Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1905-04-01

should have thought Of seeing you hero
What are you doingT How's old Snuff
fles getting on? Has Miss GoosebAETy
eyes got a husband yetT
These questions were very omborrass-
ing, and | should have been greatly s;1s
to for an answer, but Martha came to
my assistance.
well, look here, Mr.. Fitzwalton,"
she said with a sign to me; Master
Silas has got some very particular busi-
ness on hand just now that obliges him
to be cautious, SO | know you'll excuse
him answering your questions for day
or two"
"Oh, don't want to pry into any
body's secrets" retorted Josiah, with
something OF pique in his tone.
There was an awkward silence for
some minutes, during which l discussed
| my breakfast, with the embarrassing
sensation that the Professor" as | at
! forwards heard he liked to be called,
was sharply scrutinizing me.
1t was impossible for Josiah to keep
silent for any length of time, or TO re-
frain from talking about himself. So,
in spite of my reticence, he soon put me
in possession of the whole of his his
tory, from the time he quilted Mr.. Por-
ters establishment up to the time in
which | found him sitting in Mrs. Jen-
nngs' parlor
"Do you remember that night you got
ont of window, and | took YOU to the
theater? Well, you see. | didn't care
for the printing business much. | lad
a soul above seraping rollers and rolling
iply h.. II 4
into the theater | was stage struck
1t seemed such a jolly, easy life; and
such n glorious thing to see ali the
plays, and act in them, aud get rounds
of applause, and wear fine clothes. so
determined to be an actor. | had the
lmpudence to apply to old Tomkins, the
manager of Bury, for an engagement.
Ills answer was to kick me out of the
theater as a presumptuous young ape,
But, although this hurt my pride. it did
not damp my ardor. | heard of a booth
two or three miles off One evening
L walked over to the village and offer
ed my services there. They happened
to be in want of some one to pull I'D the
scenes, deliver the bills and go on for
small parts. | was engaged at once.
The printing business saw me no more.
SO instead of rolling ink, | rolled up
scenes l was very happy for a time,
especially when / got a few lines to
speak. By and by | grew ambitious and
scared in imagination from the first Off
Ger to Macduff, and even to Macbeth.
got disguised with the mental portion Of
my work: and one fine morning, at a
fair, deserted to an opposition show,
next door, where, in a spangled tunic,
and pair of russell boots, | scowled
ferociously at my old companions. Then
| managed to get taken on as super at
one of the big theaters, and knowing
something about the business, got pro-
NOTED to super-master. There | met my
esteemed friend, the Professor a gen
tleman who can write b. A. after his
name; who has moved i'll the most dis
tinguished CIRCLES but who. being at
present under a cloud. is compelled to
play Genefdl It'll at the Royal Corin-
THAN Theater."
But what sort of characters do you
take? | inquired referring back. in
my mind, to my solitary theatrical ex-
perience.
"Oh, | veer between the heavy husi-
ness and the light comedy" he answered
carelessly.
Yes; between carrying on the chairs
| and tables and the candles" dryly re-
marked his friend. speaking for the first
time
"Oh, hang it, l say, now!' expostulat-
ed Josiah. You know the stage man
ager is very much struck with me, and
| intends giving me small part in the
new piece. Once let me get my nose in,
| and I'll show them what | can do"
You may more correctly say that
| the stage manager was struck by YOU"
| again remarked the Professor, in the
same sarcastic vein. Il thought Won
| had broken his nose with that banner
the other night; in his best scene. too
| Just as he was working up He ex-
| pressed his admiration of you in very
| strong terms; it is a wonder you did not
| get your nose between his fingers"
Josiah was getting very angry. To
| avert a quarrel | asked who General
Util' was.
~ person who's supposed to be able
to do everything, and consequently do
nothing. and who's bullied for every
body else's blunders," spitefully replied
| Josiah
| After little more pickering. the two
friends, as | suppose | must style them,
went out for walk. | felt quite re-
lieved at being freed from the strange,
! scrutinizing glance of Mr. Montgomery's
eyes, that had scarcely ever been taken
off me the whole time he remained in the
room. After this Martha came, and I
had little quiet talk.
Il couldn't so to sleep for hours last
night, thinking of what you'd better do"
she said "A clerkship is what you
want; but you see, you've got no refer
ences, and it is so hard to get situa-
ton without them-and, indeed, with
them, for the matter of that. | think
YOU ought to try and find out your
friends; you know the name of the law
| VprS that Mr. portor drayv tho rroro,