The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-09-29

meath the roof Of Uaiaphas, access to
my apartment being gained by ladder
through hole in the ceiling of the
principal sitting-room. I'-t
Happily for myself, was not in love,
and glance from pair of dark-blue
eyes, however bright, would go but O
very little way toward satisfying my
inner man. The climb up the hill had
whetted vigorous appetite; so, leav-
ing word for Lester, 1 repaired to the
Gasthof,, Stern, where. in a little bow
window, played havoc with liver soup
and veal outlet. .. .. ?
was smoking my post -prandial cigar
when Marshal Lester joined me.
"I have found out who she is !" he
exclaimed, the words leaping from his
lips. "She is the daughter of Count
Starnberg; their castle is up in the
woods. You might have seen the flag
flying when we were crossing the river.
They are no end of swells, and have
their town house in Vienna. They only
come here in summer. The young chap
is Count Alexander Starnberg; heis in
the Austrian Horse Guards. got hold
of him after you left, and gave him a
| couple of those Reinas that we bought
in New York. He is delightful fell
low. They are coming to the Passion
Play tomorrow. Have you got seats
Where? We must go to the eight mark
seats-they are the best"
Later in the evening we sailed forth
in quest of places, and, to Testers
chargin, could only obtain seats in the
open air, and among the peasants.
"You always manage things badly"
he angrily Observed" very badly. If
you had left it to me, I'd have had
front seats. ! won't sit among those
greasy sausage eating Bavarians. I'll
give ten-twenty dollars for seat in
the best place. Come and see if Cooks
or Gaze's men can help u.s."
Lester found Mr.. Cooks agent, a very
polite and anxious personage-a mem
Der, by the way, of the English bar.
This gentleman eventually succeeded in
inducing brace of Oxford men of his
acquaintance to sell out to us.
"By Jingo," exclaimed one of them,
as he chinked the golden premium,
"our expenses in Oberammergau arc
paid"
The village was thronged with Pas
sion pilgrims, the English element
mastering in great strength. Every
long g-haired man was treated with
marked respect, as he represented
some character in the play, while all
hats were doffed whenever Joseph
Meyer, the Christus, passed on his way
The great tragedy was the one universal
1 al, Il l,,r1 Il i,,r "a
corners rehearsing their parts for the
coming tableaux.
AS Lester and I strolled through the
place the crack of a coachman's whip
was heard, and the road cleared for a
carriage to pass. ...
eyes, sir!-there she is !" exclaimed
my companion, convulsively Tightening
his clasp on my arm. The young count
was driving, servant in Alpine dress
seated beside him. The two girls wers
in the carriage, and, with his back to
the horses, sat an elderly gentleman Of
very distinguished appearance, whom
We at once adiudged to be the head Of
the house of Starnberg.
Marshal Lester was on my right, and,
as he pulled me close to him, I could
feel his heart futtering like a newly
caught bird. ..
A quarter to eight found us within
the theater, which, when considered il
it's relation to architectural beauty, pre-.
sented nothing of importance save its
simplicity. Occupying an area of 10000
square feet, it was capable of convent.
emily seating between five and six thou.
sand people. There were five distinct
places of action for tho players: first
the proscenium for the chorus, process
sions and the like, second, the central
stage for the tableaux vivants and the
usual character scenes; third, the palace
of PLATE; fourth, the palace of Annas
fifth, the streets of Jerusalem. But,
oh, the background Did any theatel
ever possess the like? That glorious
wall of soitest green towering to the
sky! On the left tie valley of the Am
mergau, with its fower.dappled meadl
and its silvern stream stretching awal
in the distance; behind, the cross
, crowned Kofel, two thousand feet shee,
shove the nesting village.
Thanks to the Oxonians, We had capi
| tai cane bottomed seats in the middl,
of the reserve, and beneath a roof. Les
ter remained. Standing, watching the en-
trance and consulting his watch at leas
three times in each sixty seconds.
= "There they are |" he cried, growing
as pale as death, then flushing up int
7 the roots of his curly hair.
By a strange cast of the die thei
seats were exactly in front of us. TIL
, party consisted of fve-the Count an,
5 Countess of Starnberg, the son and tn
> two girls. '.
3 The young count bowed and shoe
7 hands; the girls gazed at us in an in
, quiring sort of way, and--the choru
entered.
A dead silence fell upon the vast aud
: ence, which lasted until the end of tn
t seventh act-.the Garden at Gethseman
: when the burgomaster announced
recess of one hour and a half.
t "What do you think of it?" aske
! the younger Starnberg. ...... .
1t is awfully realistic" replied Lei
r ter.
Then the party rose and swept out.
/. "Isn't she adorable ?" demanded m
companion as we discussed the ineviti
BILE veal outlet. "What beautiful,
{ shaped head and graceful neck Ho
deliciously her hair was donel Sue
little pink ears Did you observe h'
l hanis-how dainty and white and blu
b veined- and the rosy fingers and q
!, mond shaped nails? Did you hear ht
v speak? What music! Oh, Noel, she