The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-03-19

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Battl is to sing, each box and stall i'm
the Italian House is filled-oyerfow-
ing, indeed.
One box alone on the second tier is
empty, and toward it numerous lorpn-
cites from the stalls beneath and from
BOXES opposite are anxiOusly directed
The Diva has appeared. has Sung her
drst solo. has been rapturously recefveS
ana applauded 10 the echo. and the
pouse is now llstleSsly paying attention
70 somewhat Overdone tenor when
the door OF the empty box opens. and :
woman pretty, and with charming
expression, II slightly pOSSe. comes slow
~ within the light of the lamps.
She IS followed by a girl. who. COM
ing to her side, stands for a moment
mollonless, gazing down and around
with q careless calm upon the fashion,
able multitude with which the vast
building is crowded
80 standing together, the elder wo-
man SINKS into mSignificance. whilst
the younger becomes the center of at
traction; She Is of medium height.
Win a clear. coloTless skin, and large
Dlue expressive eyes. Her hair is not
golden, but light brown. through which
touch OF gold runs brightly. She ia
arlstocratic, almost naughty in appear-
ance; yet every feature. and, indeed her
whole bearing, is marked with a mel
ancholy that seems to check even the
smile that on very rare occasions seeks
10 dlsslpate the sadness on her lovely
cOuntenance.
She is dressed in a somewhat strapge
fashion for so young a girl. Her gown
is OF black satin, relieved by some heavy
golden chains that encircle her neck.
she wears black gloves to her elbow
and an enormous black fan fiecked with
goId. OPon her far hair tiny Indian
cap OF black satin, embroidered with
gold, and hung with sequins. rests
lightly.
She is whimsical. old-fasbioned what
you Will, but perfect in every look and
movement.
Having completed her slow survey of
the house. she turns and saws something
IN quite languid fashion to her COM
pamon, who laughs, taps her with her
ran, and motions her to the chair Oppo-
site.
w hat a success you are. Maud" save
the elder woman, fOndly. Even rOyal-
ty has taken notice of your enrra1cei
Did you observe that?"
Royalty, as rule, is very rudel" saws
Maud. slowly, after which they bOib
fall INTO line and turn their attention
TO the divine Adelina.
Two young men in The stalls beneath
Who up 10 THIS have been engrOsspd
with the new beauty, at this instant
turn to each other.
WHO is she?" asks the Youngest
eagerly. Il have been in town some
three weeks-but auylhing
like hat has not"
Dear child, don't-dOn't say it, in
,errupts ms companion. SADLY 1T isn't
Ike you. Not to know her. argues
unknown! l thought better Of
you! She IS our beauty par excellence.
our modern Venus, and licks every one
Else into fits. She is The very cream of
The cream where beauty is concerned
though somewhat shady, l am reIuc-
.anily compelled to admit, in the mat
ter OF BIRTH"
~Birthl" repeats the young man. with
/ start But look at her-loOk at her
lands, her profile! Who can dispute the
question of birth?"
NO one, Ii is indisputablel That
charming girl up there. with the most
nose and The hauphtiest
mouth III ChristendOm, was picked off
he street 10y her chaperOne, Mrs.
NeVille. when a baby, and is prObabIv
at least, 50 | hear-the daughter of a 4
poor. but strictly hOnest-tbev /
re It,r1HS strictly hOneSt-whO lived Nv (
ntuslng starch INTO limp linen! / real /
y don L like 10 say coarsrlv that She .
vas a W;SherWOman, il sounds so yUl-
ar.
1t sounds as horrible as it isimDOssi-
lie, says the younger man. stfn gazing :
reamily at the box that holds his har-
lony in black and gold.
Most Impossible things are hOrri-
lie, says his companion, lightly. They
rate; they are ont OF the common.
,erhaps that is their charm. Miss
evllle charms. Yes, that is her name:
er adopted mother wishes her 10 be 50
allied. Don't look so excessively
hooked, my dear Penruddock; 1t is
ather romance, if it is anything at
Il. and should create in your mind in,
crest rather than disgust"
1t is not disgust | feel it is merely a
lfhculty OF belief" SAYS PenTuddOck I
aguely. is that her adopted mOthers7
hitting his glasses just for a moment
'Om the calm and beautiful blue ewes
lat have so bewitched him to The
lded pretty woman who sits near them.
I es. She is all right you know
ute correct. She is George Nevilles s
idOw, son to Lord DulmOre, you may
who broke his neck. or his
cad, or sOmething-I don't exactly
now What-when out hunting"
Y eS; | remember. lie was a friend
my fathers. BY the bye, that Mrs
eville must be a sort Of connection of
least her sister married my
ncle. But all friendship there ceased
lything about it myself, but l believe
coldness arose after my poor little
lusln's unhappy accident. You heard
] about that. of cOurse?"
f" \ very fortunate accident for YOU.
! things considered. Other fellows
,usins don't drop off like that" SAYS
r. Nllding, in an aggTieved tone.
My father was awfully cut up about
." says PenTuddOCk; "he has never
zen the same man since. Moody. YOU
loW, and that; and goes about for
syS together without speaking word. Z
preyed upon him. And the Wynters
my aunt's people-said ugly things
,out it; that sufficient care hadn I been
ken of the poor little thing. and all
e rest of it. But of course it was no
'dy fault"
OF course not! Some people-es-
clally law TelatiOns-are never happy
cept when making themselves dis
reeable. That's their special forte.
ne fact that your father minds them
trays III him charming amount of
oshneSs."
: And so she adopted that lovely grill"
id PenruddOck, presently. returning
his contemplation of Beauty's box,
d referring to Mrs. Neville.
She might have done worse, might
e not? l shouldn't mind adopting
7 myself" says Mr.. Wilding. genially.
md nobody seems to mind about the
len: she is received everywhere, and
s refused several very good men,
Tell me all about it; do. now, that's
good fellow" says PeHruddOck, lean
2 back in his seat, and beginning to
lk profoundly interested.
There isn't much of it. 1t is TO
tntic story. certainly. and a very
llXOtlc one. but il can be told in q
'rd or two. Brevity is the soul Of
{. To begin with. you must try TO
lsteT the fact that Mrs. Neville adores
gs, and driving in the Park one day
out fifteen years ago, she drew up
T carriage al the ratings and pro-
1ded to CRAFTY the appetite of her
meranian by bestowing upon him
il.A-1lnI