Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-06-14
Written for the CHICAGO ELEcTRoTYPE NEWS,
HETOILE PERDIT.
BY HELEN IUQUEER.

''The gentleman has faintedP
"Fainted2 Who? Where, WillieP'
and Mrs. Bennett glanced in eager, vul-
gar curiosity around the crowded theatre.
'Why, mother, the gentleman in the
opposite private box, returned the young
lady. 1 have been watching the party
ever since they came in; he is so dark
and distingue looking, and the lady SO
elegant"
eyes, he seems to have tainted. No,
seeP replied Mrs. Bennett, che is sitting
up again. But, heavens! how pale he is,
and with what ghastly smile he puts
away Madam's wet handkerchief and
fan"
"Who upon earth can they beT quer-
ried her daughter.
The question was answered by her
brother Charley, who Mile declared
was perfect walking encyclopedia of
town knowledge.
"They are tourists and stopping for
few days at the Ridge House." said he,
"and are from France, Germany, or some
other foreign land"
every defniteP laughed his sister.
'But what face he just turned in this
direction? 1t was positively savage"
'He is evidently annoyed by the vul-
gar curiosity of the people. Everybody
is staring at them. Do look in another
direction, Mile. See how the clods are
gaping? The Lord deliver me from
town that apes city ways with country
manners"
The subject of criticism was Major
Layasuer-the lady with him widow
ed sister. This much was known at the
hotel where they were stopping for
time in an overgrown country town,
boasting of a couple of churches (rather
smalI), and theatre of pretentious di-
mensions, for the size of the place, and
by way of contrast, the pride and exceed
ingly better patronized of the institu-
tions.
Madam Ponsetta had said to her broth
er, after their early dinner:
"How in the world, Claude, are we to
manage the long evening? five do not
find something to kill time it will be the
death of usl'
"Did I not tell you, Pauline, that had
taken box at the theatreP'
"Theatrel" and Madam widely OPEN
ed her eyes. 'Now know, Claude, you
have designs upon me. Think of being
cooped up in asweltering little hole upon
such a night as thisl"
"Of course it is not as grand as those
in Paris, but it is still quite creditable,
and boasts an interesting bill for the
night-an Italian troupe, or something
of the kinda new prima donna getting
accustomed to the stage and the public,
it is said, preparatory to a grand debut
in the great city. At any rate it will
pGsser le temps, as you say, ma ctIere."
Accordingly at the appointed hour
they were seated in their box at the
theatre, the cynosure of all eyes; the
elegant attire and brilliant jewels of Mad
am quite distracting attention from the
actors.
She sat tanning herself with a well
pred expression of ennui, stared at by
the Bennetts from the opposite box, as
well as the lesser lights. while her broth
er, sitting at her side, commented upon
the performance for her amusement.
at is a positive affliction, Claude" re-
turned she with an expression of disgust.
"Good heavens what voice that fellow
has. It is too shallow to be bass, and too
heavy to be anything else. And then
the nasal twangp
'But you will admit his pose being that
of Apollop answered the Major, "and