The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-07-21
CYRANO COURTSHIP.

CYRANO COURTSHIP.
THE following story is based on the
celebrated play, "Cyrano de Bergerac, ,"
in which Mr.. Richard Mansfield, the
actor, has been recently creating SEN
sation in New York. In the play Cy
rano, a man of brilliant intellect, but
handicapped by an enormous nose, wooes
his cousin Roxane, through handsome
fool, keeping himself out of her sight.
Phyllis began to laugh just as soon
as Cyrano made his appearance. This
conduct on her part was as distinctly
disappointing as though l hadn't fully
expected her to act in such a manner.
To tell the truth, really didn't want
to take Phyllis to see "Cyrano" at all.
because you see, I've a pretty
big nose myself. 1t isn't Cyrano mem
ber by any means. of course, but even
as a child the women who didn't like
my mother used to pity me openly on
account of it, and my college friends
still allude to my unfortunate proboscis
as regular wind splitter. So, as
said, 1 wasn't at all anxious to see
"Cyrano" in Phyllis company, and if
hadn't feared her suspecting the rea-
son of my unwillingness in this regard
/ should never have done SO. As it was
it really hurt me little when her dim
pies began to come and go at sight of
Mansfeld's s colossal nasal organ. l said
nothing, however, and it was not until
the end Of the 'poet's bakery" act that
1 received my first cruel blow.
81 think Mansfield is perfectly sub
lime, don't your" gushed pretty girl
of Phyllis acquaintance who sat in
front of u.s. 1t was with difficulty that
Phyllis restrained the dimples from
open nsurrection as she replied.
"Well, they say it is only little
step from the sublime to the ridicu-
lous. she remarked with dancing eyes,
"and as never in all my life saw any
thing half SO ridiculous as that nose
suppose its wearer is at least approach
ing sublimity.''
| "Phyllis," said I when the music
had given me half chance to speak
| without the girl in front hearing all
said, "don't you think it's possible fol
the owner of big nose to be anything
but ridiculousf'
| Phyllis cast mischievous glance al
me over her shoulder. and before max
ing answer buried her face in the big
bunch of violets had given her.
GAN things are possible, :" she ther
rather cruelty said, "but should thinl
it would be rather difficult for the owne,
of big nose to be anything else
The kiss scene was beginning now
80 l had long act in which to recover
SO much of my equanimity as might
When Roxane had delivered her pas
sionate exhortation to Cyrano to protect
her lover from all the danger which
might threaten him at Arras, begin
ming with sword wounds and ending
with cold, and when she begged he
cousin to see that the wordless objec
of her devotion wrote to her frequently
Phyllis turned to me as the curtain fell
and could see there were tears in he
eyes. She acted as though she woul,
have said something, but did not. Fo
once was wise enough to hold m.
tongue and to leave all chance of assist
ance for my cause to fate or providenc
and the girl in front of us. This gir
had been crying openly, and her eye
were all red and moist still as sh
squirmed about in her seat in order t
face Phyllis
II "Oh, Phyllisl Isn't it pity such
perfectly grand character should hav
!, such an awful nosel' she exclaime
weepingly. Phyllis regarded her wit
an air of chilly contempt.
'sWhat under the ever blessed canop
, does the kind of nose he has matter /?
, she inquired loftily. "With characte
, like Cyrano's features don't matter i
the least Who with any soul at a
would dream of considering or eve
remembering his nosef"
The girl in front of us was properl
squelched. and was unwisely elated.
D ''Who. indeed?" I murmured az
quiescently. Phyllis stiffened immed
!, ately.
81 wasn't talking to you. than
you," she remarked in a tone softl
suggestive of icebergs and the Klondik
and so on. was so crushed by and il
dignant at her manner and speech tha
didn't even come to her rescue whe
she lost her handkerchief during th
course of the fourth act and was in di1
distress for another wherewith to wiz
away the tears consequent upon Ro1
G ane's sorrow over her lovers death an
Cyrano's wounding. And she in tur
was strangely silent when we rose &
the conclusion of the last act and mad
our way toward the street.
q The crowd was great and we wei
obliged to stand few moments in til
' foyer. Phyllis turned to me suddenl
3 with an apologetic touch upon my arm
4 81 didn't mean what l said about
\ about big noses," she said softly, an
picking shyly at my coat sleeve as 81
9 spoke-''that is-not about all bi
q noses Cyrano'-recovering herse
n somewhat as the onward movement I
k the crowd recalled her to conventional
: ity and the recollection Of where "
/ were-"Cyrano was perfectly lovely
i spite of his nose. He was SO sweet an
i faithful to his love-" she finished MOI
l. naturally as we came opposite a fiji
e portrait of Mansfield Which hung on tt
wall near by. Her wraps were still g