The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-06-10

TO everything-sayS be would no ad-
wise, nor contradict, nor suggest, nor
refuse, nor doubt. nor run away-can
YOU want more than that? Don't be
afraid, Gracey. Let US FIX on a
But I was afraid. Our friends were
arriving; a dozen people were In the
drawing room already. l had no idea
of making an exhibition of myself
! with nv valentine who had several
times treated this Valentines day as
being a serious epoch In his life. and
as something TO be endured with vague
wondering, and an odd anxiety, which
he tried to hide with gay woods,
which was something quite real, and
as it seemed to me, very plain to see,
and altogether impossible to account
for.
More carriages, more bell ringing,
more greetings, more teal My battle
with BERTHE was lost. | was defeated.
We were to have eharades; and the
first word to be acted was to be Fear
full, out of compliment to me. You
are in that unreasonable state of agi-
tation, that you will scarcely need to
act anything. Gracey." | could only
sit and smile; / was beaten. and very
amiable under my misfortune.
Now, the room in which we acted.
was a long drawing room. Standing
at the top of this room, if you looked
/ down its length of over thirty-three
feet, youfsaw two doors; one was at
the end of the on the right
hand, and led into a library, the
other at the side. as far down as. could
be, and led into the hall. Our only
preparation for our favorite pastime
was to bring into the room two large
screens. They were so placed as TO
divide off the end of the room which
was to be our stage, and to hide the
two doors by which we came on
and went of. The middle space be-
tween the screens was marked off by
a row of wax lights on the floor, aad
a fence, made of long, low, wire
guards, which had been contrived for
the purpose. The only popularity of
this draWing-rOom arose from the fact
of its having been made by throwing
two rooms together, by which means
there were two 6re-places. One was
at the end opposite our stage, the
other In the center of the left hand
side, and opposite the windows. They
had CRATES and chimney-pieces exact
ly alike, aud each had a locking glass
that reached up to the ~cornice of the
room. The glass over the side chin
ney-piece could be seen perfectly by
the actors. and when at the further
end of the stage u !" situations ,"
were reflected in it.
Before the charade began. | spoke
to Major Deverel: The syllable fear
is to be a scene with banditti, you
know; you are to be just entering the
stage from the library. / aud my
friends and our maid are t come on
the stage In a state of terror, the ban
ditti having robbed US, and turned US
out of our carriage. | rush up to you
to save us-and you he was listen
ing with the drollest half smile on his
attentive face. / know | looked
alarmed for the success Of my acting
that he might be concerned in, and
he read my thoughts exactly.
Don't be frightened before the
time" he said. Il won't arrange
anything. Whatever you may do, 1
shall do exactly as l ought to dol
mean. as l should do if so placed in
real life. Now go; BERTHE is making
signs for you"
What outrageous, silly confidence
And yet he spoke so pleasantly that I
could not scold.
BERTHE was in full power; a blazing
interest in the work to be begun in
, stantly glowed in his handsome face
as he said Oh, Major, have you
: pistols? All, you have changed your
coat" | then saw that be had a
cloak on. and pistols strapped round
: him. Your father dressed me-" he
: said. have not done anything my.
: self. Lgo with the stream this Val.
entine's Day. and make the best OIL
: the place on which the stream may
land me; that is all I am going &c
d0p sF&Atsszf g
!, l can only add to this record of our
conversation, that | was more puzzled
than ever by Major Deverel's words
and manner, and found myself on the
stage informing my audience. by
means of a talk with my friends, thai
: we had left u travelling carriage fol
= the luxury of an afternoon walk
while proceeding toward Naples OF
j, an October day.
e OFF we went, and on came the ban.
: ditti by the library door behind us
Their evil intentions were announced
in the same fashion. and they passed
: of, as we had. The stage was then
: occupied by Major Deverel. supposed
to be on a walking expedition. From
] the cries of alarm-the clash of weap.
2 ous-we women rushed back to the
! stage. The maid on her knees In !
[ paroxysm of fright, the friend, faint.
ing ON theG top of the maid, and
rushing VI 10 Major Deveral, crying
- Save usI'