Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-12-08


only lrom gentle and friendly feeling
Tor the brother of the grl she had learn
cd 10 love like 4 sister, aud that she had
promised to become the wife OF Count
Won Walters. What woader that | went
10 my lodgings with despaire in my
heart.
My little sister eXsrted herself to make
ihiugs cheerful in oug quiet sitting room.
She suspected nothing OF the real cause
ot my down.heaucdneSs, for she, my
confident in everything else. had nc'er
been entrusted with the secret ior my
love loI Dora; aud, in The hope OF draw
ing me out OF nv moody silence, prat
tied on about number OF uuimpOItaut
matters. She was interrupted 10y a
knock at the door, followed 0y the en-
trace oil our landlady. The COOL soul
apsiosjzed Tor coming ia ul 50 iaic au
hour, but the poSimau had brought q
letter tor mo just alter VIC had lell ior
the theatre. aud, as il bore u losv'su
po.:mark, she thought ii mas, &c impor.
tau. | should set j. that evening. /
thanked her mechanically; bu, a glance
At the post mark caused me 20 tear shc
letter open with eager aud trembling
fingers. lor | had often heald my father
speak of an only brother, who had set
tied in Eng.aud in caI,y yonIh, and irom
whom vague reports CAME, from tine 10
time, OF a successful, mercantile carccl.
The letter Was p1stmarNcd London, and
the heavy black border lines told the
story before the seal was hroGcn. My
uncle was dead lie had never mtyted;
and. ON hi, deaih5ed. remembering his
only brother. lelt all la, wealth To him
OF his children. For momen; | felt
stunned aud faint. and Ada, ,hrsWing
her arms about my necG, begged me to
tell her what bad news was in my letter
to make me look so strange aud pale. !
took her Oh my knee. and told her we
were lch and would no mocc need 10
act in the theatre. We would .oaye this
li,te town aud 20 10 Berlin.
10 my surprise Ada again pat her mms
around my neck, and whispered softly,
' Need No leave he theatre Immediately.
dear J.oIAey'"
No child said !. wondering what
she could mean; "bat tell me why you
sheu,d wan 10 stay another day, when
you can leave at once and be free from
slavery"
"Because. dear brother. she answered
hesiIating.y and bIushing. "Frru!ein
Dora told me was \ great deal pretIier
than she was. and better dancer aud
that should have the first place IN the
new Iance they ATE to put on next wees,
Oa. would ike 10 have such triumph
oaee il would be such pleasant Nay
10 .Ay good bye ~ Tie stage.
cosla deny her nothing, my luue SIS
TOT. Aai though tor NE IL Was Ike going
.u.o lAo toItale room OI The lnqaisiIlon
lo enter Tho theatre and see Count Erno't
On suoh familiar terms with Dora. con.
sented TOT the present 10 conceal my good
fortune from our friends. aud 20 on just
.he same "a it nothing had happened.
The eventual evening came at length.
rhc play was iu,er>p >pessed with ballet
dancing. and was 10 end with q grand
scene. In which Ada and
Dora were 10 li>e as sea uymPhs, in a
,heli.iihe car, from he waters Of - mimic
lake. l, 50 happened that. just before
he las, scene. went iuie the room rn.
lernea,h Me stage. where the machinery
.og raising he car was placed, impelled
Jy strange ioreboding OF impending
to assure myself that every.
.hiag was in order, aud that no precau
lion against acc.den. had been neg elected.
There found The master machinist, .
.lsrs and gloomy ,isascd man, standing
yy the ca. muUering 10 himself in an
Better Size should die than
marry the count. lie has bew.ched her
AS he does all women. Avery .hte sit
"What are YOU muliering to Yourself? -
| asked him suddenly; and what do
YOU mean Oy these mytetioUs words"
He faced me a5 il struck by an uu-
expected blow.
Il was only examining the machinery
to sec that everything was all right" he
answered slienly, and turned away.
carefully examined the cords by
which the car was raised Eevery thing
appeared to be secure and in good order;
and went back to my place and trying
10 laugh myself out OF ny apprehenSi9ns.
But though il was easy to argue that al.
was right. aud that my te,rs arose from
some explicaJle disorder OF tie brain, |
could not feel secue. l WAS positive
that some lrighliul misadyeuture could
occur Uelere The play Was over; and
every nerve was strained in the effort 10
4 calm exterior.
The play progressed. The curtain rose
upon the magnilieen. transformation
scene, and the plaudils ol the audience
grew mole lumuiiuogs as The splcndors
lnroled before them.
At length the car began to rise slowly
and majeslicaliy, 20 low, sweet strains OF
music. watched, with scarcely beating
heart aud bated breath. the first appear.
ince OF the beautiful yision-lsr like a
.p1 sill tiSipfr