The New York Clipper (June 1903)

DRAMATIC. If VAUDEVILLE. CIRCUS. Copyrighted, 1003, by tbe Frank Queen Publishing Company (Lifted) Founded by FRANK QUEEN, 1863. NEW YORK, JUNE 6, 1903. VOLUME LI.-No. 16. Prico 10 Cents. "H155 Oipper'5 Moles, Personalities aM Counts, ooNowmra STAGE FOLK and Sometimes OTHERS It Y JOSEPHINE QRO. nxragh the season for fun is pasted there H » certain young married actress whose thoughts, frequently revert to a beau- tiful and expensive fur coat that belongs to her, yet never has she bad the happiness of wearing it A little more than a year ago the young roiwn, who is a popular stage favorite, married a business man, and, although at the time "be promised her uzsband that lie would soon forsake the footlights for same time putting the handsome garment on the handsome young woman, who, at the sight of herself In the mirror, could not re- strain an expression of delight at her own appearance. "What's the matter with your doing a little advertising for my firm?" be continued. "Everybody will admire the coat on you, and you can tell them where you bought It." "But Jack couldn't buy me such a gar- ment this Winter—he's bard up," objected the actress. to persuade blm to redeem whatever the ticket called for. The plan, If carried out as Intended, was a good one, and there seemed no possible way for It to fail. Accordingly, the Brat scene of the little play was enacted by the wife handing the pawn ticket to ber hus- band upon his arrival at dinner time. "Isn't this piece of paper a pawn ticket?" ahe asked, curiously. "I found It on the street this afternoon. I never saw one be- fore, but this seems to call for a fur gar- When the husband came home the follow- ing afternoon ha found bis wife Impatiently awaiting bis return with what tho expected would be the handsome fur coat upon which her heart was set. lie hsd a small package In hla band, about tbe site of s muff, wblcb he tossed carelessly upon the table. "There's your fur garment," he laid. "Tbe Joke is on you—I told you It would prove to be some old, ratty piece of fur. You've gone and made me blow In $25 for It. I hope you're satisfied," he added, in an ap- parently cross mood that a man might be In who had needlessly thrown away money. Tho chagrin, mingled with tbe horrible dlssppolntment which the actreas felt, can better be imagined than described. With a sinking heart ahe untied the small package, which disclosed a cheap, half worn fur neck piece Instead of tbe resplendent seal and aable combination which she bad expected. tte domestic fireside, she haa not yet been •Me to tear herself away from her beloved nrofeesion. Because of her popularity tbe actress has °»a the recipient of many costly gifts »» admirers of both her personality and art. «ter her marriage her husband objected " her receiving these marks of esteem— "Mpt, perhaps, such articles as books or "were—so she has been obliged to refuse ""J » pretty gift that baa been offered. However, one cold day during the past wer the actress was persuaded to accept .*™ 8em of more than ordinary value. One Mr many admirers is a wealthy Importer « w»e foreign made garments, and this ■«««» Invited her and a friend to call «"iB place of business to see a recent lm- jwiatlou of handsome fur coats. During ■■examination, of the beautiful things so ■»» to tbe oeart of a womaa BnB expressed tooo'Jj ,0 be the possessor of one of them, "ough without one thought of the posslbll- ■» « iijssesslon. "J would be most pleased," said her ad- «vr, l0 nave m acMpt u? one of thoM "■"WM* you'may select- ion re only joking I" laughed the actress. •WOOllT* blt '" WPUed Ul6 ,m I K>rter > m0,t "I In" * er * ,n ■■*■*»" wm ths answer, «ni<i not accept such an expensive pres- !*** tt* I'm married. j K k won't I've ., Rn * nrnlt nBTe no objection. Ms in ,? ft,B had m T U>l«>«» given to «■» the past that I miss them nowadays." ram s no reason you shouldn't have this * ou wwt It," said the Importer, at the "But he needn't—as I told you at Drst, would like you to accept It as a little token of my esteem." "But Jack wouldn't let me accept sighed the young woman, regretfully. "I'll find a way for you to have It," ex-' claimed the would-be giver of tbe garment. "Ton call here tomorrow morning, and I shall have arranged the matter." When tbe actress called at the store tbe following day, after dreaming all night of tbe coat, her admirer handed ber a crumpled piece of paper, saying: "Here's your coat," then proceeded to ex- plain to her bis plan, which was to tbe ef- fect that on her husband's return that night she should give blm the piece of paper, which was a pawn ticket, and wblcb she was supposed to have found. She was then j ment of some sort pawned for $25. Why don't you take It and see what It Is—they say that things are pawned for one-quarter of their value. Its that so, this might be worth getting." "Don't be sanguine," answered the bus- band ; "It's probably some moth eaten old thing that you wouldn't wear. It wouldn't be worth taking out—no, I guest I won't bother about It." "Ob, dearie, do. Just to please me," begged tbe actress. "If tbe garment, whatever It Is, Isn't worth tbe $25 I'll go without tb<i new dress you were going to buy ma next week—and tbat will cost a hundred." "Very well," was ths reply, "to please you I'll redeem tbe tblng, but mark my words, you'll be sorry you Insisted." "Too bad, dear!" said her husband, emu mlseratlngly, "but I told you bow It would be, and you've only yourself to tbank for your disappointment." Tbe actreas went up In ber lines several times that nlgbt during ber performance. After quickly dismissing the fleeting thought that her admirer was playing a practical Joke ana decided tbat the pawnbroker bad been dishonest, and battened to tbe office of tbe Importer tbe following morning for an explanation. When ber astonished friend bad gathered tbe meaning of ber news be was as dated and chagrined as she had been tbe previous day. "I cannot understand It," be exclaimed. "Tbe cloak was surely pawned, and the ticket I gave you called for It. I bad an understanding with tbe man that It would be redeemed tbe next day—and I found an hour afterwards tbat It bad been. Don't you worry, I'll have it traced. I'm awfully sorry, but you'll have It yet—call In tbla afternoon again, and I'll have tbe explana- tion for you." Deciding that sbe needed some money for •bopping, tbe actress then went to ber bus- band's office with tbat object In view. As •he was about to enter one of tbe elovatois of the building the young woman who was employed as stenographer and typewriter In her husband's office stepped from tbe otber— attired In the beautiful fur garment which •be recognized at once to be tbe one about which she was at that moment anxiously worrying—and, under tbe circumstances, she could neither demand an explanation nor the cloak.