Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-08-31

most difficult thing of all to do grace
fully, and to make a fewtender speeches
to Arthur, which she did in much the
same tone as child learning to read.
Arthur q artistic soul was too much for
him, and forgetting all awkward cir
cumstances, he exclaimed: "This will
never do, Miss Manners. Can't you be
more empressee, more tender, as if You
worshiped the very ground tread on p''
and, looking into her face to give en-
phasis to his words, he found it lit up
with suppressed laughter.
i am afraid am not good enough
actress for that" she replied, quietly.
At half-past eight the drawing room
was filled to Overlooking. The curtain
had risen, and the play proceeded most
satisfactorily.
Arthur quite justified the eulogiums
that were Unfortunately heaped upon
him. Mr.. Finsbury, as the heavy swell,
was painstaking and accurate, if little
heavier than was absolutely necessary.
The vapid young men, one as the vii
lain, the other as supplementary hero,
acquitted themselves creditably enough.
The hostess kept the audience genuinely
amused by her clever impersonation OF
a scheming widow, while Mrs. Finsbury
made so fair picture in her every atti-
tude that her lack of histrionic power
was readily forgiven by the spectators
And Gertrudep Gertrude, carefully
got up by good-natured Mrs. Finsbury,
really did, with the aid of darkened eye
lashes, rouge, powder, and becomingly-
arranged hair, look almost pretty. She
had little to say, but was ON the stage a
good deal; and here her natural self
possession stood her in good stead, she
was perfectly at her ease. But beyond
this, she contrived to throw into every
word and gesture the expression of her
deep interest in the hero. She followed
the dialogue, her face betraying every
emotion that it called up. In word,
she not only made something, but a
good deal out of her part; made herself
one of the objects of interest in the
piece; and once, in uttering the con-
ventional protestations of undying af-
lection to her lover, she clasped her
hands on his arm, looking into his face
with a passionate fervor of which she
was herself unconscious, her eyes glow
ing, her lips quivering, her face and
voice expressing such an intensity of de-
votion that Arthur was startled into for
getting his answer.
1t was over. Dancing was the next
event on the programme, and people
danced and talked it over in the compli-
mentary style usual on such occasions.
''How good Mr.. Hamilton was.' Chow
lovely Mrs. Finsbury looked" Show
cleverly Mrs. Burnes acted.' But one
and all were honestly enthusiastic over
Gertrude. ''She is born actress"
"She was wonderful ssIt was so
clever of her to make so much of that
small part.'' And to each and all
Gertrude returned the same quiet smile
of thanks. Arthur received his laurels
with less than his usual easy self-com-
placency. He was distract and even
irritable. He was the only person in
the house who did not Congratulate
Gertrude on her success. He never
went near her. At the end of the even
ing, however, when nearly everyone not
of the house party was gone, and two
more dances must close the entertain
ment, he found himself close to Ger
trude. He glanced at her, and, with q
hesitation that those who knew him best
would have supposed him incapable of,
asked her to dance. All her rouge and
eye-black washed off, she was once
more to most people sallow, uninter-
esting girl. But he could not forget
those deep, earnest eyes, the intense
fervor of her voice, the passionate emo
ton expressed in her gesture. Even
now, looking at her face, he said to him
self that her eyes were beautiful. If she
loved would they so deepen, and her
tones take that thrilling tenderness?
He reused himself from these specula-
ions, which he reflected were foolish, to
listen to her words, which were COM
enough, and uttered in tones
not the least thrilling or tender, though
hey were clear and soft, as he might
nave discovered the night before at din
1er, if he had chosen to notice it.. He
it now, however, and connect
I'd them indissolubly with the passion
hey were capable of expressing.
"Do you know you are born &C
ress," he said, when at last they ar
lived at the inevitable subject of the
heatricals.
She smiled, not without a suspicion of
triumph in her eyes.
81 don't know that exactly, but I
lave always felt sure I could act.''
"Then how is it that you have never
ried beforeP'
81 suppose it never occurred to any
me to suppose me capable of acting"
"The people you have lived with
must have been fools"
She looked at him and laughed, after |
which his share in the conversation was
confined to monosyllables.
And vet she bore him no malice. |
the days that followed she &C
epted his attentions with perfect ease |
nd composure, was always agreeable
md amiable, and never seemed the
east aware. that any notice from the
astidious and much-admired Arthur |
hamilton was great honor. No deep
+ intention on his part ever occurred to
Ter.
The party had broken up. There was
10 one left but Arthur, Gertrude and
Ter father. Arthur entering the draw
ng-room about five O'Clock found
there alone, kneeling on the
earthrug reading by the fire, for the
aylight had failed and the lamps had
OF yet been brought. The Pickering
ames threw a rosy glow on her face,