The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-09-21

her. lie would wait little longer. and
perhaps her father would rclcnt.
To fully appreciate Toms noble con-
duct, it should be known that Julia, in
addition to her expectations from her
father property which wasalrcady large.
and rapidly increasing. had property Of
her own valued Mt fifty thousand dollars,
which had been bcqucathcd her by an
aunt. All this Tom might have had and
the woman he loved besides, but for his
high minded sense Of honor.
CHAPTER Y.
Doctor Laurcns, Julias father, was a
most passionate lover of music and you
were always sure Of seeing him in his
box at the opera, in his bright buttoncd
coat, with lorgnettc in hand, listeEing to
the prima donna as though she were
patient. and he anticipated fec at the
close Of the performance. lie was SO
catholic in his tastes that he could en-
JOY one kind Of music as we'll as all othcri
and, when there was no opera, and his
patients would permit it, he would 60 to
hear the Ethiopian Minstrcls, and sit
through the entire performance. In fact.
the banjo was one of the Doctors weak
nesscs, and there were some people, who
were uncharitablc enough to say that
negro minstrelsy was much better adap-
ted to his musical taste, than the Italian
opera. But that was mere scandal OF
course, for The Doctor had been to Eu-
rope, and had brought back with him,
like many other gentlemen who so n
broad. taste for music and the iinc arts,
which he did not carry with him.
There was one member of the Ethio-
plan band, where the Doctor was i'll the
habit of going who had completely fas-
cinated him. which was not much to be
wondered at. for he had fascinated every
( body else who heard him; and when he
appeared there was sure to be an over
flowing house. The name of this incom-
parable singer was Higgins, and his tai
cnts, as a banjo player, as dancer, and
pcrsonator of the negro character, par
tcularly as the negro dandy were equal
to his splendid abilities rs singer. The
Doctor never failed to drop into the f.
thiopian opera. as it was called, when
ever this public fayoritc appeared, which
was nearly every night. and seeing his
name on the bills for benefit, the Doc
tor resolved to 20. On reaching tho
hall he found the house so crowded. that
kc could not even get his nose inside,
but the door keeper recognized him, and
wishing to CRAFTY so distinguished n pat
ron of the establishment, offered to show
him round by private entrance, so that
he would be near the stage, and might
retire at his leisure.
The Doctor was delighted. and put
something handsome into the hand OF tho
door keeper, as an acknowledgment for
the favor. lie got comfortable seat
near the stage. and waited with patience
for the appearance of the Incompatible
Higgins The sham darkey was in splen-
did voice. and filled the audience with
ccstatic pleasure by his happy limitations
of Dandy Jim But his most brilliant
performance was in the plantation break
down. in which he ravished the spectator
by his unparalleled hccling and toclng.
In the midst of the performance, when
the frenzy of the spectators was at its
height. boy in the gallery threw piece
> of orange-pccl on the stage. and Higgins,
by an unlucky step, put his foot upon it,
and fell with n tremendous crash. The
audience at first thought it . part of the
dance, and applauded tremendously.
but it was soon discovered that the poor
man had met with serious accident.
! lie was taken up by his companions and
borne off the stage directly after, the
the leader of the band came on, and ask
/, ell if there was a surgeon i'll the house,
as Mr.. Higgins was badly hurt by his
fall. DIR. Laurcns was but too happy to
= have an opportunity of rendering any
professional assistance to SO distinguish
cd an artist as Higgins; SO he stepped
: promptly forward and offered his servlc-
, es The artist had struck his head but
: was only stunned. The Doctor. however,
did as all doctors do on such occasions,
whisked out his lancet and bled the pa
, tient while one of his companions, with
n bowl of water and sponge wiped the
: burnt cork from the face of the uncon-
scious minstrel.
Higgins presently opened his oyesand
stared wildly about him, while the Doc
tor shriekcd out,
Good gracious, it is Elegant Tom Dill
larr
Tom was bcwillercd by the sudden
change of the scene. and faint aud sick
from the loss of the blood which Doctor
I.aurons had been letting out of his
= veins; but. bewildcrcd and weak as he
was. the sound of the Doctors voice. and
the sight of his astonishcd countcnancc,
brought Tom to his senses. lie knew
at once that his secret was discovered,
and comprchended in moment the con
sequences tina. must follow its revelation
, to society.
Doctor said he family. it is no use
} to disscmble further You know my
secret; let me request you to keep it to
yourself
'Ol my dear fellow said the Doctor,
YOU are perfectly safe in my hands :
don't be uneasy. For the credit of my
own family. at least, shall not be likely
, to proclaim to society that a gentleman
who has visited at my house is mom.
bor of troupe of Ethiopian mnstrels'
wish you a good evening, sir
1t very oddly happened that, before
, midnight. all the mcmbers Of the Man
haitian Club. to which the Doctor belong
ed. knew that Elegant Tom Dillar had
retrieved his fortunes by joining the T..
tbioIian minstrcl4, aud the news was
1 a. l.f..r 4