OCR Text |
Show Slants on Life Bv J. A. WALDRON w A Stage Romance ; li a HI YOU are superb !" said -ii- Madame Olga, who was waiting in the wings of the Universal Vaudeville Vaude-ville theater to go on for her turn, as Adolphus Maxim came off to thunderous thunder-ous applause, Madame Olga never had seen or heard Adolphus Maxim before, but artistic ar-tistic fellowship had led her to speak, and enthusiasm had colored her greeting. greet-ing. Adolphus Maxim was a virtuoso a trombone virtuoso and his hair, flowing flow-ing in leonine luxury, had amazed Madame Olga no less than his playing of the trombone had done. His trombone trom-bone playing was really extraordinary. He could syncopate such classics as Schubert's "Hark, Hark, the Lark I" tut was Inimitable with such ragtime ditties of the day as "When Father's Whiskers Got Afire." This particular ditty was usually sung to the patter of fire horses' hoofs, bell ringing and whistle blowing off stage a sort of fire department obligate By his wonderful wonder-ful art on the trombone Adolphus Maxim could win more applause for "When Father's Whiskers Got Afire" than all this "business," supplemented by the very best ragtime vocalism, could evoke. Adolphus was flattered by Madame Olga's compliment and wrung her extended ex-tended hand as she went on. He stood in the wings to watch her act and became enthusiastic as he saw her beautifully ample figure swing and sway in the lifting and juggling of heavy weights. She was a strong woman In the winter in the vaudeville, and a Hon tamer In the summer In the circus. "Magnificent" Adolphus exclaimed, I as she came off also to great applause. A romance had begun. Day after day, night after night, they greeted and applauded ap-plauded each other and grew fonder. Before the week's engagement had ended, end-ed, Adolphus had proposed marriage and been accepted. Friday forenoon they went together for a marriage "She Stood Fondling a Chetah Cub." license. On the street, everywhere, ns in the theater, Adolphus' hair excited wonder and admiration. The stage is a field of real as well as fictional romance, and this aside from ventures of Johnnies at stage doors and elsewhere and episodes following fol-lowing the perfumed billets-doux of matinee Idols. Here and there is an actor who la almost steadily in the newspapers because be-cause of his matrimonial variety. Marital enterprise and the pursuit of art with him go hand In hand. And here and there is an actress of like dual demonstration. Neither of these, of course, changes partners seriously with every change of part, and thus the psychologist cannot lay this amatory inclination to the influence of dramatic authors, although the acting of ever-changing ever-changing love scenes may have some Impulsive effect. If some of those in higher stage walks inny marry often, why should not those in the lower walks marry once in a while? Sunday morning, with four fellow artists, Adolphus and Madame Olga visited a clergyman and were married. The party repaired to Madame Olga's hotel, where her quarters had been extended to a suite, for a wedding feast. After prolonged gayety their friends left them, and the happy couple retired to their Individual rooms to dress for their first evening alone. As Adolphus changed his formal attire at-tire for something more comfortnble, he heard Madame niga's voice In extravagant ex-travagant endearment. "Oh, my darling!" she cried, "how I 1-o-v-e you ! How I 1-o-v-e you !" "Ah," thought Adolphus, "what a fine woman ! And how she loves me!" Joyous, Joy-ous, he quietly entered her room. She stood with her back to the door, fondling a chetah cub, which purred responsive affection. Adolphus swelled with rnge and jealousy. "So, madam!" he cried, "that creature Is the object of your affection. I eh?" As she turned In surprise, she saw Adolphus. but not her Adolphus. Hi? sparse hair was plastered to his head In sections between wh!'h were strip? of unmitigated baldness that slio.-ked. "Your hair where Is it?" she cried. "My hair? I 'id you think, then i mnd:i:rt." he sneered, "that you werf ) marrying a wig?" Mndnme O'ga lnngVcd in a wny tis;t' made A.lolj. bus shud hr. She p.-'niK to the door. ";.-:" s! e sn'.d. "1 n"v. r w.w, t. pee yr.:;r f;!oe ni':i!n!" And "s M'.'I.iiie 0!."n .y.ti ? s-on; wo::"..in tlid fold i;jM'"i i'. ;:.S. Ai.l; ill I went. |