Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-08-01
NO AZ. WOODSTOCK, VT.W WEDNESDAY, AUGUSI Loo3


10 III uulJe HeCeSsdIy IidI olIcoCuo
should be whiskerlessp / asked
family.
"Why, Judge for yourself; how
would a powdered wig look with
themY The worst of it is," she added,
"that when / undertook the--the part
of Maria it was with the supposition
that you would be Fortescue," and she
blushed slightly.
Those who are unacquainted with
"The Belle of Penzance" must be told
that Fortescue is the lover of Maria,
and several half-romping, half-loving
scenes are enacted between them.
"lIit your ow-own b-b-b-ball in the
exact center, and rather high" stam-
mered, "and you-you would not like
O'Bri-that is, any other fellow to
toto take that part, in fact"
81 declare won't answer you" she
cried. "Of course, know you, and
never saw most of the others before,
and such things make all the difference,
you know. TO be kissed, even in
make-believe, by man one has seen
for the first time a week before, makes
one feel nervous. But there" At
this point | went down on one knee.
"Get up; there's some one coming"
1t was Miss Winton and Captain
Seymour, who came just in time to
prevent formal offer went off to
my bedroom, locked the door, opened
my dressing-case, took out scissors and
razor, and finished the dreadful task.
On my way down stairs, l met Sir
Thomas, who stopped, stared, and asked
my name. He did not recognize me.
Young Winton, who was always late,
was breakfasting when | entered the
morning-room. He dropped cup of
hot coffee over his knees, and nearly
choked. Leaving him in his misery, |
encountered young lady visitor, who
crammed her pocket-handkerchief in
her mouth and fled. But it would be
tedious to recount the effect | pro-
duced upon each individual member
of the household. All, even the faith
less Ada, laughed at my appearance,
except O'Brian, who looked upon my
transformation from a purely dra-
matte point of view. Others were di-
vided as to whether | most resembled
a plucked fowl or a recently shorn
sheep, but the veritable amateur said:
"Sure, he will make an elegant For
tescue," and stuck to that view of
the question. The company soon got
used to the alteration, and the dra-
matte business now went as smoothly
as a hand passed over my cheeks. 1
had the intoxicating privilege, the tan
talizing element in which was tenn
pered by hope, of making secondhand
love to Ada in daily rehearsals, till at
last the day of positive performance
arrived.
We all knew our parts, but whether
we acted them well or not it is difficult
to Judge; our audience was bound in
common politeness to be pleased, and
the nattering applause and profuse
congratulations we received cannot be
counted for much. AT any rate, every
body seemed delighted, and the whole
affair was voted success.
On the morning following the per-
formance, awoke early with firm
determination to turn mimic court
ship into earnest, and force plain
yes or no from her that very day. To
lie in bed with such a prickle in the
pillow was quite impossible, so ] got
up, dressed and went for walk. On
passing through the garden on my
way back to breakfast, l became aware
that some one else was also in high
spirits, for well-knOwn voice behind
the shrubberry was singing "The Pigs
in the Morning." and on turning the
corner of path which brought me
into a little open dell, | came upon
O'Brian, with his hat stuck on the
back of his head, executing a pas Seul
to vocal accompaniment.
"Ah !" he cried, on seeing me, "sure
you have caught me making fool of
myself. But it is good thing my
mothers only son has done for me this
morning. Congratulate me, my boy!'
Certainly" said l, feeling little
sickly. what on ?"
q am going to be married to the
prettiest little angel that ever wore
boots, and has nice little sum all at
her, own disposition into the bargain.
whoopr'
1t was too true; he had stolen a
march upon me. left Winton two
hours afterward.
At present my whiskers are in the
blacking-brush stage.
Amoricon Iaudpd princiDalitieg.