with the directions of the stage manager,
land now I tell you for the last time to be
more careful Of what you say. Have you
no respect left for me:''
No." she replied energetically, and
E-hi ho bo
doubtful sentiment, managed to get in to
him, You do not make this last jump
with us?''
Unfortunately not, =" he said. at was
ordered to drop after this stand. And why
not?'' This last in a desperately angry
tone. The boys up stairs were growing en-
thusiastic.
why not9'' came back the response to
the cue. Because you are a coward and
cur; because you have treated me as no
man Of honor would treat woman; be-
cause hate and despise you more than
even I can tell you; that is why. We are
awfully sorry to lose yOu-awfully sorry
Be careful. have warned you for the
last time, and if you do not beg my pardon
for that will'-
you will what?" It was coming too
fast for side remarks now, and man in
the dress circle dropped his programme.
Il will will tie you to the log resting
Gu6E6s L Will pun bAi11 lever " Ii SCO
that you never repeat your abuse in this
world. Never, never!"
You will not, for if you do as sure as
there is a God above US l will carry you
with me, if it is the last thing we do. 1
may die, but will have company" There
was a round of applause, and he found
time to say, "Wiu you really be sorry?''
with a noticeable emphasis on the you.
Il would care more than you can guess,
she said.
Thank you. You will do no such
thing, and you know it. give you one
chance and a last one. You must, you will
hear me, and what is more, - in a kissing
tone, ''you will do what 1 ask
THAT depends on what you wish, - she
said and then to him. OIL really
really and truly wish 1 could go with
you
'tYou must accompany me!'' he cried.
81 will not, - she answered, and in the
cat calls that followed he was able to get
his enthusiasm well up and say earnestly:
You can go with me if you will. 1 love
you Miss Eaton-Alice, 1 love you, and
have loved you with all my heart, and
and-snd I am going to keep on loving
if YOU will let me- And then in the
tone made necessary by the line, 'Wiu you
be my wife-will your he whispered i'm
mediately after taking up his former con
versation where he had left OIL The man
ager noticed his earnestness and thought
that he was really acting remarkably we'll
Then Miss Eaton spoke.
mo, never" she said and then in
low voice, intense with emotion, II will. -
''Then die, - said Vance, and it was no
ticed that when he threw her on the buzz
saw it was even more tenderly than usual,
and that the kiss he forced on her was real
And when the manager came back to
praise his work and tell him to remain
with the company he found the heroine
sitting on the lap of her would be murder
er.-Channing L. Pollock in Washington
Post.
PIucIked Rabbit.
"You look tired, my dear, said Mr..
Newlywed to his wife, who is a college