The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-06-28

us calledF
They arc called 'aeruaa and
The Midnight Elopenent.' =
"And which Of the two pieces Is
yours, caballerol" g
THAT, gentlemen, by your leave,
shall for tie present be q secret" re-
Piled Senior Mendcz, smiling radiantly.
p" You will do mo the honor, trust, TO
witness the representation. Then you can
guess. lam very curious to see whether
you will then be able to tell which Is the
work OF the uncle, and'wllich tilat Of the
nephew"
''I protest in tho name Of all the
Muses. against this insinuation !" cried
Don Anastasio. "With all due respect
for the talent Of your nephew, l pro-
testl The idea Of mistaking his com.
position fof yours Is simply ridiculous !
A nineteen.year boy and a man like
you-senor, how can you do yourself
or US such injusicel"
"After the performance, the cabal-
leros will honor me again with their
company" said the worthy ssyant. 1--WE
will then discuss tho events Of the even
Ing over glass Of Xerez, and the secret,
II not out, shall be disclosed.
Again Manuel Alonzo de Castres sat
with Alma Mendez in the study Of tho
learned Don Eusebio.
In the salon across the hall the clock
struck thref quarters to ten. In the
dining-rooln adjoining, Jose, the facto-
tum Of the establishment, was busy set
ting the table in his best style
Manuel clasped Alma round the waist,
He was thoughtful, but by no means
sud. AlmA's flushed theeks and red.
dened eyes made 1t evident that she Ind
been crying. q
"The fate Of your comedy is now
decided, said she, after while. III am
surprised, Manuel, that you content
yourself at home tonight"
"Alma," replied Manuel, in solemn
tone, "since / have been confronted
with the possibility Of losing you, who
are more To me than all the world be.
sides-since then / am Indifferent to
everything else. Whether am applaud
cd or not, | caro- little. Can 1 not at any
time write another and q better comedy Z
But, should you be torn from me, where
should 1 find another TO replace you ="
He had hardly finished when tho
voice Of Don Eusebio was heard in the
corridor.
"Where Is my nephewP' cried Don
Eusebio, in breathless haste. "Call
him, somebody Send him Immediate
ly to me here in the saloni Quick,
Jose, / must speak with himl" s
Herewith he burst into the salon,
slung his gold.bordered hat into one
corner, and threw himself full length on
an ottoman, with the air Of one in the
deepest despair, only to spring to his
feet again the next minute.
"Unheard OIL unheard Of he ex-
claimed, as lie strobe 10 and fro in the
widest excitement. "What will Don
Anastasio sayi I am a ruined man
Ruined | rninedl ruinedln In his
frenzy, he struck his forehead with his
clinehed fist again and again.
"Ah, here you are at last" said he to
Manuel, as he entered the salon. 81
began to think you were never coming.
Look ,at me, boy-but, for Heavens
sake, not in that stupid wayl You are
a genius, boy-you are q genius |"
"How so, unclei" asked Manuel, who
could not help smiling at Don Eusebio's
conical mien.
"How sol" repeated the uncle, in an
inpatient tone. "How sol Go into
he street and you will hear the sparows
ny out from the roofs that the nephew
s q genius aud the uncle an ass l''
"But, my dear uncle
Silencei-silence, I tell you'll Do
you want to drive me madi Oh, TINT I
,hould live to see this dayl My reputa-
ion is ruined forever | Listen, my boy,
md you shall know the cause OF my
despair. I was in my box betimes, and
Raited with beating heart for the
performance to begin. Finally-it
leemed an ago to me-the curtain rose,
md your characters made their appear.
lnce. In the very first scene between
1ormaz aud his servant II was evident
hat the audience was very much pleased.
Elyira came on, the plot began to be
nore involved, and the interest and ap.
,lause increased at every moment 1
yept tears Of joy. Already in imagine
ion l saw double triumph; for l Raid
o myself: III Manuel's " Gormaz " Is
uch brilliant success, my mMidnight.
must also be well received.
md yet to think what its fate has been |,
Well, they went on with your Gormaz,
nd when the curtain fell on the last
Gene there was round after round OF ap-
,lause. I thought the brduos would
ever end: but they did end after n
shile, and the curtain rose again" II
Here Don Eusebio approached Manuel
nd laid both hands on his shoulders.
"Look at me well, my nephew" said
Ie, after a pause. "In me you see q
Iisgraced, ruined mani Great
Ieayensi why did I ever undertake to
srite o eomedyf"
"why, uncle, what are you saying
Iispracedi ruined ~ -
"Dont interrupt mel know what I
IN sayingl Well, finally, the curtain
ose again. My Prince Caracambaroc-
adj came on and sought TO win over to
lis interest tho major.lomo Of the
Princess yiribilina. On my soul, Nam
lel, The scene Is not q bad onel But
whether our auditors had become
atigued, or whether I was the victim Of
Iome disgraceful intrigue, ] know not,
mt certain II Is that the dialogue be-
ween the prince and the major domo
made not the least impression, II never
,ot a ripple, and when the princess up.
,,eared on the balcony and began the
romanza, the house resounded
,,,ti, a ,,h;pti;n1 and hiaainp flint ha0.