The Van Buren press., 1897-01-23
THE PROMPTER'S STORY.

Ii II L llO4ul LII ~ ~ L OIt .
A matter of business took me to
the theater. 1t concerned, as nearly
as / can remember-but why not con-
fess that l remember it perfectly? /
went there TO claim a manuscript that
| had left several weeks before. | ar
rived just at the end of the first act Of
the new piece. The actors coming
from the stage hurried into the eorri-
dor that led to their dressing rooms,
and through the door communicating
with the front of the house the man
aeer appeared, followed by two or
three persons. | went to him and ex-
planned the object of my visit.
"Your manuscript he repeated.
"Hase | a manuscript of yours?'
Don't you remember It? 1t was the
piece in which
"Ah, yes, your little comedy. Ask
Roseyal. ! gave him a package of
manuscripts just now, and yours must
be among Them and the manager went
his way, calling back to me: "See Rose
val, my dear fellow, see Rosevall"
\ scene rising suddenly between us
prevented me from following him. /
started back, and almost bumped into Il
scene shifter who was carrying prac-
teal rock to put on in the next act. !
avoided him, and called out: m. Rose
val?" but he was already gone, and
was one of his comrades who replied.
IN. Roseyal, the prompter? Here he
comes now-the little man with the
beard
| approached the individual who was
thus pointed out to me. He had
beard, to be sure, but such poor little
beard-gray, sparse and ill-kempt, on
a pale face lined with care.
Have | the honor of addressing NJ
Hoseval?"
YES, yes" he said, with an uneasy
and hurried air; what is ito"
Il have come to claim manuscript
"0h, yes NJ. Roseval interrupted.
"lf you will wait moment" and,
npostrophizing some one behind him:
"iiave YOU rung the bells, juneau"
"Twice."
as Nine. Adams ready?"
mo, but she says she has plenty Of
time"
'Oh, that womanl" cried NJ. Rosevnl.
"She's beginning again. Run and tell
herrno, stop-l'll go myself" and he
hurried down the corridor. As he dis
appeared in one direction, the manager
came up from the other:
well, when IS it going to begin?
Rosevall Where Is Roseval?"
: Whoever had heard the tone of that
phrase would have recognized in it the
voice of the master. Roseval heard ii
from afar, and, running up out of
breath, exclaimed:
Here | am, sir, here am"
Here | am, sir, here am" mimiclled
the manager in whining voice. Then
he added, dryly, in his ordinary tone;
Are we going to have the rest of il
tonight, or not TIL tomorrow
The stage manager mumbled that
Nine. Adams was not ready yet
''She would be-" replied the manager,
IF you had kept an eye on her"
"But, sir"
Come, come, no remarks. Get them
ON the stage, and let's begin"
At this there was great silence.
The manager, passing before group
of respectful chorus girls, brusquelv
opened the door of his box. The
prompter cried:
Ready" the curtain rose, and Nine.
Adams emerged upon the stage.
had taken my stand little to one
side. Roseval seemed to have forgot
ten me completely. With his ear
cooked toward the stage, his right hand
on the knob of the door through which
Nine. Adams had just passed, he held
in his left hand manuscript in which
he avtentively followed the progress OF
the piece on the stage.
All at once he saw me. Excuse me, s.
said he in a low voice, but l cannot
bulge from here. l have to-"
He suddenly sprang aside, at the
same time opening the door for the
majestic passage of Nine. Adams.
"What fool of an audience" ex-
claimed the actress. as soon as the door
closed. They don't take a single one
Of my points" then suddenly: by the
WY, III wager you have forgotten my
POWDER"
NO. madam. have il with me" Rose
val replied, drawing from his pocket d
little box wrapped in paper, which he
presented TO the famous comedienne
hut almost Immediately he added
ooh, excuse me. am mistaken" draw
ing another object from his pocket,
Here it is, this is yours" and, taking
back the package Nine. Adams was be-
ginning 10 unwrap, he exclaimed;
This is some boabons for my little
girl
"BaaboAs, eh9 You will spoil youF