Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-10-25

thls mysterious epstle. At first he went at it
lBhtiy, az though any one who could be so silly
as TO write OH the outside OF letter could not
have any thing very profound to say; then he
grew troubled in spirit at the intangible charac-
Ter OF the communication as ii commended
Itself TO bis faculty OF apprehension. lie could
make nothing OF it, and was compelled finally to
admit 10. But his mind was full of strange mis-
siylngs:
He took up the second card 1t read as fol-
lows:
My Dtdr Miss SummersOn. I have your
dresses nearly h0shed, and they are the sweet
est tiings that have ever left my establish
ment, do assure you. have taken the liberty
10 make the breeches an inch higher on the
Knee, but by giving little extra fulness to the
cali, we shall IN that way get handsOmer limb
II you have the silk stockings by you, please
send them TO me, as there iulIst be a nice match
IN the pearl-cOlored trimmings. The swOrdbet
have concluded to make OF crimson velvet,
with heavy border of gold cord. 1 wOuld
recommend you unless you have occasion
to draw your sword. to wear s.nply the scabDard,
and an imitation handle that eau procure for
you. IL answers every purpose. 1 speak par
illcularly OF the th1rles, AZ you may want that
first That PocdhoHtds thing Ia giving me more
trouble than ever had in all my business
What people ewRnt to gst up such contrary MKT
ures for cant imagine. But will do my best
with it.
Yours, obediently, JANE THrBAuLD."
BY this time Roger had glimmerng of the
truth, although lie was afraid to confess II TO
bimself. His lines did not lie among the ways of
dressmakers aud mOdistes, but he could scarcely
fail to gather some idea OF the facts.
"Masquerading, eh2" he growled. "Private
theatrtcas, perhaps, and all that rub
blsh, eXpense, ard questionable morality.
Not il can help +, miss. have no no.
ton OF letting my house be turned
into bear-gaIden, nor shall you cut such pranke
on any other mans premises if | can prevent IT,
tu ind. tn
up AS man, in knee-breeches and stockirgsl
What tomfoolery will be done by these hare.
Drained youngsters next? Here is another iucen-
diary postalcard Let us see what 1t says.
Aud the old eayes-dropper gathered the fol-
lowing startling intelligence.
Dear Miss SunnmersOh: l have concluded TO
give your proposition favorable attention. First
appearances risky bings for manager, but
there must be sUne of them, or the race of per-
formers would die out. 1 believe you have a fair
chance of success, or, on both accounts, should
not encourage you. You have youth, intel-
lgeuce, enthusiasm and a style Of beauty that
vail be captivating on the stage. Whether or
not you have the instinct for acting remains to
be seen, but there ls good reason Tor hoping so,
and even IN It's absence. you should, with dill
gence. do fairly well, / intend to put you up in
few nice little parts by way Of trial, and, il all
goes as We hope, to offer you full engagement
Tor next season. l have III Mr.. FOabert just the
man for you in the opposite parts ave put
.haries Tie Second III rehearsal for Saturday, for
performs CO next Monday Two rshearsals OF
II will be ample. Please be OH haud at 10 30 Oh
saturday morning, and after rehearsal We can
talk over all matters Connected with your debM
YOurs to command, PuILIDlB BELI.AIR." "
AT least there was no doubt now The thirg
WAS indeed. dlsguatngly plain. For all instant
did Roger was dumbfUuuded-then lie rang the
bell tutlOusly.
Maria appeared with a shade more of her con-
sttutional tremnr.
Where id Miss Summerson! z"
In her room, sir hluk."
"Send her here, at once.
Maria departed on her errand,and shortly Loo
appeared trembling at heart, but with a strong
Determination to face the music, as Charley
had badb her do.
There, Miss and there aud there" cried
old Roger, in a fury, Throwing dowu one after
another of the letter cards on the table III front
| Of biz niece. That is the way you propose t0
disgrace the family, is ii 2"
Bat Loo was ready for him. She coolly tooA
up the cards and glanced over them
And this is tue way you hrUs disgraeod the
| family" she saiu, "by reading letters that dc
not belong TO you Don't you know, uncle, thai
| tile government legaTds one OF these cards I
sealed letter, and that no one except the pers0I
addressed has any more right to read it than II
| open All envelope with another individuals mann
| upon ita You are my guardian, however, and
/ will not press the night the law gives me- bu
| tile principle remains the same"
| " Pritclple" pretty one you are to talk o
| pincipie You have 40 much of it, 1t appears
| tuat you are willing to everlastlngly hunliilAt'
| every body connected with You by becoming I
play actress. Why, why-it ID Incredible !!
| (And to do the old gentleman justice, he rea
| seemed to think 80 III had not seen proof
| ln the Handwriting OF your manager, costumer
/ aud Wig maker ! could never have believed 1t
Have you entirely and absolutely lot you
| sea4es gir 7 What is the meaning OF 1t T.
1 lalI trln In unna
| want to IN try Charley Waters. and you won
| let me. At least you refuse your consen
| until an twehty-one years old. and keep IN
| cut OF my fortune just when want 1t most. .
| aIu going 10 be Independent OF YOU, and IRE
| 10 marry poor man whom love. Charley Ina
| a bigger soul than you have. uucle Roger. ii
| d.eant dbapise actresses, nor think am BolnI
| to dI-grace my self IN doing what Mrs. Slddoh'
aud Mr.. Landor, aud Miss ,OuHhman. and Susi
| Galion have done for the legitimate amuat
ment and instruction on the human family"
(Gharley had posted Loo in this, but she ha
s1lnehow or other mixed up her anthorities)
"'Mis Slddons and Mrs Lander !. NOW
knoio yon al Q little fool 10 your rooms, mis-
and II l catch you gong 10 reheArsais, or eve
Az much as answering these rascaly letters,
have warrant out for your control. 1t ls N
| belief you are out of your head.
| at il you VINO are out OF your head, uncle,
talk IN that way. Yhu know very we'll that 70
cannot control me, and that the most you ca
do IL to leluso Mhlie 10 give lne "hae 10 u
| own"
Aud in superb fashion. peculiar to thei
Young ones who do not even dream of wh
-cJru aud conluueiy are, Loo swept from u
room, only 10 break into shiver when she g.
outside the door, and show strong hysterlc
| symptoms,
A. for old Roger, he knew the girl had spoke
the simple truth He was in no enviable fran
| of mind as he settled himself to the correapo
dence that remained, and that belonged TO hiI
In the hail Loo met Maria.
ION, miss, crled Maria, Us it true that you a
| going 10 be an actress That will be splendid
What duyOu know about it, Maria! HaN
you baeu reading my letters too p WI.
+ Maria saw at once that her sympathies h
carried her too far, but also felt that evasion W
| uHeless.
WELL mfrs, you see cOnldu't help it. W
on the step when the pustman came up 1
street, and / seen him a-rea1iHg 'eIn M he eon
along ,Aii dldit think nothing about its bell
/ wrong or not til rend EN- too. l hope you
i pardon me luiss, but Ill come and seeyou act,
4 | il iakus ali my wages.
"Iiupn, Mana You give me alright knt
no more about acting than you d., aud dol
care about II half AS mncn, apparently
Maria retired, looking equally mystihed al
: | disappointed
Bit the days surprises were not yet oy'
| That evening another OF the Wretclled pos
cards was handed to Mr.. Paxon. 1t Was addre
I ed to MIR. Richard Dirpham, care of MIR Rof
. | paxOn.' and the communication YVES Ia the
I | words
. = ..Dedr Mr., Bisplam: l have mislaid yo
direction, 30 address this in care of our mutt
> friend, Paxon / am in hurry, aud happen
A have nothing by me IN the way OF writing MAJ
- rails but one of these new cards! The inqh
:. | Won IN IKE regarding my young friend ana {