Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1873-09-05

feef. Inc leItef was p0stmarked Lon
don, and the heavy black border lines
told the story before the seal was brok-
en-. My uncle was dead. He had never
married, and on his death-bed, remem-
bering his only brother, he had left all
his wealth to him or his children
For moment [ felt stunned and faint;
and Ada, throwing her arms about my
neck, begged me to tell her what bad
news was in my letter to make me look
so strange and pale. took her on my
knee, and told her we were rich, and
would have no more need to act in the
theatre. We would leave this misera-
BILE little town and 60 to Berlin.
To my surprise, Ada again put her
arms about my neck, and whispered
softly, ''Need we leave the theatre i'm
mediately, dear brother?"
"No, child" said I, wondering what
she could mean; ''but tell me why you
should want to stay another day, when
you can leave at once and be free from
this slavery?"
'Because, dear brother" she answer
ed, hesitatingly and blushing, "Frau-
lein Dora told me was great deal
prettier than she was, and better
dancer; and that I should have the
first place in the new dance they are
to put on the stage next week. Oh, I
would like to have such a triumph
once! 1t would be such pleasant
way to say good-by to the STAGE
could deny her nothing, my little
sister; and though for me it was like
going into the torture-room of the In
QUESTION to enter the theatre and see
Count Ernest on such familiar terms
with Dora, I consented for the present
to conceal my good fortune from our
friends, and go on just the same as if
nothing had happened.
The eventful evening came at tlength.
The play was interspersed with ballet
dancing, and was to end with a grand
transformation scene in " hieal Ad -aad
Dora were to rise as sea nymphs, in a
a shell-like Car, from the waters of
mimic lake. It so happened that, just
before the last scene, l went into the
room underneath the stage, where the
machinery for raising the car was plac-
ed, impelIed by strange foreboding
ofimpending misfortune, to assure my
self that everything was in order; and
that no precaution against accident
had been neglected. There I found the
master machinist, dark and gloomy
visaged man, standing by the car, NUT
tering to himself in an undertone:-
"Better she should die than marry the
count. He has bewitched her, as he
does all women. A little slit would"
"What are you muttering to your
self?" [ asked him, suddenly; 'eand
what do you mean by these mysterious
words?'
He faced me, as if struck by an un-
expected blow.
81 was only examining the machin-
cry to see that everything was right"
he answered, ,sullenly, and turned away.
[ carefully examined the cords by
which the car was raised. Everything
appeared to be secure and in good Or
der; and [ went back to my place, try
ing to laugh myself out of my appre-
tensions. But though it was easy to
argue that all was right, and that my
fears arose merely y from some explica-
BILE disorder of the brain, [ could not
feel secure. [ was positive that some
frightful misadventure would occur
before the play was over; and every
nerve was strained in the effort to
maintain calm exterior.
The play progressed. The curtain
rose upon the magnificent transforma-
ton scene; and the plaudits of the au-
diences grew tumultuous as the splen-
dors unrolled before them. At length
the car began to rise slowly and majes-
tically, to low, sweet strains of music.
I watched, with scarcely beating heart
and bated breath, the first appearance
of the beautiful vision-for like Wis
ion it looked, rising and still, rising,
the car resplendent with all the tinsel
which shone like gold, and silver, and
diamonds. A sound as of many tink-
ling fountains mingled with the strains
of delicious music; fairy-land seemed
opening upon the sight, with arching
bowers and far-reaching vistas, and
myriads of elfn forms disporting on
the ground and in the air. For mo-
ment [ was fascinated, when Ada and
Cora, in all their beauty, rose above the
lake, their stately car seeming lifted
by invisible hands. / forgot my ap-