The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-06
P I.

CHAPTER I.
.aThe Csrtrsw Comsdy Company" which
also made valiant excursions into light
opera and burlesque, was unknown 10 met
-onortan fame. Recruited, for the most
mart. from the ranks OF the stage-struck
who were not absolute failures, this much
harassed little band of comedians toured
through those second and third rate pro-
vincial towns which are Just outside the
ranre of the more important travelling
theatrical companies. For instance, they
.ap.ivated audiences at Bognor and Worth
Eng leaving Brighton and Eastborne IN
souched, unless an engagement was offered
them on the Pier. Still, as all the men,
hers OF the company were young and san
euine. except Ferdinand Cartrew, whence
its name was derived. neither the scantiest
audiences nor the most dismal barn which
ever usurped the title Of "Theater Royal"
could damp the ardor Of the artists. as
they loved TO call themselves.
The Youngest and least experienced MEM
Der of the company was Althea Vernon.
whose real name was Emily Parker. She
was tall, slight. fair-haired. blue-eyed.
but II her prettiness was Of the orthodox
type. her temperament was less imprac-
ticaI than her physical sug-
gested. Her father owned a small diapers
shop In the west Of England. and she had
gone on the stage" in the usual way and
FOR the usual reason. She believed that
she had talent Gan illusion countenanced
by her friends). but was not convinced
of Il. Her plunge in "the profession" in
fact. was experimental. II IL did not bring
-yeIl-paid success II might lead. she ar
sued. TO a good marriage. Althea believed
ina. she was taking her gifts 10 the best
market. n the omantic literature with
which she was acquainted encouraged the
idea.
tThe failure OF the company was Frillers,
= whose stage name, Herbert Stanley. no one
recognized. He had been a clerk. and
when at last he realized that as IAN ar
tiste" he was. as Cartrew declared. 'im-
POSSIBLE" he became a melancholy pessim-
fSt and the managers secretary at q sal
airy OF sos a ~week-usuaIIy unpaid This
gloom and his good nature made him
known as poor Frillers." All Cartrew's
dirty work devolved on Frillers, and when
athe treasury was empty, and Csrtrew
seeking consolation in some adjacent bar
parlor. the whole company clamored 10
the secretary" for their weeks salary.
FriIlers was fond of Miss Vernon, but as
a failure he kept MS auectlOn 10 himself.
although il was not concealed from the
ct.npany generally. HC fetched and carried
for her. got her the best dressing room
whenever IL was possible 10 hlch IL from
'4he leading lady" and invariably found
hlr lodgings. The members OF the com
pany said. Poor FriIlers is most devoted
Then they laughed and usually added,
'sBut a lot she cares" Frillers. however,
considered Miss Vernon was "the best-bred
a9d least ungrateful lady OF the company. %
aid when az Christmas time she presented
him with two new n~ecSties from a parcei
o: milliDery and haberdashery which heI
father had sent her ne considered that he
V.os more than repaid. For is not loves
service too often loves only reward? Epi.
~gtammatic tags Of this sort danced before
Friller's mind and comforted him.
One wet afternoon I'm October the Car.
tTew Comedy Company arrived az Fast.
beacon. a nOldy old town IN an eastern
ebunty. Like the company. the town wa