Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1871-07-15
ACT H.-SCENE Ill.

ACT H.-SCENE Ill.
From London Society,"
CHAPTERI.
The Thamcs-a very different riv
er up here beyond Hampton, to the
thick, inky flood which whirl,
through London Bridge-nows al
the bottom Of my lawn, where, witt
my friend Charlie Gordon, | sit and
admire the marvelously varied au.
tumn tints on the trees. The air is
pleasantly warm, and our cigars arc
undcniably tirst-ratc, which, perhaps
partly accounts for the very pleasant
aspect of the world in general. You,
dear reader, whether you be Of the
cnfranchised or uncnfranchiscd sex,
would like Charlie Gordon. Pray
come and join us.
"No, old fellow, 1T is Gordon
who speaks-"things have altered.
1emp0r0 n0ntantuy, as pCnny-a-lin-
ors constantly remark, fancy it is
only in books that fellows have such
queer adventures. :"
"a pcrusal of the ncwspapcrs-cs-
pccially some of the weekly ones
will convince you that queer advcn-
lures do sometimes occur" reply.
"Did you ever hear of the events
which preceded my marriagc?' p
"Wcil, knew something rum had
happened. Some fellow stuck you,
or something or other, didn't he? |
was out of England at the time, and
never heard the particulars, and did
not like to ask you.'
And this is the story which ! told ;
1t was in July of the year before
last that raShly--as then thought
engaged to take the Maioribanks
girls and their mother to an amateur
concert, to hear a scptct by friend
of theirs, named BRISTOL, and some
other pieces of severe music of what
their author considered a classical
character.
| enjoy, and humbly cndcavor to
understand Beethoven and Mozart ;
/ but still | must confess to finding
some three hours of even their sOCi-
ETY. slightly wcarisomc. How tmut-
tcrably drcary is the result when
rash young men, like BRISTOL, who
have hardly enough musical knowl-
edge to write decent polka, take to
composing sCptGts. Composing sep
tets? Anything but composing they
arc, can tell you, You can't very
we'll read during the performance
it's rude to talk; smoking is out Of
the question; and if you groan--as
of course you do-you must only
grOan soto rOcc.
A couple of professional ladies
were engaged, to vary the perform
ancc one of whom, q Miss Blathcr-
bury, had just screamed what the
programme termed song, ard thc
combined effects of vocal and instru-
mental music( p had so overcome me
that | determined, should the accom-
plishmcnts of Miss Cuthbert, who
was to sing next, atall resemble those
of her predecessors, Mrs. Maiori-
banks and her daughters would have
to find their own carriage, and take
themselves home, for | could not
stand it any longer.
The las. scrapC of Bristoll's scptct
was finished, that misguided youth
bowed his Acknowledgements, and |
was endeavoring to bring my teeth,
which had been set on edge, to that
state into which it had pleased Prov
idence to place them, when Miss
Cuthbert appeared on the platform
That appearance decided my future
life.
| have seen beauties in town, in
Paris, in Vienna; | have admired
! hair, and eyes, and figures; but such
attractions, anything so ladylikc as
her manncr-not ladylihe, for it was
the manner of a most perfect LADY,
had never seen before. She sang a
simple German air. What shall
say other song? II was as perfect
as the lips from which il proceeded
She sang twice, and when she made
her final courtesy new and power
full interest had arisen in me.
| took Mrs. Majo.ibMJ.s home
and then suppose, went home my
self. say suppose" for have nc
idea how arrived there; my only
idea being that l had seen the mos
charming girl in the world, md that
by some means, must become ac
oilaintcd with her, The night die
not cool my resolution, and mex
morning ] wcndcd my way to tht
chambers of my friend Harding
who, having a tenor voice, felt itnec
essary to cultivate the society ofpro
fcssional singers, and was possessed
of that unknown amount ofinlorma
ton Oh musical persons and thing
which was described by his fricnd
as being "up to every move"
'B flat, with the greatest ease
: Did you hear it?" he asked, as | en-
tered his chambers. Sorry | can
sing the song for you again, but I'm
going out this AFTERNOON, and an
afraid of firing my voice."
| begged him not to tire his voic
ON any account, and told him whcr
| had been the night bolorc.
, "You went TO Bristoll's conccr
and live to tell the tale? Don't Tel
nc YOU sat it out! Don't endcavo
to impose too much on human crc
dulity. Didn't Miss Blatherbur
+ sing? Treat, wasn'ti ii? Those hig
I notes of hers would rather astonis
: a weakened locomotive, ch? HoN
: any one so closely resembling a hors
!, can make noise so much like a pal
. rot has always been geological my'
terry to meW c,n
dKnow anything ola Miss Gnu
q bert ?" | asked.
= u 81 do know her and to know M
!. is to love her." he replied in thcatl II
q cal tones of feeling. mo, ola ie
low, chatf aside-indeed chaff is a'lf