The National tribune., 1882-01-07

| Sir Henry Montague bit his lips His neighbOT
gathered that he did not approve of his sisters
acting and hurried off to report this fact to one
| of her intimate friends
Signing deeply, the young baronet took seat
| in remote corner of the ROOM The Doctor
went up to him. II am afraid all this recalls the
past to you," he said.
Sir Harry, being sensitive, thought he might
have been spared that remark at least.
"Stay where you are" went on his old friend,
indulgently ~ will see that no one disturbs
you"
The curtain was drawn up, and for about an
hour scene succeeded scene upon the little stage
which had been erected for the purpose They
were all prettily conceived and correctly carried
out. Most of them were greeted with immense
| applause. Sir Henry did not applaud. Those
who could command sight of his face said he
had grown ill-tempered. When he did not
| frown he yawned.
After about six scenes had followed one an
| other the curtain was drawn down, and those
who had taken part in them entered the draw
| ing room, where people were crushing upon one
another to get better view of the stage
"Is anything going to happen?" asked Sir
Harry of young lady whom he knew.
The young lady looked at him. Surely you
know" she said.
Con the contrary" he replied "Im in COM
plete ignorance"
"Hush! hush." she said, excitedIy "The
curtain is moving"
Languidly Sir Harry turned his face. 1t
might be amusing to see what it was that so ex-
cited this little provincial world
DR.. Griffith was by his side now, grasping his
arm with a nervous pressure which perplexed
and annoyed him.
Slowly the curtain rose, amid a great silence
followed presently by hum, and expressions of
delight" Marvellous" Beautiful" !" "Strange!n
But what does it mean? Who knows!"
Sir Harry had sprung to his feet; unconscious
of the crowd, unconscious of the frightened grasp
upon his arm, and the anxious eyes upon is
face, voiceless, he stood like one paralysed Was
it love at first sight that had seized and swayed
him? There stood Theodore, clad in her Gre
clan robe of pure white, her lovely throat bare.
her eyes uplifted, with light in all her face as
of bride, smiling" and her sweet lips "trem-
bling with pride in pleasure" 1t was such an
image as man might die for, and die blessing
Heaven for the solemn gift of life
There were other figures. An altar, with fire
burning upon it a priest man dressed as Cho-
rus, with snowy beard, and flowing robe But
they two-the Doctor and his friend-saw only
her.
When the curtain fell, Sir Harry found him
self in the library, with the Doctor looking at
him anxously.
The young man wiped his brow, on which
drops Of cold sweat were standing
Then I'm mad" he said in a low voice.
"What, Sir Henry"
"As surely as see you, so surely I saw her.
or her wrath"
Whom did you see?"
" l saw Mabel as she was in that famous scene
| must be i'll or dreaming. There could not be
two such women. Doctor, you are smiling. You
despise me, of course. Oh, God! shall 90 mad
He dropped into chair and covered his face
from the light. There was screen in the Doc
tors study, from behind which there came
hand warningly. Then he laid his hand upon
the young mans shoulder.
"Sir Henry" he said, be a man"
His hand was shaken off impatently.
The Doctor continued to smile. "Let us sup
pose," he said "that what you saw was reality.
What would you do?"
"Can you ask?"
"There would be no more hesitation? You |
would acknowledge her before the world?"
Here the bowed head was raised, and eager
eyes, set in the midst of face haggard with |
pain, were fixed on the Doctor, who, as he found |
his young friend voiceless, spoke again. He |
spoke clearly, emphasizing his words, as if he |
wished them to reach further than the one pair |
of ears to which they were addressed "Let us |
suppose for a moment that it is not as you think
Let us suppose that there was one person that
night who had his wits about him; that the prima
donna was saved; that, as there was danger of
her wits deserting her, the person who saved her
pretended she was dead, and carried her away
from life which, even without this accident,
would have been too much for her brain Let
us suppose further, that this friend by working
on the feelings of an admirable
young lady, procured his patient home, where
she would be tenderly and lovingly treated a
home, too. where, as this subtle friend was aware
she would soon become dear for her owH sake"
But here the good Doctor broke off. Sir Henry
had realized the whole plot, and, with fervency
which was quite too much for the hardest feel
ngs, he was wringing DR.. Griffth's hand.
where is she?" he said.
The Doctor made another sign with his hand,
and from behind the screen came Theodora led
forward by Ellen and Lady Montague She
looked bewildered. "Try you and make her
said Lady Montague, gently and