Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1858-11-04
last, and left him to 90 his own way and

last, and left him to 60 his own way and
choose his own company.
The summer was already far advanced,
and our engagement at the Belvidere had
we'll nigh ended, when began to buy fur
niture, and Ally to prepare her wedding
things. Matters continued the same with
John Grifiths but when the day was fixed,
I made up my mind to try them once again,
and invite him to the church and the dinner.
The circumstances of that invitation are as
f, clear in my memory as if the whole affair
ha2taken place this morning.
It was on the twenty-ninth of July, q am
particular about dates,) and there had been
general call to rehearsal at one o'clock that
day. The weather was warm and haZy, and
started early, that might not 60 in late
or tired, for knew that with the rehearsal
and the new piece, and the Terrific Descent,
I should have enough to do before my days
work was over. The consequence was that
I arrived about twenty minutes too soon.-
The gardens had dreary look by daylight;
but they were pleasanter anyhow, than the
theatre; so [ loitered up and down among
the smoky trees, and watched the walters
polishing the stains off the tables in the
summer-houses, and thought how shabby
the fountains looked when they were not
playing, and what miserable gimcrack con-
grottoes, and all the other attractions which
looked so fine by the light of colored lamps
and fireworks.
Well, just as [ was sauntering on, turn
ing these things over in my mind, whom
should see in one of the summer houses but
John Grihiths. He was lying forward upon
the table, with his head resting upon his
clasped hands, sound asleep An empty ale
bottle and glass stood beside him, and his
stick had fallen near his chair. [ could not
be mistaken in him, though his face was hid
den, so I went up and touched him on the
shoulder.
GA fine morning, john" says I. Il
thought was here early, but it seems that
you were before me, after all %
He sprang to his feet at the sound of my
voice, as if he had been struck, and then
turned impatiently away
"What did you wake me for?'' said he
sullenly.
bcOIuse T rIcwS tv}4 H
know that the sixth of August will be our
last night here. Well, mate, on the 7th,
please God, am going to be married, and
Course you! he interrupted, turning
livid face upon me, and an eye that glared
like tigers. Course you! How dare
you come to me with that tale, you smooth
ed faced hound-to me of all men living"
[ was so little prepared for this burst of
passion, that [ had nothing to say; and SO
he went on
1''Why can't you let me alone? What do
you tempt me for? I've kept my hands off
you till now"
He paused and bit his lip, and [ saw that
he was trembling from head to foot. am
no coward-it is not likely I should be
Patagonian Brother if was-but the sight
Of his hatred seemed to turn me, for the
moment, quite sick, and giddy.
"My Godp' said I, leaning up against
the table, ''what do you mean? Are you
mad ?"
He made no answer, but looked straight
at me, and then walked away [ don't
know how it was, but from that moment [
knew all. It was written somehow in his
| face.
s'Oh, Ally, dear'' I said to myself, with
a groan, and sat down on the nearest bench;
[ believe that at that moment scarcely
knew where was or what was doing.
did not see him again until we met on
the stage, about an hour afterwards to 90
through our scene in the rehearsal. Itwas
a grand Eastern piece, with great deal of
firing and real water, and living camel in
the last act; and GriHiths and I were MOI
antique slaves, performing before the Ra-
jah in the Hall of the Candelabras. Ex-
Icepting that it cost great deal of money,
that is all ever knew about the plot; and
upon my word, don't believe that ANYBODY
knew much more. By this time I had, of
course, recovered my usual composure, but
[ could see that Grifiths had been drinking,
for his face was flushed and his balance un.
steady. When the rehearsal was over, Mr..
Rice called us into his private room, and
brought out decanter of sherry, with
which, L must say, he was always as liberal
as any gentleman could be.
''Patagonians," says he, for he had
wonderful merry way with him, and always
called us by that name II suppose you
would make no objection to little matter
Of extra work and extra pay on the sixth
just to end the season with something stun
Ining-hey?"
.'No, no, sir" replied GiAiths, in sort
of hearty manner, that wasn't natural to
him: 'We're ready for anything Is it
the flying business you spoke about the 9th
er day?
Better than that" " said the manager fill
ing up the glasses. ''It's new French
feat that has never been done in this coun-
try, and they call it the trapeze. Patago-
mans, your health