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

was confused mass OF bouquets, Jewels
bright, eager faces and restless hands,
all glimmering beneath tho sea of bril-
liant light like a garden of living
breathing flowers.
Behiud the curtain s!i 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 =
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 worry
nearly run over.
"Quite exou$aIle, l am sure, Mr..
Deanc. / was not observing anything.
or should have seen you. 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
Some attraction in front p he laughed
And she shook her head and laughed
too, as ftherc might possibly be some
thing in his suggestion, aud then walk cd
away down, and crossed the stage aud
tnhk up her position in one of the EN-
frances near the front
The 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, curlod aud braided in II
teaut' ul mass; with great eyes black as
nidui. ht, and as soft aud clear MS limpid
water; with a mouth ripe red and glow
ing, and a happy, care free face, k,
that Of very young child.
just then there was an eager light n
her beautiful eyes, and n happy smile
ripping about her sweet mouth, and an
eager expectancy in every expression
and ;<itude.
Her little hands came ncryousiy to-
sethcr, US the orchestra ceased playing,
and she drew back until the great cur
tain rolled slowly up
Then low, soft, tender strain of
mssi, stolo forth from bchiuk the mimic
trees, bathing the weird and strangely
natural scene in food of mellow ligh t.
And while the very air was throbbiug
with the wild melody, and all the vast
assenblagc was i'll attitude intent, Cecil
elidcd, like fairy, from her hiding place
aud cane slow ly toward the front. lights
For moment there was Lrcuthlcss
silence; then round OF applause rang
out '" hich shook the building from pit
to dome, and the lovely bcnefciarie
bowed her head, and smiled that winning
smile which Tor months, had been bewil
dering the public.
But if the aulicnoo haG watched
closely, they would have seen the dark
eyes wandering toward box where n
party of gentlomcn were sitting, AMI.
lighting up with strange degree ofn
tcrest, as one Of the party leaned for
ward and smiled.
He was splendid looking fellnw, a
trifle gay and reckless, but handsome as
piefure' with fair skin, deep blue eyes,
sunny hair and 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. aud 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, aud the cluster Of flowers
which fell, with shower of others, at
her feet That one cluster she gathered
up in her white fnges lightly over
her pretty head, and stood there, in
u 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
had met before, had chatted, and c,oss.
ed swords in meaningless Irritation;
butthat night the actual campaign Of
friendship opened, and the old. old sto-
ry was begun again. 10 ono of its pocu.