LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1676, 4 July 1879, Page 3

LITERATURE.

BB3IHD THE SCENES. Act I. * One, two, three! One, two, three ! One, two, thrso! Set together now V One, two, three I’ It was tbe ballet-master’s voice, and the ballet mastsr was drilling some half-dozen young ladies in short skirts and long stockings, in the intricacies of a grand pas. A number of people occupied tho stage, some of them with books ia their bands, some of them crossing' aad re-crossing to places in accordance with stage directions.

It was somewhat unusual to have all this going on during the run of a successful pantomime, but tho evening was a sort of gala night. A young and lovely debutante, the daughter of an old French actor who had recently died, was to make [her first appearance, and, in addition to the usual bid, two acts of “The Lady of Lyons” were to precede the pantomine. Old Peter French had left little to Maria except his name, her mother’s beauty, and, perhaps, something of his own histrionic genius. The two former bequests would not afford her a living ; she had determined to find what tho latter would do for her.

She sat this morning in the wings, apart from the others. Her only company was tho clown, and she bad been talking with him earnestly. * I won’t, I won’t!’ she said, * This must be stopped, Edward, for your own sake as well as mine. I don’t love you, I can’t love you—and I never could learn to make you happy. You arc cruel to talk to me about this thing at such a time. Don’t I need all the nerve I’ve got to get through with tonight’s trial ? I should think you would know better.’

‘ I drifted into it,’ said the clown humbly. ' I never meant to apeak to you about it again. But remember, Maria, that I have loved you so long! I never thought that any one could take tho place of my little lost Jeanne until your father came to mo for help in giving you instruction for tho stage. I found you so good, so beautiful, so different from other girla! It wasn’t very strange that your tutor should fall ia love with you, was it, Maria ?’

‘I think it was,’ she said. ' I don’t see what there was to fall in love with. Beside you are so much older than I. Why, I used to sit in your lap before I was old enough to bring costumes to the theatre.’ * Yes, I know,’ he said ; * there are fourteen years between us. I have been a fool to think of winning you at all. After tonight a still broader gulf will separate us, for you will succeed, Maria. I know it. The proudest place in the profession will be within your roach.’ She was silent for a moment. Then she said, quietly —‘ Well, won’t you bo glad of it Y • Indeed, indeed I shall I’ he replied earnestly. * I would give half the years of my life to see it. I would have been content to take you as my wife, even though you were but a little girl still bringing costumes to the dressing-rooms ; since that is not to ba, I shall be proud of the day when dukea and earls shall bend at your feet. You need not smile, Maria; such things have been before now.'

* You good Edward,’ she said, taking his hand in both her own, • I shall never forget what I owe to you, nevertheless. Should such a day ever come it will make one more reason why I should not be yours. I would not be contented as the wife of a poor clown unless I loved you more than I think Ido now. If I fail I should disappoint yon. You would not care for me then.’ He would have answered that assertion quickly but the interview was interrupted at that moment by a call-boy. Maria had no sooner left the side of the clown in answer to the summons than her place was taken by one of the ballet-dancers —a slight, dark-eyed girl dressed, like her sisters practicing upon the stage, in short petticoats and Long woollen stockings of fiery red. *So !’ she said, stepping before him and cnrling her pretty lips contemptuously, * you are in love with our grand lady, are you Y Edward darted a frightened look at her. * Have you been listening ?’ he asked * Bah ! Why should I take this trouble ? Her silly gabble isn’t often worth listening to, I’m sure. Only, when folks select such queer times and places for their love-making they ought to remember that canvas walls aren’t so solid as they appear. Do you know why Maria Froudat won’t marry you, Edward Steele ?’

* She does not love me,’ said the clown, simply. * Stuff I She doesn’t know what love is—but that is not it. She won’t have you because yon aro a olowr, that’s al l . She had got fine ideas in her bead, and you have yourself to blame tor it partly. She forgets that you have filled, and can still fill, higher roles than the ones you have been playing lately. She forgets that it was tho loss of your legitimate line which brought you down to the position which you occupy now. She forgets that she has never been anything better than, a dresser all her life. There’s no merit in her name and her beauty ; but she doesn’t think of that It B pride, Edward Steele—pride, and nothing else. « She has genius,’ said Steele, ‘ Her dreams may be fulfilled.’ * Never ! Listen to me ; I hate tbe woman with all my heart and soul. A man whom I have loved better than my own life has been seduced by her accursed beauty—for she is beautiful—and her false smiles. He left me under circumstance hardest of all lor a woman to bear—did me a wrong hardest of all wrongs for a woman to forgive. After she had won him from me, she turned him adrift. I wonldMoi receive him back ; she would have nothing to do with him. Bnt that is neither here nor there. It was she who took my love away from me, and I hate her. Thera is nothing I would not do to compass her ruin ; and I will cause her utter ruin ; and I will cause her utter failure to night, if it be in my power to do it. lam only a ballet-girl ; but even suoh as I, have feelings and hearts which can be hurt.’ ‘ Ninette, Ninette! what madness is this 1 How can you cause her failure ? ’ The' girl smiled, and her black eyes glittered.

* Do yon know who plays Melnotto to her Pauline ?

‘Yes, certainly. It is Harcourt.’ * And would you know who is the man of whom I have spoken ? ’ * Not Harcourt, surely ? ’ ‘ Tho same. You need not look so surprised. Suoh great actors fall in love with very common people sometimes. This one grew fond of a dancer, and then a dressing girl. Harcourt will not play Claude Melnotte to-night.’ ‘ He ia on tho stage at this moment with Maria.’

‘ True; but still he will not be at hand tonight when ho ia most needed.’ • What do you mean ? ’ asked Steele, wondering. «If you were not a fool you would wish me success.’ ‘ Ninette, you are mad ! If yon are telling the truth it is my duty to report all this. Maria must not fail.’ She placed her hand upon his arm and said, quietly : ”If Maria Frond at succeeds to-night she is lost to you forever. She has told you as much already. Should sho fail, that pride will be broken. Then perhaps sho will look with better favor upon your suit Help us, then, for your own sake—for Maria’s sake—for my sake !’

A look of great trouble came into the clown’s face. All that Ninette said was true. Maria’s failure might insure the fulfilment of the cheiished dream of his life. If she did not succeed to-night she would never attempt the stage again. But he could not lend himself to so despicable a plot as this against her, even if it would give him the eventual possession of her love. He was not so base as that. Yet, while he was determined that Maria should succeed in spite of Ninette, he deemed it best to dissemble before her. No warning from him to Bar court would avail against Ninette s pretty blandishments ; ho knew that well enough. Neither had he the courage to bring upon him tho hatred of his fellow-players by reporting the conspiracy to the manager. So, for the present, he deemed it best lull Ninette Into security even while ho pitted himself against her This, at least, ho would do, through his lovo for Maria. • You will promise to say nothing ?’ she asked, turning upon him suspiciously. 1 1 promise, solemnly,’ ho said, with a forced grimace. [lo he continued.)