Part 33 (1/2)

Oliver had planned to take Betty Wyman to the theatre; but Betty's grandfather had come home from the West unexpectedly, and so Oliver came round and took his brother instead.

”I was going to play a joke on her,” he said. ”We'll go to see one of my old flames.”

It was a translation of a French farce, in which the marital infidelities of two young couples were the occasion of many mishaps.

One of the characters was a waiting-maid, who was in love with a handsome young soldier, and was pursued by the husband of one of the couples. It was a minor part, but the young Jewish girl who played it had so many pretty graces and such a merry laugh that she made it quite conspicuous. When the act was over, Oliver asked him whose acting he liked best, and he named her.

”Come and be introduced to her,” Oliver said.

He opened a door near their box. ”How do you do, Mr. Wilson,” he said, nodding to a man in evening dress, who stood near by. Then he turned toward the dressing-rooms, and went down a corridor, and knocked upon one of the doors. A voice called, ”Come in,” and he opened the door; and there was a tiny room, with odds and ends of clothing scattered about, and the girl, clad in corsets and underskirt, sitting before a mirror. ”h.e.l.lo, Rosalie,” said he.

And she dropped her powder-puff, and sprang up with a cry--”Ollie!” 'In a moment more she had her arms about his neck.

”Oh, you wretched man,” she cried. ”Why don't you come to see me any more? Didn't you get my letters?”

”I got some,” said he. ”But I've been busy. This is my brother, Mr.

Allan Montague.”

The other nodded to Montague, and said, ”How do you do?”--but without letting go of Oliver. ”Why don't you come to see me?” she exclaimed.

”There, there, now!” said Oliver, laughing good-naturedly. ”I brought my brother along so that you'd have to behave yourself.”

”I don't care about your brother!” exclaimed the girl, without even giving him another glance. Then she held Oliver at arm's length, and gazed into his face. ”How can you be so cruel to me?” she asked.

”I told you I was busy,” said he, cheerfully. ”And I gave you fair warning, didn't I? How's Toodles?”

”Oh, Toodles is in raptures,” said Rosalie. ”She's got a new fellow.”

And then, her manner changing to one of merriment, she added: ”Oh, Ollie! He gave her a diamond brooch! And she looks like a countess--she's hoping for a chance to wear it in a part!”

”You've seen Toodles,” said Oliver, to his brother ”She's in 'The Kaliph of Kamskatka.'”.

”They're going on the road next week,” said Rosalie. ”And then I'll be all alone.” She added, in a pleading voice: ”Do, Ollie, be a good boy and take us out to-night. Think how long it's been since I've seen you!

Why, I've been so good I don't know myself in the looking-gla.s.s.

Please, Ollie!”

”All right,” said he, ”maybe I will.”

”I'm not going to let you get away from me,” she cried. ”I'll come right over the footlights after you!”

”You'd better get dressed,” said Oliver. ”You'll be late.”

He pushed aside a tray with some gla.s.ses on it, and seated himself upon a trunk; and Montague stood in a corner and watched Rosalie, while she powdered and painted herself, and put on an airy summer dress, and poured out a flood of gossip about ”Toodles” and ”Flossie” and ”Grace”

and some others. A few minutes later came a stentorian voice in the hallway: ”Second act!” There were more embraces, and then Ollie brushed the powder from his coat, and went away laughing.

Montague stood for a few moments in the wings, watching the scene-s.h.i.+fters putting the final touches to the new set, and the various characters taking their positions. Then they went out to their seats. ”Isn't she a jewel?” asked Oliver.

”She's very pretty,” the other admitted.

”She came right out of the slums,” said Oliver--”over on Rivington Street. That don't happen very often.”