Year: 1875

sand things which made him hesitate, until
the curtain fell and the opportunity had
gone; and then he carried his flowers away
with him and dropped them tenderly off the
bridge as he walked home.


AS his second glimpse of his vision OF
enchantment had wrought no diminution in
the depth Of his feeling, Fred Kingston
summoned up stouter courage next day.
As he brooded to himself over his new,
strange thoughts, the lines sung themselves
over and over again in his mind:


'He either fears his fate too much,


Or his deserts too small,


That dares not put 1t to the touch,


To gain or lose 1t ALL"


So he frightened up his nerves to the
achievement Of throwing bouquet to an
actress, who had received such tribute
before hundred times in her professional
career, as he might have done to charge
upon a hostile battery. He missed a rcci-
tation to run in town in the morning and Sc
cure a seat suitable for his exploit; and his
head was filled all day with the thoughts of
what he intended to do.


81 say" he broke out to his chun, in the
afternoon, "Why is it that the newspapers
all give long criticisms to the star actor, at
Winthrop, and none of them have word
to throw at the performances of the stock
company


Chester Bennett illuminated the subject
with a flood of wisdom, as usual. ''The
explanation is very simple. The criticisms
in the papers amount to nothing as criti-
cisms. They are bought and paid for with
the advertisements. While this star is
here, they are written by his runner, and
the critics are glad enough to put them in
and save writing any of them themselves,
for small consideration.


care you sure that is SO, Chess? I used
to write a paragraph about our academy
exhibitions at home, and the Clarion would
print it; but supposed city papers were
different


''Of course l am sure of it," said Ben
nett. ga friend of mine is on the EUenspg
Asteroid, and he told me how it is managed.


Then Bennett plunged into his work, and
Kingston tried to give his attention to his
book, while new projects of methods of tes-
tifying his alteration for Bessie Grey thrust
themselves distractingly upon his imagina
tion.


Promptly when the overture began Fred
was in his place in the theatre, his fragrant
little offering hidden beneath his coat. The
play was "Richelieu," and Bessie Grey was
cast for Francois-the bills said for the first
time. The tragedian coughed and hum
med through the opening lines of the sec
ond scene, in the conventional style; but
one spectator gave little heed to him, but
waited all expectation for the cue for the
entrance of the cardinals page. He hardly
recognized his idol at first, in her faxen
wig and male attire of black velvet; but be
fore she spoke a throb at his heart told him
it was she, and, half rising from his seat, he
tossed his bouquet with an aim which in.
spiration seemed to render dexterous, SC
that it fell at Bessie Grey's feet.


The single line which the actress had to
deliver paused on her lips at the unexpected
interruption; the frowning tragedian frown.
ed more fercely than ever; and the actor
who played Joseph turned sharply round
and peered into the audience as if to see
whence the flowers had come. But the de.
lay was only that of an instant; Francoi,
picked up the flowers with glance toward
the giver and the merest suggestion of a
bow in his direction; and in moment
more the message was delivered and the
messenger vanished to usher in the mature
and aqualine Julie de Mortemar FREQ
Kingston's pulse beat again; but he wal
made uneasy by the sinister glances of the
priestly Joseph, who seemed to take his
tribute as a personal offence. Presently h'
caught glimpse of the 1.-THE, graceful form
of Miss Grey at the wing at the opposite
side of the stage, apparently scrutinizinl
the audience in his neighborhood; and h
exulted in the thought that she was think
ing of him already, though she did moi
know him. He thought it possible sh
might wear his flowers, or one of them, il
| the later scenes; but when she did not b.
solaced himself with the thought that sucl
an ornament would be absurd in Francois
the embryo Capuchin, and gave himself u
to enjoyment of the new revelations of he
beauty and which the evenings part ex
hibited.


| Bessie Grey was not to appear in the al
terpiece; SO when the drama was ended th
| young fellow, in almost delirium of deli
cious passion, left the theatre. He sough
the cool air and comparative seclusion Q
the Common, to cool his brain; and afte
pacing up and down one of it's paths for
while, he betook himself to the reading
room of the nearest hotel to carry out til
second part Of the programme which h
had mapped out for himself He had pre-
vided paper in his pocket; he had studie
closely for few days past the amusemen
columns of some Of the newspapers; he wa
naturally quick writer; and his subjec
carried it's inspiration with it. In half Al
hour or SO, and after one or two false be
ginnings had been crumpled up and torn t.
| pieces, he achieved something which salts
fed him. 1t ran in this way


! "The impersonation of Francois by Mis-
Bessie Grey was, as we are informed b.
the programme, the lady's first assumption
of the part. 1t was triumphant success
in every particular, and elected the warm
est enthusiasm of the audience. The lady
beauty shone out brilliantly through he
masculine disguise, and her rendering o
the difficult character was marked by rar
excellence. thorough study and dramati
power. Miss Grey fairly shared the honor
of the evening with the tragedian himself
and we congratulate her warmly on the i'm
preston made upon the public.'
Kingston thought of adding line 0
stern criticism of the performance of 10
| seph by Mr.. Fletcher, to whom he hat