The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-04-14

At these words Mr.. Whites resigned
all hope, and was mentally calculating
the dangers to which he would be ex-
posed if he leaped into the stalls, from
thence into the pit, and fought his way
out of the theater when the, leader re-
turned, an ommous frown upon his
brow, followed by a short, fat, pale-faced
gentleman, apparently Of foreign ex-
traction, who carried trombone under
his arm. JOY Mr.. WHITES felt a man
again. This, then, was Pufaer! Mr..
WHITES remembered his instructions,
and watched the newcomer attentively,
who, on his part, appeared to regard
him with the uttermost concern. Mr..
Whites had occasion to shift his from
bone -Puf1er did likewise. Mr.. Whifaes
felt for his handkerchief-Mr. PufHer
followed his example. All this seemed
very mysterious, and Mr.. w hifles was
lost in wonderment when the overture
commenced. Luckily, the trombones
were not wanted until the commence
ment of the drama. The overture ceased.
Now, look out, observed Mr..
Whites neighbor- S til you now
Mr.. Whites mechanically raised the
instrument to his lips, keeping 4 stead
fast gaze the while upon the proceedings
Of Mr.. Pufaer, who did his best to stare
Mr.. Whites out of countenance. Mr..
Lovejoy looked round and, seeing the
trombones perfectly ready, awaited the
raising of the curtain. It was an agon
izing moment. The silence was posi-
lively painful. One might have heard
pin drop. The small bell was heard
again. Mr.. Lovejoy tapped his desk,
and the curtain slowly rose in solemn
silence! Mr.. Lovejoy began beatingthe
time slowly, and had even accomplished
a few strokes before he realized the fact.
Turning round to ascertain the mean
ing of this extraordinary circumstance,
his surprise and bewilderment may we'll
be imagined at seeing the two trombone
players hard at work, distending their
cheeks to their utmost capacity, ner-
vously manipulating their instruments
and producing not sound And the
next unaccountable thing was they
never took their eyes off one another.
Mr.. Lovejoy was transfxed with amaze
ment.
This is very STRANGE" thought Mr..
Whites. IT wonder when that fellow
is going to begin !"
The little bell tingled again and again.
MIR. Russell stepped upon the stage with
some amount of dignity and left it with
out any, under the impression that he
was trifle too 500. The stage man
ager, gentleman of excitable tempera-
ment and much addicted to the use of
passionate language, who played one of
the principal parts in the piece, rushed
from his room, discharged on the spot
an inofensive "super" who, unfort-
unately, happened to cross his path
went, half-a-dozen at time, down the
score of rickety stairs, at the imminent
hazard of breaking his neck, and, APP
pearing at the little door under the
stage, that led into the orchestra, de-
manded In unmeasured terms what the
very bad words-Mr. 1ovejoy meant
by such conduct, and why the excess
ively-rude observation--he didn't go on?
Mi. Lovejoy was too astounded to make
reply. He could only point, in silent
wonder, to the two trombones.
There they sat putting and blowing
vigorously, but with no result. The
stage manager gesticulated violently and
nearly had fit. The audience, unable
to comprehend what was going on be-
fore their eyes, Kissed loudly; and.
finally, the curtain fell. Then Mr..
Lovejoy gave vent to his feelings. He
leaped from his seat and rushed toward
Mr.. Whites, who, painting with ex-
haustion after his unaccustomed exer-
tions, was wiping the perspiration from
his face, wondering what on earth was
going to happen next. No sooner, how
ever, did he perceive the angry conduc-
tor advancing toward him than, with an
intuitive perception that something un-
pleasant was about to occur, he made a
precipitate rush through the little door
and sought safety under the stage, holly
pursued by Mr.. Lovejoy, who oppor-
timely came across the foreign gentle
man quietly sneaking away, and fell
upon him tooth and nail. The foreign
gentleman, being choleric, knocked Mr..
Lovejoy down. Mr.. Lovejoy, being by
no means deficient in pluck, regained
the perpendicular and-in the language
OF the ring-let the foreign gentleman
" have it. /" The individual next seized
the astonished Whites and endeavored
to drag him before Mr.. Lovejoy, in or
der that he might undergo condign pun
ishment, when the foreign gentleman
slipped they both fell, and the two
trombone-players mysteriously disap-
peared.
They had fallen down an unused well
under the stage, Mr.. Whites under
most. There being but very little water
they were soon extricated, and, fortu-
nately, no bones were broken.
The two gentlemen after rather ex-
citing interview with the stage manager
were, shortly afterward, permitted to
take their departure.
Mr.. O'Leary, next day, was duly IN
formed of the disaster, and lost his stu
alton. The same fate befel the, unfort-
innate Pufler, who, it appeared upon
inquiry, was really laboring under some
severe indisposition that threatened to
confne him to his bed; and, being nat
urally unwilling to lose his salary, he
provided substitute, like Mr.. WHITES,
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