The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-08-05
1879

a. ueais. BE watched nae about the room ,
r Z bad been = thief. And sometimes, thouO
l "a z1rs never wrongei him willingly in n
IF l caught hin looking at me from unde
4 t's-ii 'roE We Of ms, as il he hated me-
= re ban opce / laid my hand upon hi
sic % 5e was hprrJing away on Sunday, c
tur.iig q coward the olab room at night. an
sid, o. iitis, have you got ANYTHING apains
n ? Or, 4" Grifi ths won't Won come home Z
= friendly glass with me tonight" But b
either saook me eff without word, or mutter
&c some suLky denial that sounded more like
cIrse han civil answer 30 got tired o
peace making at last, and let him go his OWL
wsy, aud choose his own company.
ne summer was already far advanced, and
Our engagement at the Belvidere had well nigh
e4a5j, when l began to buy furniture, and Al.
T. &c prepare her wedding things. Matters con-
,'nued the same with John Grilfiths but, when
tae day was fxsS, made mp my mind to try
In once again, and invite him to the church
I'D The dinner. The circumstances of that
i1vi, ation ere as clear in my memory as if the
.-hole affair had taken place this morning.
X was On the twenty rinth of July, Il am
particular about dates and there had been a
re1eral cal TO rehearsal at one o'clock that
day. The weather was warm and hazy, and
se.sted early, that l might not go In late or
u.Cd; fOr knew that, what with the rehearsal
an ;ne new piece, and the Terrific Descent,
snoulI have enough to do before my day s
work was over. The consequence was, that
arrived about twenty minutes too soon. The
ga,dens had dreary look 10y daylight but
t-ey were plessapter, any how, than the theatre
80 | lOitered up and down among the smoky
trees, and watched the walters polishing the
stains eff the table in the summer houses, and
thought how shabby the fountains looked when
they we're not playing, and what miserable
gimcrack concerns were Stalactite Caves and
The Cosmo-sm:c GTottoes, and all the other at
tractioDs which looked so fine by the light of
coiored lamps and fireworks.
Wen, just as | was sauntering on, turning
those things over in my mind, whom should i
gee in one OF the summerhouses but John
'Grilitbs He was lying forward upon the
table, With his face resting upon his clssped
hands, sound asleep. An empty ale bottle and
glass stood close beside him, and his stick had
ialen near his chair. / could not be mistaken
IN hin, though his face was hidden so | went
up and touched him smartly on the shoulder.
a 6ne morning, John says /. - 1 thought
] was here early; but it seems that you were
before me, after ALL"
lie sprang to his feet at the sound of my
voice, IS if he had been struck, and then turn
ed impa,iently away.
N nat did you wake me for?" he said, sui
lenly.
"Because 1 have news to tell you. You
know that the. 9th Of August will be our last
night here. Well, mate, on the 7th, please
God, Pm going TO be married, and -
Curse ycu!" he interrupted, turning
livid face upon me. and an eye that glsred
ike a tigers. "Curse yoal How dare you
come TO me with that tale, you smooth-faced
nouud-.O ne, Of all men living ?n
] was 30 little prepared for this burst of pas
sion, that l had nothing to say; and 80 he
went On.
Why can't you let me alone? What Dc
you tempt me for? I've kept my hands off of
you till row
dc paused and bit his lip, and l saw that he
was trembling from head to foot. | am no
Co0srd--il's lot likely that / should be Pata-
CONAN Brother if | wss-but the sight of his
haired seemed 10 turn me for the moment
quite sick and giddy.
Ny Godl" said ], leaning rp against the
table, "aha. do you mean? Are you mad ?"
lie made ne no answer; but looked straight
a. nee, and tEen walked away. / don't know
how IL uas, b1t from that moment knew ALL
1t VAS written somehow Ia bis face.
Ob. al y, Gear F" / said to myself, with a
gtoau, and sat gown on the nearest bench; /
believe tia. AZ TIA. moment l scarcely knew
where | vas, or what | was doing.
did n5t ser HIM again till we met on the
stage, about az hour afterward, to go through
cur sleie II The rehearsal. 1t was a grand
Easier piece, with a great deal of firing, and
real w..:t r, Gnd living camel in the last act :;
ard Grihtas and / were Mozambique slaves
perform NJ bsi.re the Rsjsh in the Hall of
Csllde-A2cas Excepting that it cost great
deal Of money, tnat is al | ever knew about the
plot; aDd, upon my word, don't believe that
anyhooy else knew much more. By this time
L had, Of curse, recovered my usual composure !;
but cclid tee that Griffths had been drink,
ing, icr hla face was flushed and his balance
unsteady. When inc rehearsal ives over, Mr.
Rice called US into his private room, and
h1cusht out decanter of sherry, with which,
I mast GAy, he was always as liberal Is any
gerii man could be.
tG:aEOLiaIs," says be, for be had a wonder
fully merry way with him, and always called
us 6y lat name, " L suppose you would make
10 Cpj 5ction TO little matter of extra work
and extra pay On the sixth-just to end the
season With something stunniDg-heY2
no, 10, sir, not We, replied Grifiths, in a
sort CT hearty manLeT, that wasn't natural to
bim. We're reacy Tor anything. Is it the
flying business you spoke about the other
Gay
betlet lhaA mat, Sald the manager, filling
up TIE glasses. Ats new French feat that
has never yet been done in this country, and
they call It Inc irapoze. Patagonisns, your
heath
So We drank his IN return, and MIR. Rice ex.
planned 81 about 1t. 1t was 10 be an exhibition
Of pus.uring and a balloon ascent all in one.
AT seine Cis'aTce below the car was to be Sc
cured 2 triangular wooden framework, which
framework Was called the trapeZe From the
lower poe, or base Of this triangle. one of rs
was 10 &c EusP ended, with llgature of strong
leather attached to MS ankle, in case of acci-
dents. Just IS the balloon was rising. and
this man asceljed head downwards. the other
was 10 catch him by the hands and 90 up also.
having, # be preferred It, some baud or other
TO bud him 20 his companion. In this posi-.
ton We were taen to 50 through cur customary
pertormelceF, Continuing them so long as the
balloon remained in sight
AL this ssid Mr. Rice, SOUNDS much
more cangeroas than ii really is The motion
Of q balloon through the air is 80 steady and
imperceptible, that, bat for the knowledge of be.
ing above the housetops, you will perform al
mCst % comfortably as in the gardens. Be-
sides, an speaking to brase men, who know
their business, and are not 10 be dashed by a
trds-hey, Patagonians2"
GrIfh.hs brought mis- hand down heavily unon
the table, and made the glasses ring again.
I'm ready, sir" said he, with an oath. "pm
ready TO do it aloDe, if any man is here is afraid
to go with mel"
He locked st me as he said this, with sort of
mockiug laugh that brought the blood up into
my face.
"If you mean that for me, john" said I,
quickly, q am no more afraid than yourself.
and, If that's all about If, III go up to night -
.srI
year, never could describe the expression that
- .,r.a- LA faca aa | smoke to- IL. v.