The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-06-03

ton thought. Who but q lunatic could
have indfted the ~followiDg2
Mr. Horace-The writer begs pardon,
Neutrality-suspicious. respectable ()
female declines to give you the desired ex-
PLANTATION. Why should she - why In
deed why indeed2 Does d. P. think
that poetic senGibility can succumb TO vul-
gArity. The thoughts that permeate my
mind have nothing in common with the
vulgar herd. B. P. is st liberty to break
of the engagement. Will Arabells a.
Rlisve2 Break q hAir-from off the lions
name, and ask the royal monarch of the
junkle if he feels it. The day is near at
hand that will be big with the events Of
Cato and of Rome" saI
ARABKLLA ALMA"
Horace read over this extraordinary
composition with intense gravity. Any
indignation at Arsbells's heartlessnesss he
might previously have felt was now merged
into 3 feeling of pity for her.
1t was painfully evident to him that she
was touched-wrong in the head and at
ter 8 little reflection he came to the con-
elusion that the best thing he could do IN
der the circumstances would be to call
upon her father and inform that gentleman
of the distressing state of his daughters
mind.
lMr. Alma was q quiet, undemonstrstive
man, proud of his own common sense, and
anxious that those about him should pos
sess the same attribute. Young Poppyton
was a bit of q favorite of his, principally
because, in common with himself, he thor
oughly detezted pAthos. A shravd man of
business had been Mr.. Alma and although
he had now disposed of his business, he
still retained his s~hreWdness.
4 .GWel, Pcp, my boy, what's upP' ex-
claimed MI. Alma, when Horace, with q
very long face and strembling hand, which
held, with 8 tenacious clutch, Arsbella's
letter, made her appearance.
ave called, sir, sbout-Ar-Ara BELLA"
said Horace piteously.
aArsbellal /" said Mr.. Alma, pleasantly;
shes Just left for the country ; gone to see
some friends in Kent"
HHFor the benefit of her health ?" asked
Horace.
"Not professedly," replied Mr.. Alma,
g although 1 think the change will do her
good. LdOn't fancy she has been quite the
thing lately. Do you know what has been
the matter with her Lovers are privileged
creatures en-
D "Don't know, 1 I'm sure, sir, unless -
But there, to be candid with you, sir, 1
have q suspicion that she's not quite right
in the head" said Horace.
GArsbells not right in her headl" ex-
claimed Mr.. Alma; HthAts goodl hsl hal
Why she's no more mad than q hair
dressers dummy; but stay, now 1 think,
Poppy, sit down and let me hear what you
have got TO say"
Horace told him what he had seen over
the water, and then placed Arsbella's let
ter in the hand of her father. The old
gentleman read the eccentric production
with 8 perplexed air, and returned it to
Horace.
ait is strange, my boy" said he, AT
thought the other day the girl seemed
Eighty, bus then 1 attributed it all TO an
overflow of "gush" and animal spirits.
Very lemonsdish stuff that "gush."
Horace remained silent. Presently q
servant entered with a newspaper, just de-
livered by the post.
"Couutry newspaper, and from Arabel-
Ia tool exclaimed Mr.. Alma, unfolding the
sheet; "And bless me Poppy what's this7
How deuced odd"
Here the speaker paused to peruse the
paragraph, the heading of which had at
tracted bis attention
e There" said he, tread that Pop"
MI. Alma handed the paper to Horace,
whoTesd a. follows:
HAMATEUR THEATRICALs.- We per-
ceive By an advertisement in another por.
ton of our journal that the young lady
who is to enact the difficult role of Juliana
in the Honeymoon at the forthcoming
amateur performance in aid Of the yolun-
teer funds, will on that occasion make her
first appearance on any stage. We wish
Miss ArAbells Alma every success"
HFhst's pleasant for q father to read"
remarked Mr.. Alma, drily.
"ThAt accounts tor 8 good DEAL" said
Horace, t'but it doesn't explain the 'over
the water business" he added mentally.
GWhy, Pop, this is the night of the per-
to the newspaper. Greendsle is only half
an hours ride on the North Kent line. Run
down there this evening, my boy, keep
yourself dark, see the performance, and
EWhsf2" asked Horace, perceiVing q
roguish twinkle in Mr.. Alma.
aWrite the critique for the local paper,
and cut up Julisna," replied Nh. Alma.
"ThAfn cure ArAbellA of her passion for
the stage, I'll wsgers pound; or, sll events,
punish the sly puss for her secrecy"
After q little further consultation Mr..
AlmA's scheme was agreed upon, and in the
evening Horace Poppyton took his depart
ure for GreendAle.
The amateur heatricals in aid ofthe funds
of the Greendale volunteer corps proved q
great success in q p~ecunisry sense. Char
ity, under any circumstances, is said to
cover a multitude of sins; and at Greendale
on this particular occasion it most certainly
sheltered some, bad acting. Possibly the
audience who witnessed the performance
were perfectly we'll aware that the "Honey-
moon" was vilely rendered; but then they
reflected that the goodness Of the cause for
which the "poor"-sndthe affective in one
sense was extremely applicable-"PlsyeIs'
hsd exerted themselves should rob criti-
cism of its keen edge. The proprietor Of
the Groendale Comet hitherto s man uni
venRllY respected for his mild, hebdomRdAl
leaders, became an object of universal exc
Grafton for the heathenish attack upon the
ntheatricals'' that had appeared in the col.
umns of his journal. And what could be
urged in extenuation # his impertinence
Nothing ave 8 story to the effect that
about an hour previous to the commence
ment of the performance, q young gentle.
man had entered the Office, represented
himself as being connected witu the Lon
don press, and expressed q desire to crit
else the efforts Of the GreendAle Thes'
plans. It wa granted and the result va
the explosion of 8 bombahsll in Greendsle
It ran down the performances in general
and Miss Alma in particular.
81 should like to knoE the name of tht
man who wrote that wicked article sbou'
me2p exclaimed Arsbells Alma, in tht
presence of her father on her return K
London. ut was cruel-WiekedP
.aNonsense, my dear, / dare say tn
writer spoke his mind" replied Mr.. Aims
Hand the truth, too" he added, soto voct
nBy tho way, ArabellA, Is it on or of will
young Poppyton ?"
HDon't know. How you worry" wa
the sulky rejoinder.
aShe's beginning to talk plain English
q decided improvement" thought he
father. @You had better marry him"
"YelL ! suppose had" returned Ara
bella.
"One question more, love" said he
father. "What we're you dong in Lam
batb-tover the water-the day Horsc