New-York tribune., 1880-09-26

market Theatre. After my long wanderings my
arrival had disappointed me. IL was q dull
] found scarcely any of the greetings | had
longed for and expected. My few relatives
were absent in the clubs l belonged 10 | only
found strangers. Time hung heavy on my
hands after the strange scenes of the past five
years. So went to the Haymarket.
The little theatre had always been my fancy.
| remembered it fIOm very early youth
Farren, Webster, Blackstone, Howe Holl, Mrs.
Nsbet, Mrs. Glover Julia Bennett, and MISS +.
Horton. | have never been a great theatre
gOer or devOtee of the drama. and my kn0wl-
edge of theatrical history is pretty well confined
10 the HaymaIket.
There was rather a long entrdcte, and my
mind by instinct but mistily went over different
occasions of play going. Here had been with
A, and B. and c, in days when the end OF the
play WAS the beginning of the evening. Nearly
opposite once existed q kind of hell upon earth
called Bob CrOfts, whittier young men went
merely because it was disreputable.
Once OF twice i'll early youth | had been
taken there, and had not fancied it, for rough
amusements had never been to my liking. At
Mr. CrOfts an ordinary evening generally
ended in fight and a not very extraordinary
one III police invasion. Here had been Kept
from harms way by Jock Campbell-slnce
dend. Once-the remembrance followed quick
Il had come to the theatre in box with jock
Campbell and others. Among them was LYDIA
Mainwaring. The play, was the same as that
now being acted-the School for Scandal. |
glanced at the box we had occupied. 1t was
empty. The curtain again rung up
Another eatr'acte. The box was still empty.
sighed. Ny lOnged-for return had been such
a disappointment | had almost expected to
see ne some friend in the box Curious : in a box
near il Two hands In black gloves are holding
al orera- glass directed toward me. ] he wrists
seem familiar, small, but with hard WHY
sinews expressing power and strength. The
next time | looked up, the hands and the glass
are there no longer, and their owner has retired
TO the back of the box.
The play was over and well-known farce
was about to commence The stalls We're half
emitted. when a weIl-known face came and
greeted me. IL was Sir Esme Egerton, once
hoOl-fellow, then a ciergyman-a vocation he
had renOunced on succeeding to baronetcy ana
property. He was kindly, dull man.
'WesteIham,' he said, | had no idea you
were in London
i have only just returned after nearly five
years wandering in the two Americas.
knew you were travelling some here, but
no one ever heard from you.
Il have so few people 70 write TO-, answered,
and no one wrote to me. have often been
beyond the range of all news, public or private.
Then, / daresay, you never heard OF my
marriage? Come up and make the acQua'nt-
ance of my Wife,
He took me to the box in which had seen
the black gloves:
old friend Lord Westerham, though believe
YOU eone from the same country and bear the
same name. He has just returned from South
America.
word. Then, as though TO make reparatlon,
she said : | am always glad, Esme, TO see your
friends Welcome home, | should say, Lord
Westerham. l know you already from Esme
and Others
n was the same voice and the same gesture
as befure-a mixture of defiance and subms-
SION, OF resentment and fear. To Esne her
bearing was affectionate and caresslng, almost
compassionate and full OF gratitude.
Bnt 70 Inc lydia Mainwaring showed no sign
of recognition. r,
riaoe lust now. / have had no letters for
months, and have seen no newspapers except
in the last few weeks
Won't you ask the wanderer to dine to-
morrow Z suggested the husband. -,
Il hope you Will come, Lord Westerham
Esme will long to hear your adventures; and,
She added more slowly aud with an emphasis
perceptible only 10 myself and they will inter
est me too She continued feel little chilly,
Esme. aud should like to go home
He begged me to escort his wife DOWNSTAIRS
while he looked out for the carriage. .
When alone she said no woru OIL reco9i'i'ion
or reminiscence "a
Once; replied, a long time ago, from the
Then YOU will remember Tomorrow she
said as she entered the carriage Know your
promises are sacred. Good night.
Ill.
Nv youth was most unhappy: My mother
lad married a second time welsh clergy man,
who had speculated on her family one was
the sister. and later the heir general, OF Lord
Westerham, who, having two D0ys and an en-.
numbered estate could do 1rtle Tor ner, even II
so Inclined The death of his two boys made
Int Iittle change III his Inclination, as 1t seemed
4, ter hiS wife hard Scotch PURITAN TO-
,v.rd those who were 70 succeed 10 the lnberl-
tauee of her Sons. Nor did 1t improve the DIS,
nosifion toward me OF my step-iather Small
AS were my prospects, tbey stoou In tne "ai i "
his son. my step -DrOther-an impuisiVe, cnol-
eric eickiy boy, who died before MS fatiler.
Bu. my early life and home were unhappy.
Nv small uatrimony was seized on by my step
father, who grudged me the FOOD ana ~, sheter ne
oaye me from my own money. Ihlnks couid
not last thus. At an early age 1 theleioie
fonnd myself living IN London with IA distant
cousin q conveyanccr, VINO gave NE idtcn-
kew. and allowed me to have my own way, under
tse cnidance OF another distant relative, a
snorting man and scapegrace. lt was under
LIS ratronage that | became acquainted with |
tbe establishment of Mr.. Robert Croft. 1t is
wonder to me now That L was not ruined III
,'nr.e and reputation before reached the age |
If nioeteen Fortup stey, dis!iked the society |
into which was initiated, and after the hIst hat
>, ,iao assurance that / was seeing Ire,
hocked out of Mr.. Crofts intimate circle lndeed |
never entered INTO nls es'apnshens "pJao
two OF three times once win my cnusln, VINO,
b"y;pg secured me the entree, allowed me |
alone to improve the occasion. 1t was on my |
tbird and last appearance, that made the ac-
Gaintance of Jock Campbell.
After dining alone ws wen 'e 10 tbe theatpe and
sst sst' IN M the stalls next Jock. looked much
sa, ~ .i than my age which not than
seventeen. When left the theatre IL, crossed
the co and bad np engaged to %ee
mv seaneerace cousin there. He had daxzled
ms me- with The promise of taking me TO q scene Of
even ~. Greater bliss. At the door Of Bob Crofts,
waiting for it to be opened at the necessary