The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-11-01

y
In the last three weeks everything had
been bad, and the climax at hand was
spoiled because 1t had been expected. When
Vance had been taken out of low comedy
part and put into the shoes of the dress
suit villain, he had been angry. He knew
he was not equal to tho part, and the stage
manager knew 1t, and 1t only took the
manager three weeks experience of poor
criticisms, poor houses and poor meals to
know 1t too But after he found 1t out he
did not put the cayse Of his trouble back
to the realms Of white grease paint and red
wigs, but coolly Informed him that after
Saturday night he could 60 to-some 9TH
er company, for all of him.
Not that Vance particularly minded do
ing that for the salarys sake, for 1t was
by no means muniflcent, and continual
series of cursings, hard notices and misap-
piled Misses had taken all the soul out of
his work. But certain heroine's part in
the same show was taken by Miss Eaton,
for whom Vance had great regard, and
being torn from her seemed even worse
than being torn from e35 week. At first
he had meant to ask her to go with him,
but he hud reflected and "counted tho
house" and decided that proposing mar
riage on So cents and no prospects took
more cheek than that possessed by badg-
cred heavy villain. At the last moment
he repented and wished that he had risked
1T anyway, but 1t was too late. After the
show there were just time for dressing and
nine minutes to catch the train for long
jump. If proposing was only matter Of
three minutes, he would have taken
chances even then, but q man with IS
cents feels more like proposing by tele-
graph than word of mouth at the best, and
three minutes-never!
When Vance had summed all this up, the
hero had come off the stag and tho orches-
ira was playing music that would have
made the theft of chicken seem blood
curdling. The buzz saw to be used In at.
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.
II the scaffold had been the end awaiting
him, he could not have felt worse. Tho
manager was in the audience, and tho IN
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
"Alone and unprotected" drifted In from
the stage, and with the consciousness that
Miss Eaton was waiting to die no 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 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 1t.
"You have trifed with me long
he said loudly. in accordance
with the directions Of the stage manager,
land now tell you for the last time DO be
more careful of what you say. Have you
no respect left for meP"
"No," she replied energetically, and
while the gallery was appaudng tho
doubtful sentiment, managed to get in to
him, You do not make this last Jump
with us2"
Unfortunately not he said ~ was
ordered to drop after this stand. And why
notp" This last in desperately angry
tone. Tho boys up stairs were growing en-
thusiastio.
why not'" came back the response to |
tho cue because you are coward and
rur; because you have treated me as no |
man of honor would treat woman; be. |
cause hate and despise you more than |
even can tell you; that Is why. We are j
1wfully sorry to lose you-awfully sorry"
BE careful. have warned you for the
last time, and If you DO not beg my pardon
or that will"-
"You will WHAT" 1t was coming too
asst for sido remarks now, and man in
ho dress circle dropped his programme
81 will will tic you to the log resting
here; will pull that lever; l will see
hat you never repeat your abuse in this
world. Never, never!'
"You will not for II you do as sure as
hero Is God above us will carry you
With me, If it is tho last thing we do. l
may die, but / will have company" There
vas round of applause, and he found
line to say, "Wil you really be sorry"
With noticeable emphasis on the "you."
II would care more than you Gun guess"
no snid.
"Thank you. You will do: no such
hing, and you know it. l give you ono
hanco and u last one. You must, you will
ear me, and what is more" in u Kissing
one, 'you will do what ask.'
"That depends on what you WISH" she
aid and then to him. DILL really
eally and truly wish l could go with
ou."
"You must accompany mer' he cried.
II will not, she answered, and in the
at calls that followed he was able to get
is enthusiasm well up and say earnestly:
You can go with me II you Will. l love
OIL, Miss Eaton-AIice, l love you, and
ave loved you with all my heart, and
am going to keep on loving
you will let me- And then in the
one made necessary by the line, evil you
e my wfc-will your" he whispered i'm.
lcdiately after taking UP his former con.
rrsution where he had left off. The man
ger noticed his oarnestness and Thought
nat he was really acting remarkably well.
hen Miss Eaton spoke
"No, never" she said, and then in
w voice, intense with emotion, II will"
"Then die, " said Vance, and 1t was no.
cod that when he threw her on the buzz
Nv it was oven more tcndorly than usual
nd that the kiss he forced on her was real.
nd when tho manager came back to
raise his work and tell him to remain
18th the company he found the heroine
ttiny on the lap of her would De murder
:. --Channins L. Pollock in Washington
Ost.
Pluckcu Rabbit.