The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-02-06

heard from her, and knew nothing Of her
plans until found her in this road COM
pany. Her being with ii surprised me,
but less than if I had not guessed how un-
pleasant her home life had been made for
the last three years. | resolved to renew
the old acquaintance, and arranged for that
supper.
And the results p
Excellent, so far. Some misunder-
standings have been cleared up 1t seems,
almost as if, after losing our way for so
long a time, we had once more got the
bearings of the road
"Then it ought to be easy to get back
to it again
Not yet, not yet Tanning replied,
Things can change nightly in long
time. Three years mean thirty six months.
Perhaps you never thought of that.
In the following week, the second of its
engagement, the company fortunes failed
to improve The size of the audiences de-
creased steadily; by Wednesday night it
became question whether it was worth
while to play to the handful of people who
had bought tickets. Montmorency-Smyth
barely succeeded in persuading the owner
of the house to oper the doors on Thurs
day, and that the opera was given on Fri
day was due solely to the influence Of
Tanning. The members Of the company
several days earlier had moved from their
hotel to lodging house, as uncomfortable
as it was cheap. Montmorency -Smyth
had parted with his fur-trimmed pea
jacket, the disappearance Of which he tried
to account for by long argument on the
dangers of clothing the body to an excessive
degree More than once l found him
gnawing away at an apple, fruit he de-
clared to be peculiarly rich in nourishing
qualities The principal people Of the cast
disposed of part of their possessions some
of them secured loans from Tanning. How
the chorus lived out the week was a
mystery.
All through the performance that Fri
day night Tanning struggled brayely to
win over the proprietor of the theatre to
agree to open the house the following day,
but the case was too clear against him.
1t was matter Of dollars and cents. The
proprietor was courteous, but firm, declining
positively to part with any more valuable
money for sentimental reasons. The last
act was almost ended when Tanning brought
the ultimatum to Montmorency- -Smyth,
who was standing in the flies, and then
passed Oh, as | understood very well, to
bear the tidings 10 Miss Yunella.
''That is bad news, said to Montmo-
rency -Smyth.
Sir | have survived more grievous
blows" he answered. They may crush,
but they cannot kill But little while
and l shall be avenged. With the peer
less Yunella-'
"Then you expect her to remain with
you?''
.sNTost assuredly! \ concert tour, Il
trifing matter, grant you, but lucrative,
then a period of study under great masters,
but also under my general supervision, you
understand, and then the famous prima
donna and her discoverer!
He bowed low and solemnly, as if 8alut-
ing his future greatness.
''Oh, if that is all arranged [ wish you
success, said, but [ wondered whether
Tanning would rejoice. ''And how about
the rest of the company?;
II am sorry for them, but tis the sur
vival of the fttest. y
but is it settled absolutely that Miss
Yunella is to go with you?''
Not quite absolutely, but practically
settled" he replied, bit disconcerted,
apparently, by the repetition Of the query.
':Not ten minutes ago [ sought her pledge
to such an agreement, Sir, and she, admit
ting her obligations to your humble ser
want, informed me that she would almost
surely acquiesce, asking merely few min
utes for consideration before making d
binding promise She is, Sir, noble
woman. Her soul is in her chosen pro-
fession. | know her sex, Sir, and | am
sure she will follow the path to glory. .
l heard rustling sound, and, looking
over Montmorency -Smyth' head, saw Miss
Yunella and Tanning SO close to us that
they must have heard the little man s
words My friend laid his hand upon the
girl s arm and, drawing her back, spoke
rapidly and earnestly. She listened to
him with face half averted, and then, when
he paused, I saw her shake her head.
Before he could renew his plea she was
called upon the stage.
Tanning moved up beside us, and we
three stood watching the closing scene Of
the opera. The news that the company S
last hope was gone had spread, and there
was a general rush to end the wretched
travesty. Lines were clipped or omitted
altogether, choruses and solos were hurried
through without regard to the score. Only
Yunella was faithful to the last, singing
better, it seemed to me, than | had ever
heard her sing before. Then the curtain
fell, and the company came crowding about
the manager.
Tanning pushed through them and made
his way to Miss Yunella, who still remain
ed in the centre of the stage. He took
her hands and held them, standing beside
her in silence and waiting, it seemed to
me, for her to raise her eyes to his
There was no one very near them, as it
happened, the rush for the manager hav-
ing grouped most of the players around
him, and the pretty tableau the pair pre-
sented was uninterrupted for moment or
two Then a burly stage hand good
deal the worse for liquor and staggering,
too, under the weight of long and heavy
pole, from sheer perversity and alcoholized
surliness, broke through the company S
ranks, and sweeping away the people in
front of Montmorency- Smith, gave that
gentleman a view of the little scene 1 had
been noting. One glance told the veteran
the story. With bound, he lodged the
stage hand and rushed toward the pair,
the company facing about to start after
him. their voices hushed in the interest
thew felt in this drama of real life. Even