Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-02-26
HER FIRST APPEARANCE.

The HOthams were left OrphAns-thc broth.
or at twenty-five, the sister at twenty-one
years Of agc-but their desOlation was BY no
means extreme: it was tempered by them, as
the Rev. Applepy Swete observed, by Q con.
siderable sum oFmoney in the Three per Cents.
Besides, the girl found in Cecil Hotham at
once parent and brother; more devoted to
her happiness than lover; for his devotion
exceeded that Of woOing time it lasted for
life.
Even il one had not been related 10 her. Il
would have been quito possible TO have become
exceedingly fond Of Nina IIOtham; as Mr.. Swete,
the curate Of Drentfel, where she lived, proved.
SwCte was not strong. minded young person,
but he was very honest and well meaning, and
the living would be his own as soon Is the
then rector (whO was eighty.twol should be
removed from what was denominated, more
technically than literally, his present sphere
Of usefulness. Tho old gentleman had indeed
been put in at seventy -four by Mr.. Swete's
father, the patron, as q warming-pan for his
son, and he had already taken Ave years lon.
ger to keep the place warm than was expect
ed Of him. Still. It was plain that he could
not persist in such annoying conduct much
longer, and Nj. Applepy Swcte's expectations
were-since the living was good one-pro-
portiOnably excellent Nina liked him we'll
enough, though not passiOnately, and her
brother Cecil, seeing that, was, in consequence,
his warm friend and supporter; for, If her
opinion Of the young divine had been uniavor.
able, he would have been bis determined and
uncomprOmising GOo.
It is probable that Nina (shc was fair, tall,
and blue'cycd, with q carriage like that Of q
princess, and will Of her own to match)
would have become Mrs. Swete, and lived and
died the wife Of 4 country rector, had Il not
been for circumstance no less trifling than
that Of an acting charade.
It was winter, aud at the hall where the
old squire, who was king at Brentisll, lived, .
largo party had assembled, among whom were
the Hothams. Private theatricals were q
novelty IN that part Of tho country, and such
acting even as the guests attempted, which
partOOk more Of the nature Of tableaux vivants
than anything else, aroused immense cnthu.
siasm 10 the locality, and attracted more spec.
tators than the double drawing.roOm could
easily hold. Nina Hotham, magnillcently at.
tired, and initiating the silence as well as the
attitude Of some sublime statue, made pro.
found impression. Accustomed ifom heF youth
to . country life, and knowing nothing Of the
world in these volumes Of the unreal, miscalled
Of the imagination, the poor girl became In.
toxicatCd with this partial and Unreasopine
applause. In II, her fancy caught the heralS
notes Of burst Of triumphant acclaim, which
was to sweep perhaps, one day, through chs
length ard breadth of England Of Europe
Of the world. The calling 0f the actress, shs
had often thought was sonething llttls less
than divine; and now she had the exquisite
pleasure Of persuading HERSELF and Of beinp
persuaded, that that high privilege was heI
Own by natural right Vain, hduikNd; tnd
accustomed TO- no other influence than that O
her own impulses, this young gcntlewoman
brought up in afilucncc, and im6ucd with th,