Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1900-04-27

president. Ambrose Thomas. and the
merry. m0ck.ng silhouette ia The last
row vas ca let. CT the Coilcdic Fran
calsc. "a WGa great fun for me. Nine.
Frialasd knew tlem all very well, she
hal lren 70 see them SO often on her
daughters account.
"Now aad then the prince leaned for
ward from his Etat IN tie official box
AMI gave me q little confidential smile
with n sort OF wink. which meant. 4
cannot he with you In person on ac-
count Of my official position, but am
with you m spirit
Wasn't II nice CT him?
at last. after several other debu-
tartcs had appeared. Leona's turn
came. There was n moment Of silence,
and the master Of ceremonies an
nornccd:
"'Aillc. Leona Bourrimel, aged 20
years. appeared last year and the year
before without successfully did the
wretch have 10 say that?-assumes the
role Of blanche In lie Roi s'Amuse,"
assisted by Mile. Frlmard.'
"Ah, NJ. Richard, you don't know
how | felt You are not n mother. My
heart wns in my Oh, the second
floor is waiting for his candle! Please
hand It to him through the window.
Thanks.
about Leona's scene. must say
that tie management was very mean
about the stage setting. A table with
q grecn cloth. two plush chairs-that
WIS an. What would they say II we
should come to their theatcr In rags, |
should like 20 know?
"But, oh. how pretty Leona looked
when she came on. with her Powered
gown and her cid fashioned cape with
steel clasps. A murmur OF admlra-
ton ran through the theater. NJ. Du-
mas twirled his m~rstacbe, and NJ.
Halevy adjusted his opera glass-both
coed signs. As for II. Tourcey. lie
Kept on sleeping, but 1t seems that this
never lnterfercs with his ability to
c~rlticise-not In the least. When Leona,
Gs Blanche. confessed her love for the
king. she looked straight at Prince
Tapalof.
"Ah, NJ. Richard. II you had seen and
heard her! She was the living, loving
Blanche. and one could feel the force
of the passion that consumed her. The
jury felt It evidently. for they became
intensely absorbed and excited. the lit
tie dried up man especially. And at his
age.
"My daughter went on with her lines,
which described tie noble appearance
Of the King. his graceful bearing In the
saddle and so forth, and still she kept
her eyes fixed on the prince. She sure
~ could do no less after what lie had
done for her-the gown. the cape. the
jewels and all the rest.
"Of course the Lines referred to King
Francis l, but the prince no doubt saw
in them q delicate allusion to himself,
and he smiled in a way that showed
he was much gratifed. And indeed
he. too. is a tail, handsome gentleman
and q splendid horseman. One might
have fapcied that Victor Hugo had
him in mind when he wrote the lines.
'"The presidents wife smiled also.
Perhaps she was thinking Of the pres
ent ruler Of France. But all Of n sud
den some crank cried, Face the audi
enc6"
"The cry was taken up and repeated
from all parts of the room.
"'Yes: face the audience! Never
mind the finc people in the boxesP
The fools! Just imagine, they
thought flat Leona was looking at and
playing at the presidents wife. and 50
they were Jealous.
IL rose In my place and said in n
loud voice, but with great dignity:
Put she Is not looking at Nine. la
Pros!dente. She docs not care that q
snapped my nngersl for Mime. Ia Presl-
dente. She is looking at Prince Tapa-
loff.'
AT this the disturbance increased.
In the midst Of laughter, yells and hiss
es l turned TO the jury and added:
81 should think ought 20 know. l
am her mother
"Then there was n fearful row.
Leona could not go on, the jury retir-
ed and presently, by NJ. Thomas or
ders, was thrust u Of doors in com
pany with Nine. Frimard, who, as her
daughters lines had been thus cut of,
protested rs anGrily as did.
"And that's the way that Leona,
through a silly mistake of the audi
ence, has again failed to get the 'prix.'
For my part. as soon as | saw the
prince, ! said. with great dignity;
"'My daughters career is ruined and
through you. II you have the instincts
Of n gentleman, you will know your
duty and perform it,
THE princes conduct, l must admit.
was perfect.
"'Mme. Bourrimel,' he said, 4 am a
gentleman. and l know m duty,
which VIII also be my pleasure.
"I viii marry Leona at once. We
will leave for Dieppe tonight, and you
and your husband shall join us within
"a month
And, In fact. he did marry her. and
they went of on the 8 o'clock express
All, NJ. Richard, begin to think there
is n future in store for u.s."
"Alls well that ends WELL" / said
"Allow me TO return you your arm
chair and %latchstring. Good evening,
Nine. Bourrlmel. Translated From
the French For Short Stories.