The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1872-11-23
BEHIND THE CURTAIN.

see and hear.
Before the green curtain great as
sem blage was gathered together. There
was a confused mass of bouquets, jewels
bright, eager faces and restless hands,
all, glimme,ing beneath tho sea of bril-
liant light like garden Of living
breathing flowers.
Behiud the curtain all was confusion
Hurry up, boys !! the property man
cried, making his way out, and gather
ing up an armiul OF tools, the orchestra
is up now. Excuse me, Miss Cecil J
This last was said to slight young
girl, who just then was coming down
the passage, tapping one hand with
roll of manuscr pit, and whom he very
nearly run over
"Quite excusable, l am sure, Mr..
Deanc. l was not observing anything,
or should have seen you l am nervous
tonight.
you ought not to be, Miss Cecil
You have played this part times enough
Yes; but ! am particularly anxious
10 please tonight
'So,nc attraction in front p he laughed
And she shook her head and laughed
too, as ifthere might possibly be some
thing in his suggestion, aud then walked
away down, and crossed the stage, and
toHk up her position in one of the en-
frances near the front
he orchestra was playing, by this
time, and the work of preparing the
opening scene going busily on; aud,
leaning against the wings, Cecil looked
drcamily out.
She was rarely beautiful girl, with
shining hair, curled aud braided in II
teaut. ul mass; with great eyes black as
nlidui; -, and AS soft aud clear as Iimpid
water; with mouth ripe red aud glow
ing, and a happy, cnre-frce face, | ke
that Of very young child,
just then there was an eager light n
her beautiful eyes, and happy smile
ripping about her sweet mouth, aud an
eager expectancy in every expression
and attitude.
Her little hands came ncryousiy to-
sether, us the orchestra ceased playing,
and she drew back until the great cur
tain rolled slowly up.
Then low, soft, tender strain of
nlgsiC stole forth from behin4 the mimic
trees, bathing the weird and strangely
natural scene in food of mellow light.
And while the very air was throbbing
with the wild melody, aud all the vast
assemblage was i'll attitude intent, Cecil
elidcd, like a fairy, from her hiding place
aud came Slow ly toward the frontligh,s
For moment there was brcathless
silence; then round oF applause rang
out which sh"ek tie building ifun pit
to dome, and the lovely benefciarie
bowed her mead, and smiled that winning
smile which for months, had been bewil
dering the public.
But if the audience had watched
closely, they would have seen the dark
eyes wandering toward box where
party of gentlemen were sitting, anl,
lighting up with strange degree ofin
tcrcst, as one of the party leaned for
ward and smiled.
He was splendid looking fellow, a
trife gay and reckless, but handsome as
picture with fair skin, deep blue eyes,
sunny hair and a grand profile.
She took his face in with one glance
of her dark owes, then turned back and
began her song. How she sang 1t
was flood of melody from beginning to
epd--a wild song, full of sweetness aud
pathos. and rendered with all the ear.
nestness and richness of an impassioned
voice and all the correctness aud preci
sion of true artist
When it ended, the audience arose in
masses, and shook the building with
their thunders Of applause.
But she heard nothing, saw nothing,
but the face OF the man within the box
near her, and the cluster Of flowers
which fell, with shower of others, at
her feet. That one cluster she gathered
up in her white iuges lightly over
her pretty head, and stood there, in
graceful, smiling attitude, uutil the
painted curtain hid her from his
view;
This was the beginning Of Cecil Gray's
friendship for Asbpry knight. They
Ind met hnfore had ob.ffa6 and o,oss