Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1868-05-15
TcoSrtsUED FROM tsT PAGE


should be whiskerless?" l asked, family |
"Why, judge for yourself; how a
powdered wig looks with-hem The
worst of itis,O she added, "that when |
undertook thc-part of Maria it was
with the supposition that you would be
the 'Fortescue.
Those who are acquainted with the
Belle of Penzonce, must be told that
"Fortesque" is the lover of Maria"
and several half romping, half-armor-
Gus scenes are enacted between them
knowing this, if they had heard how
Ada hesitated, and seen how she blush |
ed as she spoke, they would not wonder
that my breath came short, and n sing
ing arose in my ears. My left hand
closed upon the fingers which were form
ing that bridge; my right arm stole
around her form; l felt intoxicated by
the magnetic halo which flOated about
her hair.
"Take care" she said 81 cannot
make my stroke you come so close"
| knew there was such thing as
throwing away race by making the
running too early.
"Hityour own b-b-b-ball in the exact
centre, and rather high" l stammered,
"and you-you would not like OBri-
that is, any other fellow to to-take that
part, in fact"
81 declare, l won't answer you " she
cried. "Of course, / know you, an new
er saw the most of the Others before, and
such things make all the difference, you
know. TO be kissed, even in make be-
lieve, by man one has seen for the first
time week before, makes one feel ner-
vous but there ~ Ecstasy she classed
O'Brian with the men "she had only
known for u week ~ And then she had
No mr. finn1 hin, a oil those SnIpndiG
parties.
And she had noticed and remembered
me.
ooh, that 1t was not make-believe
Let us rehersc our parts"
"Where is the use she murmured, "if
you will not make a small sacrifice p
And she looked so delciously shy and
conscious, that ] cried in rapture; "I'll
do t."
"What! part with these?" and she
laid finger more beautiful than .Auro-
ra's on one of my whiskers.
YES
"You must give me one as a memento.
Get up; there is some one certainly COM
ing"
1t was Miss WintOn and Captain Sey-
mour, who came just in time to prevent
formal offer. | went off to my bed
room, locked the door, opened my dress
ing case, took out cissors and razor, and
began the dreadful task.
infatuated, mad that l was, insert
ed the expanded points of the fatal
shears, gave cOnvulsive clip, and in
half minute the carefully tended
growth of years fell to the dressing ia
bic. 1 cannot bear to recall how look
ed at that moment. AS quickly as pos
sible, cut off the companion whisker
and then shaved my cheek clean. On
my way down stairs, l met Sir Thomas
who stopped, stared, and asked my
name. He did no recognize me. Young
WintOn, who was always late, was
breakfasting when ] entered the morn
ing room. He dropped cup of hot
coffee over his knees, and nearely ,choak-
ed.
Leaving aim in his misery, l encoun-
tered ayoung lady visitor, who crammed
her pocket handkerchief into her mouth
and fled.
But it would be tedious to recount the
effect l produced upon each individual
member of the household. All, even
the. faithless Ada, laughed at my appear
ance, except OBrian, who looked upon
my transformation from a purely dra-
matte point of view. Others were d.
vided as to whether | most resembled a
plucked fowl or a recently shorn sheep,
but the veritable amateur said: "Sure he
will make an elegant 'Fortescue,'" and
stuck to that view of the question.
The company soon got used to the alter
alton, and the dramatic business now
went as smoothly as hand passed over
my cheeks. / had the Intoxicating priv
ilege, the tantalizing element in which
was tempered by hope, of making sic
Ond hand love to Ada in daily rehears-
ole fill Mt loSt tho tho doU nf nnSifiyp
performance arrived.
We all knew our parts, but whether
we acted them well or not, it is difficult
to Judge: our audience was bound in
common pOliteness to be pleased, and
the fiattering applause and profuse con-
CALCULATIONS we received cOnnOt be
counted or much. At any rate, every
body seemed delighted, and the whole
affair was counted success.
When a .fete which has cost some
time, thought, and labor in the prepare
ton, is over, a heavy WEAKNESS and de.
preston is apt to weigh upon the prin-
the majority of the company assembled
at Winton Hall.
But l felt nothing of this. What
were private theatricals or balls, past OF
future, to me? Means to an end, one
end-Ada. How could my mind bt
cloudy as she smiled upon me? How
feel depressed when such hopes elevated
me?
On the morning following the per
f0rmance, l awoke early with firm de
termination to turn comic courtship int
earnest, and force plain yes or no from
her that very day. To lie in bed will
such pricllle in the pillow was quite
impossible, so i got up, dressed, an(
want for a walk IN naSSinp thrOupl
the garden on my way back to breakfas
/ became aware that somebody else wa
also in high spirits, for well-knowI
voice behind the shrubbery was singing
The Pigs in the Morning; and OH turn
ing the corner of path which brOugh