The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-04-21


Drawing the SHOWS that cling about We STILL
le are the emblem of undaunted will,
That pushes on,
With Persistence no reverse can chill,
TIL all Is won.
Bosom Transcript.
A CASE OF SOMNAMBCLISM.
A couple of winters ago I went to
Rosemere for week and found small
party assembled there. Ned Stapleton
and his wife, old friends of mine: Paul
Ryder dramatic critic of the Weekly
Pairhan): little Miss Sally Dreamer;
Madge HOiton, with whom l have
tlirted any time these FIVE years; Johu
Legion's cousin, Lucy Freye; and the
pianist, Payne Wilkinson.
knew the pianist tolerably well in
tho city. He was quiet, reserved,
shy sort of fellow. given to blushing.
and very much devoted to music.
When Johns cousin Lucy passed the
win!e- with the Stapletons, PAYNE had
given her lessons on the piano, Just for
the fun of it, SO they were pretty we'll
qu1inted; and Mrs. s., like a woman
as size was, bad determined that they
O"ShU " ANhC IuatCu. i NY Scl1
thought they might do worse; but
hardly expected it, because they were
both so ditfident. If either had made
the least advance, it would, no doubt,
have been we'll received; but Payne
would never forget his extreme delica-
cy enough to evince the faintest sign
of Partially for Lucy before others, nor
would she risk the appearance of for
wardness-that terrible buebear to
sensitive girls = enough to allow him
private opportunities forexpressing any
affection he might have felt.
The consequence was that although
everybody. e., Mrs. Stapleton and
thought they would make an excel
lent pair, they seemed to avoid all
chances for such an arrangement most
studiously.
On the occasion of this visit. we were
all unusually good-humored. for some
reason or another, and had a most Clio.
rious time. We instituted variety of
new games-some of them concocted in
my own fertile brain and most tiatter-
ingly received, and the tab eaux vi
wants, etc, arranged with wonderful
dramatic skill by Paul Ryder, were be-
You'd all description. l observed, as a
curious psychological phenomenon, that
he always contriveI to give Sallie
Dreamer a soubrette part (Which she
acted most bewitchingiy), and took a
character himself that required quar-
rel with her. subsequent reconcl;a-
ton. and of course kiss At rehearsa.
he ins sted on having everything real
n a Sfa fnr
especially the kiss. Payne Wilkinson
was too diffident for the drama-and
Lucy Freye was. too useful. The former
preferred to execute appropriate music
between the pieces and during the
tableaux. and the latter occupied her
consummate taste in the arrangement
of dresses, making up of faces, etc.
One night we had a grand play,
"w,ltten expressly for the Rosemere
ITALIAN Association" by yder; wherein
l was Lord Ponsonby Elphinstone Tin a
fur-trimmed coat and yellow gloves),
to Madge Holton's Comtesse Marie de
Chassetigre (sweet in powder patches
and peach-blossom brocade). Paul was
my valet with great deal of gold lace
and impudence). and-curious chance
--Sallie Creamer was lady s-maid to
Madame la Comtesse with one of those
comical little aprons. with pockets Just
big enough for three fingers). We had
some imprcmptu scenery, clevcr,y
painted, in imitation of architecture, by
Legion himself; and all our arrange
ments were on much grander scale
than usual. Indeed, instead of the
draw-curtain we had formerly used we
contrived very elaborate drop, to de-
scend in stately folds upon the scene OF
our histrionic triumphs; and when the
prompters bell rang fprompter, Lucy
Frye), aud the curtain arose, walked
upon the stage with as much trepida-
lion as if it had been at the Academy OF
Music instead of at Rosemere cottage,
and the audience were the elite of New
York instead OF my own friends and
their simple neighbors-a score of
whom had been invited in to witness
the grand performance.
Wilkinson played brilliant and
artistic overture, and the play went on
finely. We were all we'll .'up in our
lines" as the actors say, and the ap.
plause we received was most encouraQ.
ing. had the customary troubles in
wOoing and winning the wealthy widow
of the Comte de Chassetigre, and nv
valet had the customary quarrel and
reconciliation with the femme de-
Misunderstanding the customary kiss.
Twice only there was little embarrass-
ment. when the prompter neglected
her duties. Once she forgot TO prompt
Madge, who could not think Of her
speech commcnn.inU.
Ha! some one comes-shall I re-
store the miniature, or shall I keep it?
(Takes lOcket from table, L.) No;
must have this lifeless image though
fate has severed us (laughs wildly.
this must be buried with mer'
She got as far as :" some one comes
but there she stopped. Instead Of 70.
ing toward the table and looking upon
the miniature. as she should, she turned
and cast an imploring glance at Lucy
Freye, who stood behind . paper
e'''s..''s:. ass.sA.ns aiss isasy ia hss LaaG,
and gazing with unuiterable sweetness
upon Payne Wilkinson, who leaned
gracefully upon his piano, watching the
piece. quite unconscious Of the admire
ton he was receiving.
The interruption was only for a mo.
msn:, az. sSsriy tcw observed it. Mrs.
Stapleton, who did the ancient and
scheming aunt, in turban and specta.
cles. and myself, saw not only the alb
straction of our prompter, but its cause
likewise. and smiled significantly at one
another.
The second disturbance was ut the
close OF the first act. when the music
begans and the characters formed in q
tablcau. Here Lucy was SO absorbed
in the lingering, tremulous melody
which Payne had composed for the
scene. that she never thought Of ring
ing her bell. The boy who he'd charge
Of the curtain-string outside waited n