The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-04-21
CopyRreHr By AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION.
CONTINUED

on may 20 10 tnc ucNl! sdlu JOCt-
lyn. pushing back the check book. though
not without I'M effort. ''I'll have you to
know that moneys not the only thing
I'm after I've got my own views about
the girl. and I'll manage the business my
own way"
The impresario detached the check
from the book. ard having rolled il into
an allumette lit his cigar with it.
That's all right" said he. crushing the
burnt remnant under his foot, "only
don't You talk TO me no more about bet
ting. | know man when ] clap eyes
on him, and know woman, too and
! guess you'll have time TO grow to he Il
bigger rascal than you are before you
rope in my prima donna! She's meet for
your hetterS. my boy. and they're not far
Ia look ior!'
Jocelyn contrivcl to maintain con.
temptuously indifferent demeanor. but
IL is certain that whoever made money
out of the impresario was Obliged to
earn it in one way or another.
Meanwhile Miss Beatrix Randolph, or
the Mariana as all the world now called
her, was in more cheerful spirits than
Dinsmores. She liked the Dinsmores;
she was inclined to like almost every
body. She tried to take Il charitable
view even of the young gentlemen in
high shirt collars who complimented her
SO badly and said things which she knew
We're witty only because they laughed at
them. She reflected that she knew moth
ing of the freemasonry of modern so.
ciety, and that probably the young gen
tlcmen intended only to be polite and
entertaining. Mrs. Bcmax, when ap-
pealed to on the subject. said thcy-Mr.
Whitman and the rest of thcm-were
wealthy and well connected, and that il
was desirable for n lady connected with
the stage to cultivate their acquaintance.
"a little social relaxation is an excel
! lent thing for you, my dear mademoi-
selle," declared this worthy lady. land
capital way to get MD of that little
| frigidity and stiffness YOU have brought
! with you from the country. Ladies con
nected with the stage have to work hard,
! but, en- revanche, they are allowed more
| freedom in social intercourse than other
people. 1t will be quite proper for you
! to let Mr. Whitman drive you home
from rehearsal in his brougham if l am
along. or even without me ut pinch.
All the others do ut. You will moi let
I him take any liberties, of course; but
| don't betray any timidity: he wouldn't
understand it,
at is one thing for me to do as like"
} replied mademoiselle, "and another thing
Z for me to let other people do as they like.
don't mean to be stiff, but there is no
reason why should be bothered either.
at will be no bother when you are
used to it," Mrs. Bemax replied; but at
| the time she did not advocate her view
any farther.
The finishing touches were being put
to the theatre, and Geoffrey Bellingham
was constantly on hand to oversee the
work; consequently he and the prima
donna must needs meet occasionally. He
said very little to her. and was generally
very busy when she might have entered
into conversation with him; but she had
an impression that he kept his eyes upon
her often when she was not looking Mt
him; and his appearance Mt the theatre
was generally coincident with the hour
of her rehearsals. One day after she
had been singing grand scene very eff
fectively she happened to catch his eye
in the stage box, where he stood leaning
against the curtained partition, abstract
edly knotting and nnknotting piece of
tape. His gaze was so earnest, and ut
the same time so melancholy, that the
prima donna, obeying an impulse that
was partly curiosity, but partly some
thing else. went round to the box when
the scene was over. and met him as he
was coming out.
"How unhappy yOu looked" she said.
"Was anything wrong"
He stared at her for moment, and
said ironically. "Oh, you're great
artiste!'
~ mean to be" she answered smiling.
"a great actress, too! l should like
to see you when you are yourself"
~ am myself nOw," replied Mile.
Mariana. Then she remembered that
she was not telling the whole truth
and blushed and looked down.
"Then you must he q remarkable
woman! But you probably don't know
that you always appear to me like .
fresh and innocent American girl.
can't see anything foreign Or-stagey in
your talk or manners. Extremes meet,
suppose, aad. like Paul. you are all
things to all men,"
This speech made the young diva feel
that the world was very wide and very
cruel, and tears came into her eyes.
She was alone; there was no one to an
swer for her or to protect her. She
would not have minded so much what
most people thought Of her, but It would
have been great comfort to her il this
man, at any rate, had by some divine
faculty of vision been able TO see through
the disguise that veiled her from the