Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-03-30

He thinks he Will give her pleasant
surprise, and, cautiously moving aside
the curtain, that he may not too rudely
break in upon the reverie that is doubt
less filed with him, he gazes upon the
little perfumed paradise beyond.
AT first, the light dazzles his eyes. He
draws his breath quickly. and then
what Is it he sees2 In the distance stands
Dorothy-her features eloquent, her eyes
alight, her lips half parted, as smile,
fond and tender, hovers round them.
At her feet kneels Ponsonby, his hands
tightly clasped, his whole attitude be-
traying devotion the most intense.
Even as Disney watches them, stricken
to the heart by this cruel picture on
which he has so unwittingly intruded, a
passionate outbreak of words comes from
Ponsonby's lips.
Darling, he says, 4 appeal to you
for the last time, and impIore you to
listen to me Do not, beseech you, let
the alteration of another. - That's me, /"
Disney says. between his compressed
lips)- "blind you to the undying love |
oiferl On you are centered all my hopes
of future happiness Do not sentence
me TO lifelong despair, but say you
VIII De mlne.
Disney waits with maddening impa-
thence and beating heart for her reply.
1t comes very nervously from Dorothy's
pretty lips.
Her head is bent modestly, and her
hands lie passionately in Ponsonby's.
Elbow can / answer your she says. in
distinct but wavering accents. ''And
vet why should / not unburden my mind2
Truth is always best. NY heart has long
been in your keeping, and if you wish ii,
it is yours.
1t was too much! Sick at heart, Dis
ney turns away, not caring to listen to
words evidently not made for him to
hear. The dreadful awakening has
come All his dreams of bliss have been
shattered by this sudden and painfully
unexpected blow: and Dorothy, his love
whom he has believed rs true as the an
gels, is nothing mere in his ewes now
than 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
bestg" Yes; he will remain, and see it
out to the bitter send; and when this
loathsome play has come to an end, he
will tell her what he thinks of her, and
how she has wilful;y broken his heart and
ruined his life.
At dinner he is compelled to meet her;
but everybody being present, his exceed
ingly cold greeting passes unnoticed by
all, except Dorothy herself She cannot
mistake the change In his whole de-
meanor. Where is the tender pressure
of his hand to which she has been accus-
tomed9 Why did he come at all if he is
still filled with bitter thoughts? There
is some faint comfort in the remembrance
that she did not ask him to return.
He carefully avoids her all the even
ing; and next morning at breakfast u.s.
if possible. more markedly cold and dis
tant toward her.
She is saddened and disheartened; but
pride comes to her rescue She decides
in herself thnt she will show him how
little she has taken to heart his GOODNESS
and indifference.
Never before, perhaps. as during this
interminable day has Miss Bohu1 APP
peared 50 gay. so bright, SO full of life
and spirits; and yet in the solitude of
her own room, while dressing for this
luckless play, she sheds many bitter
tear.
At 0 o'clock the curtain rises. The
guests settle themselves in their seats.
and prepare for anything.
Miss Rodney. arrayed in very Quix-
otto costume, fresh from Worth. appears
before the audience, simpering and
grimacing, and doing her utmost to ini-
tate a real live countess. while in realitV
she only succeeds in resembling very
inferior soubret.
While Miss Falkiner, from the hall,
who is in private life her intimate friend,
now makes poor pretense at waiting
upon her as confidential maid, and
renders herself utterly ridiculous by Civ
ing herself sufficient airs for half dozen
countesses.
Both are distinct failure. Everybody
tries to.applaud. but disparaging remarks
fall lightly on the air.
The faint applause brings 10 life two
hardy veterans, who for some time past
have gwen themselves gratis to the open
arms of Morpheus, and have con.entedIy
reclined therein.
81 think Miss Rodney has better
chance of getting off than that girl il
green, " sleepiIv drawls number one.
atDO your replies number two ssWell.
Pm not much Of judge about that sort
of thing; but my opinion is neither will
get CT before the other. You see, my
dear fellow, when women are born with
q talent for acting ike those two-two
tyres, they don't get easily settled in
life"