Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-02

MRS. SnALLE aside to HnpA) .-Reco llect
my love- that my purse is short
HHDA (aside to MRs. SxALLE).-Oh. mamma
l know; It's such an old story But do, please,
Just three dozens! and they will come in beauti-
fully In trousseau if should happen to capture
SIR bertram. ITO SIR BERrRAM.1 Yes, Urbano;
SIX hosiery, and-oa yes! how about jewelry.
tCoyly.l dare say You know the very best
places for purchasing that. for Sir Bertram has
the reputation OF making such exquisite pres
ents to his cousins and sisters
SIR BERTRAM.-Oh, yes, mademoiselle
MRS. SMALLE.-He has a fortune to spend.
and dare say he spends Itch, Urbano9
SIR BERrRAM (shrugs his shoulders. Well,
madame, l think so.
Mrs. SMALLE.-Every one calls him so gen.
erous, so liberal. so open-handed.
HILDA.-Urbano has always found him so. I
am sure? IEngapingIv
SIR BERrRAM.-That is most true, mademoi-
selle
MRs. sMALLE (aside).-I do not approve of
catechising an inferior; still an opportunity
like the present is not to be lost ITO SIR BER-
TRAM. Is it indeed quite true, my good Ur-
PIANO. that Sir Bertram Lloyd has expressed an
intention of never marrying?
SIR BERTRAM.-Alas. madame, have heard
him declare so many times-until of late
| is that?
CLARA (timfdly advancing}.-If you please.
Mrs. Smalle, might l go to my room if you do
not require me at present?
Bushes as she crosses SIR BFRTRAM
MRS. SMALLE.-You may be seated. Miss Cam
| eron. L may need You at any moment to read
to me the German newspapers. I believe,
Oroano, that your late master is still in Ger
many? fHaughtily CLARA sits meekIy
SIR BERTRAM.-Ah, no, madame; he is in
Paris. ISigbs.
HnDA (nervously).-And he is. you say, Ur-
bano, thinking of marriage? aside to MRS.
SM4LLEl "In Parish Do you hear, mamma?
On! thatI might see him standing before mel
] Not an art or a vile Of which a handsome
woman is capable but that should put in play.
''In PARISH
SIR BERrRAM (aside).-I must have some
amusement, as shall never be able to accept
! my wages. ITO HILDA.l Mademoiselle, Sir
love.
| Mrs. SMALLE (distractedly).-withwh om?-
with whom, my amiable Urbano?
lHLDA sits dsconsolate.
| SIR BERTRAM.-Alas, madame, 1 know not even
| her name,
HHDA.-yery well, Urbano; very we'll OF
course the love affairs of your late master are
OF no interest to us. Now [recovers herself
with an EFFORT pray tell us of a good reason
| able dressmaker-some person whose charges
| are moderate, and whose fit is toierable.
SIR BLRTRAM (aside).-Just Heaven! never
| knew dressmaker in my life. ITO HILDA.l
Well, mademoiselle, if you will permit me,
will consult my list takes papers from pocket
OF dressmakers and make a selection of an-an
appropriate one.
MRS. SMALLE (aside to Hilda).-"Madly in
lover Did you understand the MANI
| HHDA de).-Perfectly. Leave all to me.
| Before am twenty-four hours older will dis
cover her name, address, all; and then to work!
| Will meet him, and aided. by this stroke of
good luck in the shape of a courier, 1 will in
tercept letters spy, watch, wake, win Mamma,
am not your daughter for nothing. Rark!
the clock strikes one; we must go down to
| breakfast.
Mrs. SMALLE.-My love, we must. Urbano,
pray in my absence look over these accounts,
| and Miss Cameron will render you any assist
ance, or explain our English terms to you if
| needfnl. Come, love. ITO Hilda
[Exeunt both at door R. c., leaving Sir
Bertram standing awkwardly in the
middle of the floor; Clara U. c., con-
fused, and trying to straighten tidy
on the back of the chair. He stands
still, whilst she nervously busies her
| self with setting the chairs to rights,
the disarranged papers, etc., etc.
Finally he turns squarely about
SIR BERTRAM (his hands on the back of the
| chair she had just moved will you con-
descend to remember in Mrs. Smalle's courier
\ the man who was so fortunate on Tuesday
week as to have the honor of setting young
lady Alright who had lost her way?
| CLARION, sir-I-indeed / do remember
you perfectly; and it was most kind of you.
| thank you again with all nv heart
Sir BERTRAM.-You have nothing to thank
| me for Miss Cameron; it was one of the great
| est pleasures ever afforded me in my life when
l was able to render you the little service that
did.
CLARA.-You are good to say so, Monsieur
| Urbano.
SIR BERTRAM (aside. )-Oh-ah-yes-ahem
To be sure, am Urbano the courier-to be
sure. TO CLARA.l May trust, Miss Cameron,
that although you discover me to be but
humble courier, you will not disdain my-er-
| further acquaintance?
CLARA (smiling) May hope, Monsieur Ur-
| bano, that albeit in me you discover but the
| lowly dame de cOmpdg,aie of the beautiful and
proud Miss Smalle you will not despise further
Of a.rn Crosses
she was darling! ITO CLARA Despise-
you! Oh, Miss Cameron you are, in my eyes,
as far above the lady whose companion you are
| as are the stars above the earth!
| CLARA.-Ah, Monsieur Urbano, like all
Frenchmen, you know how to fatter
Sir DEMONSTRATIONS! am as loyal
Briton as [Aside.l Oh, by Jove! Yes, I
| am Urbano and a Frenchman; had forgot.
| ITO CLARA.l Yes, yes; quite So 1 mean
lShe laughs.l Not at all; have spoken but
| the truth.
| CLARA,-Ah-h! (Shakes her head.
Sir BERrRAM Crosses L.).-You spoke Just
now Of Miss Smalle as being proud. And yet,
from sundry remarks which she let fall in my
presence, l gather she is not too proud to stoop
to win the name and fortune Of
| CLARA.-Your quondam employer?
| SIR BERTRAM Confused .-Ah yes precisely
my late employer, SIR Bertram Lloyd whom
| l judge she has never even seen.
| CLARA.-It is too true. Poor Miss Hilda. She
| is poor, ambitious and
SIR BERTRAM.-Unscrupulou
CLARA.-It is not well, Monsieur Urbano, to
| speak thus Of our-employers.
Sir BERTRAM.-You defend her course!
CLARA.-I! Empatically no.
SIR BERTRAM.-You would not pursue a SINH
] lar one2 EAGERLY
CLARA (seriously).-I cannot Comprehend
marrying any man save for one reason.
Sir BERTRAM.-And that? (Anxiously
| CLARA.-Because / loved him.
SIR BERTRAM (aside) III knew she was the
right sort. ITO CLARA.l And you, Miss Cam
eron, would you not also perhaps permit a
mans fortune, title. position, to influence you
Just little?
CLARA (earnestly).-I would not Were he
king, prince, knight. peasant or slave, SO that
loved him, the rest would weigh me nothing.
SIR BErRAM Crosses r. to CLARA).-And if it
were SO, Clara, that the humble servitor who
stands before you now, who dares TO raise this
little hand to his unworthy lips, who ventures
to look into your eyes with q deep and true
!ove-f so be he should aspire to a first place
in your heart would you spurn him for his pre-
sumption? Tell me.
Bends over her in impassioned attitude
and presses his lips to her hand.
CLARA (faintly).-I-ah, how do know? L
SIR BERTRAM.-Beloved, does not your heart
speak to you even as mine spoke to me the very
first moment that / beheld you? Have I NOT