The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1860-05-10

spent the time proftably by composing
an epitaph upon our probable fate,
which, standing at tho foot Of the
stairs, he shouted out to me word by
word
How long I sat in the solitude Of my
own room I know not Weary Of the
present, I had gone back into the days
Of the past-days that could never re-
turn When I awoke to actual life il
was dark, and the room felt dark and
chilling. There was an unusual clat-
ter Of voices and sound Of feet below,
and hurrying from one room 10 anoth.
. er. passed down the dark staircase
i and opened the parlor door, and then
started back at the food Of light and
, the sight that burst upon mel The
. parlors were most brilliantly lighted,
. and full Of company-my particular
. iriends--many of whom 1 had thought
j far distant; the friends of the family
{ we're all there. What q complete change
from the dark, chilly room above, and
the society of my own somewhat sOmbre
thoughts to these cOzy, comfortable par
e lOrs and this pleasant company, every
one Of whom had something agreeable
s or complimentary to say to me, as, with
% John beside me to keep me in coun-
tenance, I received the friends who
= crowded about me. What a change,
r too, had come over the family. All
, the restraint which had so vcxed me
o during the day was gone, My uncle
and aunt we're ten times kinder to me
i than usual, if such a thing could be
a possible. My cousins, too, were com
s pletely transformed into polite and
agreeable people And as Harry pre-
C sented me with a magnificent bouquet,
/ he whispered
y "Let that atone in part for my saucy
= speeches to-day, Cousin Emily"
{ I thought at that moment I could
D have forgiven him much greater offences.
'Now," said John, Eve are to have
C a series of taJlsqur, all in your honor,
r Emily. You are not expected to take
IL part in them, otherwise than by staring
i at them most intently, for 1 assure you
they will be something remarkable"
r. l laughed, promised to stare at them
f most intently, and seated myself with
y oAbAA VI bAlN NhlAl pau 40 WGlN AAb nANel %
t, In our rather old.iashioned mansion
the library connected with the parlors
= by means of folding doors, and these
I being now pushed aside, disclosed the
1t theatre of performances The changes
which the library had undergone, ac
d counted also for the hammcring sound,
% I had heard in the morning.
1t The first tqJledu was rather failure
It 1t represented John in a very pictures
i que dress, and with a drawn weapon
=, standing over Frank, who couched upon
f the ground in terror. The bright weop
G on. so near his curly head, must hav,
% frightened my little fuvoritc, for ht
made very porccptibe movement
f which greatly amused the spectators
e but destroyed the effect of the picture
e Then followed a representation of Evan
3t geline, with sweet sad face, sitting by
the "nameloss grave" Ruth among he
10 sheaves Of wheat besides various groups
which looked remarkably we'll Littl,
j. Red Riding Hood, which character wa
/ represented by blooming Amy Anthem
in a charming rod cloak, was anotho
attractive feature.
&c But the aJlcaw which most engaged
h my attention was the last Of all, where
G David was represented as mournin.
over the dead 4 AbsalOm Harry, as A
+, salon, lay in tho very somblance OF
% death, every feature in perfect ropOse.-
p There was a hush among the spectators
r for perfect stiffness was such novelty
in connection with our wild, roguisl
1T Harry, that this seemed real, too real
IN Over the bier bowed David in all tht
y majesty of woe The face of the acto
=" was hidden from my sight but the bowot
" form, the attitude alone proclaimed th,
ID depth of human suffering. Never be
re fore, to my knowledge, had I seen thu
,r person who represented David, nor di,
he seem known to tho company, fo
10 when the curtain fell every one askcl
fit Of his neighbor the question, "WhD
D. acted Dayid?' None knew.
t. A little later in the evening [ man
d, aged to find Harry, who looked now a
S. little like the dead Absalom as it wa
K possible to look, and endeavOred to cx
lis tract from him some information in re
10 gard to the stranger; for, strange &
lg say, that was tho subject upon whic
st my thoughts oftonest dwelt, But uar
he ry pretended perfect ignorance.
IN "How should 1 know who it was
when my eyes were closed the Who'll
cd time? l tell you what it isn't an cas-
ITO thing to act Absalom."
RI. But you certainly knew who wa
a leaning over you, Harry"
10, ~ know think not. had as muo
on as I could do to keep perfectly still"
IA saw that there was nothing to B
at exacted from Harry, so / attacked job
SOL upon the subject But my question IT
he main unanswered, for John was agai
We seized with one of those fearful fits O
by coughing that had engaged my sympi
ng thy in the morning.
in "Now that / have recovered, Emily
le, said John, when it pleased him to 5tC
IN. coughing, "just come with me into Il
1 dining from this crowd, I''
ho something there to show you"
lie, Aud something indeed there wasi e
there stood my good uncle, with boa
got tiful gold watch in his hand which
vas presented to me with few simple b
affecting words. Then followed n