Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-08-01
DELILAH.

|
DELlLAH.
Sir Thomas Winston was widOwer,
and his present family consisted of two
daughters somewhere between eighteen
and thirty and son. There were
several guests besides myself at Win
ton hall--Capt, Seymour, brother of
ficer of young Winton's, with sus-
pected desire of forming another fra
ternal connection with him; paddy"
O'Brian, a sort of social Crichton, and
others. OF the fairer visitors, | need
only mention one, Ada Dart, for what
man of sound mind could notice any
other girl when she was in the room?
Well, Capt, Seymour, could do so. but
then he was infatuated and not of
sound mind suffering from younger
Miss Winton on the brain in'fact. 1t
surprised me very much to see the
beautiful Ada sail into the drawing
room before dinner on the evening of
my arrival. | had met her at din
ner party and three balls; l had attend
ed her with grateful humility through
out the whole of a picnic, and her
image rose before me rather more than
| liked.
| could not remain long by her side;
the room was full of strangers, with
many of whom had now to form ac-
quaintance for the first time, even the
ladies of the house being unknown to
me. ! was eventually paired off with
companion, and dinner was spoiled
by a perpetual dread of speaking with
levity of things she reverenced.
The place coveted at the side of
Ada Dart was filed by Paddy O'Bran,
who had a wonderful and enviable
power of showing politeness and ap-
parent attention to the general com
pany while really attaching himself to
one selected individual.
Before the evening was over | felt
certain that had no chance of "walk-
ing over" for the prize, and also, that
she was worth winning; for Paddy
was not the man to court uncovered
beauty. Indeed, he could not afford
so romantic proceeding.
When the ladies retired most of the
men repaired to the billiard room,
where cigars were provided, but the
majority were tired and went to bed,
early, leaving O'Brian and myself to
finish game.
"Well," said he, as soon as we were
alone, ." suppose that you and | have
been asked down here for the same
thing"
"Oh yes; the shooting, you mean," |
replied.
shooting! That's the polite way of
paying us. They want us to help them
with their private theatricals."
"Oh, they're going to get up private
theatricals, are they?"
"To be sure, or you would never
have been asked to Winton hall, nor |
either faith. | got it out of Miss
Dart"
"WhO ill tell us what to do about
scenery dresses, and all the little de,
tails?" said Miss Winton, when the
family took the stage fever badly last
summer. Don't you know some one,
papa?"
81 have it," cried Sir Thomas. "On
of my acquaintance is great on the
drama; at least he talks of nothing
else, and though not solomon, that
seems to be his speciality"
"But is he presentable?" asked Julia
Winton-"Seymour's girl, you know"
"Oh, yes" replied Sir Thomas; she
has paid up on his shares. and he as
pirates his rs, and he has really very
fine whiskersp'
"Shut up, O'Brian" said l. "Do not
foist off your own impertenencies upon
the innocent. And what were you
asked here fory'
"To act, of course. If it had moi
been for my success in Sir Luciu'
O'Trigger at Lady Socks Imight have
gone hang before ever I'd have been
guest in this elegant establishment
Oh, there is no Sinking the truth will
me. my boy; nobody does anything fol
nothing in this world"
There was undoubtedly sentiment
of truth a. the bottom of this froth!
cynicism of O'Brian's; for on the fol
lowing day the subject of private theat
ricals was quietly broached in my pres
ence by the Misses Winton.
My theatrical a'tes had never as ye
led me to take part in any perform
ance, and, indeed, of the ladies AM
Sien forming the present company
Ada Dart and O'Brian were the onl,,
two who were not about to make thei
first appearance upon any stage .
course, these experienced member
took a prominent lead, besides bein