Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-12-13
AN AMERICAN PR1MA DONNA
A THANKSGIVING STORY.

Champion W as one long TO be remembered: ex-
Tuffies the calm OF tide pool sheltered among among
the rocks. Not only had Champion partaken OF
It's thanksgiving dinner, greeted all its relatives
and friends. and listened to the annual sermon
OF the minister in which he enumerated it's bleS
1ngs, but with one accord 1t was to attend an en-
tertainment In the Town hall, given by the
"C1ty lady" In the evening.
TWO small boys, freckled, ragged and without
hats, had climbed on window ledge of this
hall, and were peering in, breathlessly interest
ed. A third and smaller brother stood below,
demanding in whimpering tones to be helped
up, aud was warned back in hoarse whispers.
Possibly every soul in Cramptoi. would have
peeled In with these interlopers had the same
privilege been ace o. ded.
Tie small boys baheld a tent-shaped curtain
and screen, behind which was reflected some
powerful light. Between the screen and the
window stood two persons, broken garlands,
tulle and lace cloaks and scarfs, scattered about
EN- on The floor. The small boys blnked as
thu tr eyes rested on the first lady. Never had
they beheld such Splendor, even in picture
boz ks. She wore an Oriental costume, a yell
low turban was on her lustrous golden hair a
green velvet jacket met gorgeous shawl which
confined her slender waist while pink tunic,
VI ite satin trousers and little Turkish slippers
richly embroidered. completed a toilet sicn as
was never before beheld In the village The
glamof OF brill1aLt lights and the rosy tnts of
The Scre en- may have impaired beauty to this
DeW1ldering vision, but to the small boys-un-
Invited spectator S-She seemed to radiate rain
bow OF sparkling hues from links of gold coins,
from diamond star in her turban, from twink
ling pt ndantS In the ears; from flashing gems
on FAIR throat and rounded arms.
he second lady was no longer young, and
were with considerable grace the jaunty dress
OF Spanish maiden. The brevity OF her anu
Der silk skirt revealed a pair OF scarlet boots
and her black hair was caught back with
coral comb, from whence foated black lace
MANILA.
timeS," said this Spanish maiden, adjusting
gilt dagger in the sash OF her companion. "Re-
member that too much gesture Is Objectionable
my Gear, and, above all other considerations do
hpcnmp W ban no oil
depend upon you; the other girls are not to be
trusted
The other girls were standing at that mo-
ment in a second little pen, formed by flags,
like row of birds on perch, ill at ease, even
alarmed, and painfully conscious OF possessing
''Oh, if should fall" said the Sultana. Her
cheeks were flushed, her blue eyes diIated to
wonderful brilliancy, her eager lips ready to
by the jewelled white hand of the Spanish
maiden.
"You will not fail" returned the latter. "Ah.
IL possessed your voice, my dear, / should not
spend my days in CramptOn.''
"What would you do then ?" inquired the
sultana, with puzzled and astonished expires
sion on her fair, irreSOlute face.
IL should study for the stage Had been
more ambitious at your age should have made
something OF the talents God had given me- /
married at sixteen, though"
The Spanish maiden shook her head sighed,
and raised her eyes to the roof with theatrical
expreSSfyeHeSS Of manner.
The Sultana laughed nervousy.
what! GO ON the stage, and be an actreSs?''
she exclaimed.
'IIooray! Why, it's Cynthy Brown. after ALL
piped one or the small boys in the window, and
was unexpectedly precipitated to the ground by
the rogue OF younger brother below, who had
applied thistle, growing conveniently near, to
the feet Of the spectators.
''You little wretches!' exclaimed the Spanish
: shutter was drawn, darkness quenched the
dazzling light, and the small boys were LETT
seated in ditch to think the matter over at
In the mean while Champion had assumed its
best bonnet, scented its handkerchief with Co.
logne, taken its Sunday fan from the bureau
drawer, where that article repoSed during the
week, and paid twenty-five cents admission to
the Town-hall entertainment. Champions
curiosity was simply intense. Would it not
have reckleSSly S4uandered double the sum, il
only to enjoy fresh opportunity OF criticizing
the 'doings' OF the city lady, Mrs Townsend
the occasion was to be devoted to a church or
gan; and it was Thanksgiving night. Mrs.
Townsend Van Horne known to the small boys
and the greenroom as the Spanish maiden, had
come to Champion In the summer, and fingered
through the autumn, being devoted to nature,
as she expressed it. Champion must criticise
her, the horses she brought, the probability of
her having spoiled her complexion with
''paint"-a vague reproach applied tndiscrimi-
nately to ladies OF fashion from town-the
doubt as to her possessing a good character
anoSher stone hurled at the metropolis with
equal impartiality by the country-and the
amount OF her income. 1t had been an event
full day when Champion had read with his own
eyes in city journal Mrs. Townsend Van
Hornes printed description OF rural para
disc which Sne had discovered back among the
mountains Champion stared at its mountains
with wholly new and speculative interest and
smiled Its pure breezeS much as merchant
might test his wares Already the city lady
had driven the hotel proprietor wild with Wis
ions OF summer resort, when he had been pre-
viousiy contented with the proceeds of the an
nual fair.
Only Mrs Brown, with fash Of the Old fire
In her eyes, had said TO her daughter Cynthia,
who was picking peas In the garden ostensibly,
while peeping at James Hard through the
hedge,
neighbors would not Bay one or his books to
keep us nom starving"
1.-The minister has copy Of fathers poems,
and-Mr. Hard" faltered Cynthia very busy
with the green vines as soon as her lilac calico
gown had attracted the notice OF James
1.-The Hards-our enemies" repeated mother,
irritably.
James Hard entered the Town-hal at eight
O'Clock. The great lantern above the door, used
solely at elections, was lighted; the candy store
of Hannah Grimes, opposite, was still open, and
not only driving brisk trade Ia peppermint
sticks and peanuts over the counter, but sug-
geStiDg also. by means of a blue placard, that
guests could be furnished with Ice cream at one
shilling a saucer in Mrs Grimes parlor Every
theater has It's cafe. The young man had donned
his best garments and eagerly Joined the tnrong,
asking himself uneasily what this fancy OF Mrs.
Townsend Van Horne for pretty Cynthia Brown
meant. BY no means spoiled by prosperity, al
though he was the crown prince the great
match, OF Champion, wearing his Sunday clothes
somewhat stiff1y, when the blue flannel shirt
and broad straw hat OF the hay fields made him
positively handsome, James Hard gazed at the
curtain OF the little stage, and seated himself.
There was Mrs. Brown, querulous and de-
pressed, in a black bonnet of lugubrous aspect
and scarcely returning his greeting. There were
his father. Squire Hard, and his mother In rust
ling silk, looking very warm When would Mrs
Brown forget the old family grudge about the
property? Young James, full OF generous i'm
pulses, would fam bury the Ratchet still bran
dfShed by Soured, trouble-worn Mrs. Brown he
y having reaped only the advantage in his day
and none of the bitterness OF the transaction
Champion cracked its Jokes when James an
peared In the audience. Why was he not a play
actor with Cynthy Brown? Do the facetious
elders reflect on the Observation-Disclosures separa-
tons, and heart aches OccaSiOned by their chair?
Danish the old gentleman who looks sly before
the flower OF love has fairly bloomed, and the
old lady who oStentatiously leaves the young
people TO themselves, and there would be more
happy marriages In this world. James laughed
and flushed; his father puckered those gray eve
hrowS so well known in Champion and Mrs.
Brown bit her lip angrily.
A bell tinkled, and the curtain rose. Had the
same mirage which bewlldered the small bows
crept between James and the mimic stage?
What vision OF loneliness was the Suitana.
sill win oil