Litchfield enquirer., 1879-12-25


 in his attitude, which dimished the impression of supernatural powers in repose. Something tremuldus also about the lips interfered with the clear-cat sardonie smile which they were meant to wear.4 Yet the. old actor spoke firm 1 ly enough. and with good. discretion and the scene of his first meeting with Faust" was we'll received. I fancied that he gave me kindly glance out of the corner of his diaboli- fcal eye, x Encouraged by this. and perhaps, desiring to assert myself against my we'll groomed neighbor in the stalls, I left my seat l at the end of the first act and went behind the scenes that 1. might pay my respects to . Mephistophel His profession seemed to give him courage Dressed in red, and under his tall, stiff plume, he looked about hinr more freely. He shook me by the hand, and thank ed me for my presence with flourish of the arm, and somewhat old fashioned courtesy. "I think you do not know my daughter, he said, with a sighter flourish of the other ! arHtoward young lady, who stood "a few ! yards off. I bowed shyly; she nodded, glanc 1 ed at me for a moment, and then turned her l eyes away again as if she were looking for somebody. Her glance was peculiar she did i not favor me with second so, while her fa- 1 thor talked to me of the part and points, was able to look at the daughter. Her body was beautifully proportioned, but the curves were little too full, or seemed so to me. Her hair
 
 1 in the sunlight, it would have but little warmth or brilliancy. The most striking fea- lures were the eyes, which were large, but l very deeply set under dark brows and lashes | As studied those eyes, and paid but slight at tention to the critical remarks of the old gen. tleman became by degrees aware that the | eyes from out of their strange shadow were I looking at me. They were sulky, provoking, and amused. When 1 was sure that they rot, foo bol my discovery, expected that they would be turned aside. They continued to regard me with their half-sullen, half humorous look, until turned away rather sharply and inter- | rupted the flow of the old genteman's dis course He stopped short, supposing that l had some luminous remark to make. 1 stam- | mered out an apology, and was turning again to seek again the front of the house, when l found myself face to face with my neighbor of the stalls. Though had trodden on hls shln- ing boot, he regarded me with face carefully divested of expression. Then he looked be- yond me- and saw the girl greeted him with curt nod ! 'How dye do, my lord ?' said the old gen. | tleman, with his most nervous manner. He | seemed to have lost his his short lived self possession. Il hope you like the perfor- nance ?" he added.
 ''Uncommon," said the young lord briefly, but with more civility than expected. "How' are you p he asked, as he stepped forward to l the girl.
 She sad nothing, but made mocking face, and rapped the hand he was holding out to her with her fan. .! !-s..4 -..s... sa.. .,. I. | There was something strange in her laugh, something which made me glance at her fa ther. He was fidgety There was flush un- der his eyes-a flush too rosy for ''Mephisto | pheles' and the actor pulled a powder puff | from his wallet. 3-.
 ''We are going to begin, my lord,'r ; he said | quickly. 4T .g. 'H9ss7 ,sf75t@ .4'7l s*' a' ''Then I must clear out. !" said the other, ,and 1 followed him back to the stalls ~ ,.;4,. l It tseemed to me that change came over the old gent laInan 's acting. He wus at once more natural and less self-possessed Thought that he was determined to lose himself in, his part to be for short time the very devil. There was more life in the creature; and yet I felt the etfort--the proposed abandonment of himt self. Anybody could see that he was more vigorous, that his favorite Mephistophelean at tltude was less shaky; the pit became more attentive, the gallery more excited; there was some applause. At. the sound of approval "Mephistopheles" pricked his ears like war horse., He was warmed by that unusual fire he felt that he was acting with unwonted force. AS he opened the jewel case and temptations paste flashed brilliant in the stage  startling effect. Even my neighbors in the stalls gave a slight movement. What chance had the paper roses of cotton velvet 'Sieher against that magnificent display? ..,.. ''Perchance,". said ''Faustus' 'sshe will choose the flowers 9" sf5a &1s' '"l =" "Not if she be Eye's daughter" cried the old gentleman with almost hysterial passion, There was round of applause, and much laughter of jocular husbands and fathers, in the gallery but it struck me that the devil showed too much emotion. His mockery was surely too fierce. However, it is certain that the old gentleman had never before appeared so strong. He swept Faust" into conceal ment behind a tree with an appearance of power, and he peered forth with terrible ma lightly to study the working of curiosity. Who could have brought these jewels? When Margaret" entering. had found the rasket, she raised her eyes. 1 thought she was look ing at me. The shadows under the dark brows were turned in my direction felt rather than saw the half-closed eyes in the shadows In a moment 1 knew that was mistakcn-sthat I had been thrilled in vain and laughed at my vanity She was look ing at my neighbor with look both defiant and bored, which was quite out of keeping with the character which she playeds1 When that sensible woman s'Martha, found the girl with diamonds in her ears, and dscerned the situation in an instant 'Aargaret' betrayed but little astonishment. -..11 srd ean!fg .s-5-b
 '"Tis present from love-perhaps from rich lord who has fallen in love. with you," cried the fat little housewife. "A lover o heavens ]" said the girl, and made motion, which lacked impulse, as if she would take the jewels from her ears. Indeed, this was a phlegmatic Gretchen" Iathrned my eyes from her to her father, who was sneaking from the stage. The old gentleman had some elab- crate stage business here, which occupied much time., He moved from covert ta-oo,ert, ana pausei in divers attistsdcs that he might watch the ,ao-lsfngs of the charm. Now he seemed to be doing the business mechanically His usual force had deserted him. His elaborate progress was Tn slightly wavy lines. His ex- pression WITS peculiar. Meyer before on the face of fiend was a look so pathetically hu- ] man. passed my hand over my eyes that 1 might trust my own impression. It was the face of wan old ghost drawn backward by invisible forces into the shades-a ghost with dim longing eyes fixed on his dearest, who abode in the upper gas-light already forgetful@ of him. It seemed impossible that the whole house should not discover this unparalleled phenomenon-this impossible devil glanc- ed at my next neighbor in the stalls; he was .holding his opera-hat against hislhps it was harder than ever to read his expression. I I was uncomfortable, as if were at a, double II bWO ldnLlldI uTdilidS were interwoven in a nightmare. ''Sure 'tis the Prince Trebizopd, who is travelling incognito" cried judicious .Martha,'' 2 and Margaret" bit her under lip and drowned She cared nol jot flor the character and the audience. At the end of the second act my nrighbor again left his seat, but did not follow him. 5 I was atonee listless and restless.
 T In the last act the old gentleman played 'splendidly. I could still detect in him unu- sual excitement: but fancied that he was aware of his excitement, and was using it for artistic ends. It filled the lines of his concep- tion with abounding life; instead of meagre sketch here was glowing picture; instead of a treniulous but careful player, vivid mock ing devil"s Within the vast cathedral, where s Margaret tries to play, stands the fend in shadow, more. and less than human, angelic l and batlke. The old gentleman was positive ly appalling ''''Ciose in upon her, spirits of darkness takeyour own" Then the demons