Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1914-04-02
THE TWO ACTORS
Story Of True Affection That
Was Only Revealed on
a Deathbed.

They were both connected with the
same theater and we're both received
with a storm Of applause every time
they showed themselves on the stage.
| Reville's specially was to play
parts requiring dignity and style,
while Vernier played the villain
whose treachery was always revealed
by the noble Reville.
In their constant struggle to sur
pass one another they produced art
Of such high excellence as had sell
dom been seen on any stage. Out
side the theater the two great artists
never exchanged a single word or
took the slightest notice Of one an
other, and when people in the Play
goerS club mentioned Reville in Yer
nier's presence he shrugged his shoul-
ders and said, with an expression of
contempt, that he did not see that
Reville's acting had anything to do
with art, while Reville, on his side,
always referred to Vernier as "the
clown" or "the buffoon." Reville
was a. widower and Vernier bach
elor. Reville's wife had died shortly
after their marriage, after giving
birth to a daughter.
Whenever Vernier met Reville
walking with his little daughter he
always felt his heart softening
toward his rival, and he said to
himself: GLOW happy Reville must
be to have somebody to love and care
for" a.
The season was about to open with
Eugene Sues "The Mysteries of
Paris" and the principal parts of
the schoolmaster and Prince Rudolf
had been given to Vernier and Re
vile. Vernier was furious. He
hated his part so much more because
while Reville as the prince was sure
to win the heart of every woman
among the audience, he himself was
sure to be Missed by the gallery and
pit as the dirty and ragged villain.
At one of the last rehearsals, how
ever, Reville failed to appear. He
had caught heavy cold, which had
developed into pneumonia, and he
had been taken to a hospital.
Another actor, therefore, took Re
ville's part, and everybody was won
dering how Vernier would treat the
understudy, who, by the way, was
one of his friends and admirers.
The first performance was given
to a crowded house, but people could
scarcely make themselves believe that
it was the famous Vernier who
played the villain. His acting was
dull, and it seemed as if in places
he did not even know his part. Ev-
cry moment he stopped and seemed
to be unable to remember his words.
As a matter Of fact, Vernier was
missing his rival, Reville. 1t APP
peared to himself that he was mere
shadow and that the substance, Re
vile, was necessary to fan and stir
up his ambition.
Every newspaper in Paris criti-
cised Vernier's acting as far below
his usual standard and simultane-
ously it was announced that Reville's
condition was almost hopeless.
One day gentleman appeared at
the hospital and asked permission to
see Reyille. 1t was Vernier. The
patient was half-conscious, but as
Vernier entered the room he raised
his head from the pillow and whis-
pered:
$50 it is you'll / was waiting for
you; knew you were coming"
Vernier was deeply moved as he
sat down on chair at the bedside
and said 'My poor, dear old friend"
"Give me your hand, Vernier, T"
Reville said almost inaudibly, and
the enmity of many years vanished
in this handshake.
"YOu don't know how happy it
makes me to see you" Reville went
on. 'You are and always have been
more to me. than anybody else in
the world, with the exception Of my
child. DO you remember when we
played together in 'For His Coun-
ty?" And now it is all over. How
many timaa haven't I eaen Won die