Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1900-02-21
THE REHEARSAL
BY RICHARD UMONROY.

9 @ 9 9 90 9 @ @ @ O @ o
"Well. what luck" | asked Nine.
Bourrimel, my "concierge," as l came
in the other evening. Her daughter
Leona, you, must know, had presented
herself for examination at the Conserv-
atoire that day, and l always make a
point of appearing interested in my
"concierge's" family affairs. l find it
pays to do SC.
".Ah, NJ. Richard, you come at just
the right moment. l was longing for
somebody to talk to about it. Sit down
there in My armchair by the latch
string, and l will tell you the whole
story.
"Wcll as you know, Leona had
learned the role of Blanche in lie Roi
s'Amuse.'
"My husband-you know his political
opinions-chose the piece. lie thought
it would be a good thing to show the
people the goings on of the kings in the
old days before we had this blessed re-
public. Besides, it is by Victor Hugo,
you know, and it seems to be fairly
we'll written. Leona's teacher-that
fat little M. Guillemot with the red
cheeks, you know, and a very nice man
he is, too, I must say, and always very
| polite to newell, the teacher made no
objection, and SO Leona studied up the
part of Blanche.
"'Slle seems to have been created
expressly for the role,' M. Guillemot
often said to me. She is Blanche her.
SELF
"She selected for the examination the
scene in the second act in which
Blanche confesses to Dame Berarde
her love for the king. We went through
it several times at home after supper.
"The prince, ever kind and attentive,
held the book, and l took the part of
Dame Berarde, which was quite suited
to my years. There's a ring ut the bell
NJ. Richard. Please pull the cord
Thanks. Where was I? Oh, yes; l re-
member.
"Leona knew her lines so well that
she could have spoken them backward
Il lie DIIllCC uuu lbSlCu nv
and had even been good enough to &c
with her when she went to try 1t ON.
"'You need not leave your post
Nine. Bourrimel,' he said. 4 will at
tend to everything
"Ah, but that costume was superb
Imagine a foulard with h~oneysuckle
and humming birds on a white ground
the skirt trimmed with three bands o
purple velvet, square cut bodice. poln
lace s~Ieeves-but l forget. You are
man, and you can't imagine it.
But when | saw that dress my ma
ternal heart leaped for joy, and threw
my arms around the princes neck ant
exclaimed, with such a dress as tina
Leona cannot help making a success
and it will be all owing to your genel
osity.' .
"Indeed, NJ. Richard, ! was deepl
moved. assure you, and the prime
himself was much affected. ! eve
thought | saw tears behind his eye
glasses. Well, the great day came
last. and we all set out for the ConserN
atoire. accompanied by Il neighbo'
Nine. Frimard, and her daughter, VIII
has tried the examination in comea
for the last six years and failed ever
time.
"But. NJ. Richard, the bell has run
three tisles. Please OPEN
81 beg pardon, Nine. Bourrimel' a
q green CONCIERGE remember"
"Where was I? Oh. to be sure at III
Conservative. Leona went to the stas
. door with Mile. Frimard, who was
take the part of Dame Berarde' an
D Nine. Frimard and l got seats toseth'
in the little red theater. They call
.Etruscan.' believe, but it Is qui'
pretty for all that.
"Of course the prince, being connect
. od with the Russian embassy, cou
> NOT he with us. He sat in n proscehiu
lox, right behind the presidents VIII
s All. there's a lady who knows now
= dress! I couldn't keep my eyes OIL u
bright yellow capote perched on TOP
her shiny black hair. 49,,
le "Of course Nine. Frimafd' WHO
Il daughter had been going hrough u
mill so long, knew all the crlucs III
tho members OF the jury, II she poll
cd them out to ,ne while we were wa
ing for Leona t. appear.
"That fat man, sound asleep W
- Mouricn Tourcev. He always Slept
these exhibitions. .
"Tbe dark, shabby nan was VIC,
Fessord. who had left politics for
croture at the age Of so and now slas
cd right and left to make people ,hi
he Knew all about it, just as peol
hiss bullfghts to pretend they
Spaniards. l..
"Tbe gentleman with the long M
:: md the big mustache was Ia fN's
! ove who was kindness ITSELF ana I
man who looked like a general "
= Aususte Destu, an honest man anu
scholar. .,ora "
I "Then, in the jury box, there v
Dumas, the smiling Jules Ciare.ie,
- omiable Halevy. The shriveled look
nerson was Camille Doucet.
IT, UJI