The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-09-08

Il shnlc, fond and t,o der, hoeols roun,
lheL
AT h-r fcot ksa, ls pnn. oilbs hi
in'd' tightly Ga -. Lis Who'll
s'i'iido bett.tiY q .t: :,n 'l.- mos
i,i"h.,
Even as D--es o-LAes them
stricken to the heart by the cruel pic
tnre on which h9 had so unwittingl,
intruded, a passionate outbreak O
words come from Ponsonby's lips.
" Darling" he says, "I appeal to yo,
Tor the last time, and implore you t,
listen to me. DO not, l beseech you
let tho adoraticn of another -
c'That's NO." Disney says, betwee,
his compressed lips) =" blind you t,
the undying love l offerl On you ar,
centred all my hopes Of future happi
nessl Do not sentence me to life-lone
despair, but say you will be miuei"
Disney waits with maddening impa
iopiy. reply ' "'"''-e ''-'' f'' hs'
lt comes very nervously from Doro
thy's pretty lips.
Her head is bent modestly, and he,
hands lie passively in Ponsonby's.
How can l answer you ?" she saws.
IN distinct but wavering accents. "And
yet why sbould / not unburden nv
mind? Truth is always beat. NV heart
has long been in your keeping, and. II
you wish it, it is yours"
1t is too much. Sick at heart, Disney
turns away. not caring to listen to
words evidently not meant for him to
hear. The dreadful awakening has
comel ALI his dreams of bliss have
been shattered by this sudden and
and painfully-unexrected blow, and
Dorothy-his love. whom he has be.
l1sved as true as tie angels-is
nothing more in his eyes now than a
practiced flirt and heartless woman of
the world
His first thought is to return to the
city, his next to remain. Has he not
heard somewhere "second Thoughts are
best ?" Yes, he will remain, and see it
out to the t btter as end sn and S when t1is
will tell her what he thinks Of her. and
how she has willfully broken his heart
and ruined his life
at dinner he is compelled to NEE
her; but, everybody being present. his
exceedingly cold greeting passes un-
noticed by all except Dorothy herself.
She cannot mistake the change in his
whole demeanor. Where is the tender
pressure Of his hand, to which she has
been accustomed Why did he come
at all if he is still filed with bitter
thoughts? There is some faint COM
fort in the remembrance that she did
not ask him to return.
But what has become OF the "press.
ing businessP' Why has he come back
in such hot haste?
He carefully avoids meeting her all
all the evening, and next morning at
breakfast is, if possible, more markedly
cold and distant toward her.
She is saddened and disheartened
but pride comes to her rescue. She
decides in herself that she will show
hin hir hGffT little sha af4er.ucce
u1rmi.. 1,eiofe, perhaps, as during this
appeared so gay, so ua,gAJ;-sy 7s.i y.
lie and spirits and yet in the solitude
of her own room, while dressing for
his luckless play, she sheds many a
bitter tear.
At nine o'clock the curtain rises.
The guests settle themselves in their
seats, and prepare for anything.
Miss Rodney, arrayed in very
Quixotic costume, fresh from Worth,
appears before the audience, simpering
and grimacing, and doing her utmost
TO initiate real live countess, while in
reality she only succeeds in resembling
a very inferior soubrette.
While Miss Falkiner, from the Hall,
who is in private life her intimate
friend. now makes a poor pretense at
waiting upon her rs confidential maid,
and renders herself utterly ridiculous
by giving herself sufficient airs for half
o dozen countesses.
Both are q distinct failure. Every
body tries 20 applaud, but disparaging
fall lightly on the air.
The faint applause Drings 10 lie Two
hardy Veterans, who for some time past
have given themselves gratis to the
open arms OF Morpheus, and havo con-
tentedly reclinei therein.
81 think Miss Rodney has better
chance of getting off than that girl in
green," sleepily drawls Number One.
"Do you?" replies Numbet Two.
"Well, I'm not much OF n judge about
that sort of thing; but my opinion is
neither will get off before the other.
You sec, my dear fellow, when women
are born with talent for acting like
those two-two tyroD, they don't get
easily settled in life"
Then the curtain draws nm for the
second time, and somebody comes slowly
on TO the stage-sorebody who sets
OyriPs pulses swiftly throbbing.
1t is Dorothy. She is very pale, and
her eyes are little languid but she
is just degree lovelier than she ever
was before.
Disney hardly hears how the play
progresses. Not syllable makes itself
known to him; he can only tell himself
how lovely she is looking, and that she
is false as fair.
Her eyes are on the ground but
suddenly some words stiike upon his
ear-words that bring back to him a
scene fraught with grief and anger.
He starts and lifts his head and for
the first time eagerly regards the
players,
P0nsonby is ON his knees before her.
He is holding her hands. His whole
attitude is as it was that fatal afternoon
n the conservatory. He Is again poaf
ing forth his soul in words Of extrava-
sant passion.
Aud then Dorothy's voice rises, clear
but sad, and devoid Of the warmth that
lad characterized it during the re-
hearsal.
"Aiy heart has lsng been in your
keeping, and il you wish it, it is
yours"
As she finishes her speech she raises
het eyes and fixes them steadily and
with keenest reproach, on Disney, who
returns her gaze, his eyes full OF con
triton,
Then the scene changes, and Miss
Bohun makes her exit, amid applaud
inRs loud and deep.
The curtain drops SO, may almost