The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-06-24

us called 2"
They are called 'Germaz and
THE Midnight Elopement.
And which of the two pieces is
yours, caballero2"
That, gentlemen, by your leave,
shall for the present be secret" re-
piled Senor Mendez, smiling radiantly.
You will do me the honor, trust, to
witness the representation. Then you can
guess. l am very curious to see whether
you will then be able to tell which is the
work of the uncle, and which that of the
nephew"
''I protest in the name of all the
- MUSES. against this insinuation ~ cried
Don Anastasio. "With all due respect
for the talent of your nephew, 1 pro-
test The idea of mistaking his COM
position for yours is simply ridiculous !!
A nineteen-year-o boy aud man like
you-senor, how can you do yourself
or us such injustice3"
CATER the performance, the cabal-
leros will honor me again with their
company" said the worthy savant. eve
will then discuss the events of the even
ing over a glass of Xerez, and the secret,
if not out, shall be disclosed.
4
Again Manuel Alonzo de Castres sat
with Alma Mendez in the study of the
learned Don Eusebio.
In the salon across the hall the clock
struck thref quarters to ten. In the
dining-room adjoining, Jose, the facto-
tllm 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
sad. Alma's flushed cheeks and red
dened eyes made it evident that she had
been crying.
"The fate of your comedy is now
decided, said she, after while. 81 am
surprised, Manuel, that you content
yourself at home tonight"
"Alma," replied Manuel, in solemn
tone, "since L have been confronted
with the possibility of losing you, who
are more to me than all the world be-
| sides-since then 1 am Indifferent to
everything else. Whether I am applaud
ed or not, care little. Can not at any
| time write another and better comedy
But, should you be torn from me, where
should L find another to replace you p
! He had hardly finished when the
voice of Don Eusebio was heard in the
corridor.
"Where is my nephew?" cried Don
Eusebio, in breathless haste. "Call
him, somebody! Send him Immediate
ly to me here in the salon! Quick,
Jose, L must speak with him !"
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 of unheard Of he ex-
claimed as he strode to and fro in the
widest excitement. "What will Don
Anastasio say? L am ruined man
Ruined ruined! ruined % In his
frenzy, he struck his forehead with his
clinched 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 way You are
genius, boy-you are genius !"
Chow so, uncle2" asked Manuel, who
could not help smiling at Don Eusebio's
comical mien.
"How sol" repeated the uncle, in ali
impatient tone. "How so Go into
the street and you will hear the sparrows
cry out from the roofs that the nephew
is genius and the uncle an ass -
"But, my dear uncle -
Silence silence, tell you Do
you want to drive me mad? Oh, that
should live to see this day My reputa-
tion is ruined forever Listen, my boy,
and you shall know the cause of my
despair. l was in my box betimes, and
waited with beating heart for the
performance to begin. Finally it
seemed an age to me-the curtain rose,
and your characters made their appear
ance. In the very first scene between
Gormaz and his servant it was evident
that the audience was very much pleased
Elvira came on, the plot began to be
more involved, and the interest and ap-
plause increased at every moment. I
wept tears OF Joy. Already in imagina.
ton l saw double triumph; for l said
to myself: IF Manuel's ''Gormaz is
such brilliant success, my Midnight
Elopement" must also be well received.
And yet to think what its fate has been
and when the curtain fell on the last |
scene there was round after round of ap-
plause. / thought the braUos would !
never end: but they did end after a
while, and the curtain rose again"
Here Don Eusebio approached Manuel |
and laid both hands on his shoulders.
Look at me well, my nephew" said |
he, after a pause. "In me you see a |
a ruined man Great
Heavens why did I ever undertake to
write comedy z"
"Why, uncle, what are you saying
ruined ?"-
Don't interrupt mel know what /
am saying! Well, finally, the curtain
rose again. My Prince Caracambaroc-
cadi came on and sought to win over to
his interest the major-domo of the
Princess Viribilina. On my soul, Man
uel, the scene is not bad one But
our auditors had become
fatigued, or whether / was the victim of
some disgraceful intrigue, know not,
but certain it is that the dialogue be-
tween the prince and the major, domo
made not the least impression, it never
got a ripple, and when the princess ap-
peared on the balcony and began the
beautiful romanza, the house resounded
with a whistling and kissing that beg
gars description. 1t seemed to me as
though the eyes of the whole audience
were upon me. 1 felt as though could
sink fathom deep into the earth.
From scene to scene the perfidious
racket and confusion increased, until
finally the pit cried out with such un-
feeling, such brutal persistency. End