Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1889-07-25
AT DRESS REHEARSAL.
A Colonial Love Story with
Modern Addenda.

The play was to be given that even
Ing. The play was perhaps dubious
"a Colonial Love Story" written for
the occasion by viii Lane, who had
never written any thing before and
did not expect to again.
And acting was a novelty to the
actors-all but John Liddell, who had
once taken Il minor part in farce,
and was hence chosen by reclamation
to enact the hero in "a Colonial Love
Story"
But they had professional coach"
and the best hall in town. and the
loveiest costumes procurable; and a
large and fashionable audience was
absolutely certain. The free reading
room, for the benefit of which "a
Colonial Love Story" was to be given,
was sure of handsome donation. So
that all was blithe and buoyant
Hetty Burton stood with John
Liddell at corner of the stage,
ostensibly watching. the placing of the
scenery for the first act; scene. o colo
NAL kitchen, or kitchen the audience
was to imagine colonial.
There was to be little dance and
supper after the performance that
evening at Bess Gordon's, and it was
to the subject Of the first waltz that
John Liddell had skillfully led up.
us it engaged?" he queried, bracing
himself before her in determined
way he had.
With his very good legs incased in
knee-breeches and black silk stockings
it was a very becoming way.
mo" Hetty admitted
She swung the dainty buster she
held in rather coquettish manner
How could she help being coquettisf
in short pink skirt under whit,
apron, blue bodice, and a tiny, be
ruflled capP Hetty being billed al
Margery, a waiting-maid, and mos
pleasing waiting-maid she was.
"Well, them" said John Liddell, en-
Enthusiastically, ''it's plain case. Yol
are not engaged for the first waltz
neither am l. But you wish to be; S,
do |. Idesire to dance the first tim
with you-and several times more;y o,
also desire to"
''Do l, indeedp" cried Hetty, warm
iy biushing.
John Liddell had the coolest way Q
saying things. and he had acquired
rather suddenly, too. Hetty had know
him only since "a Colonial Low
Story" had brought them together, bu
he already appeared to consider he
his especial property, and to talk az
cordingly.
It was far from unpleasant, to b
sure, the consciousness that it was sh
she alone-when every one Of tn
girls thought him delightful and IRE
sistible.
And if the other girls had though
quite the opposite it would have mad
small difference to Hetty. Hetty wa
in love and aware of it.
Yes, you do" said John, collected.
He moved little nearer. Nobod
was observing but Mr.. Ryer, tt
"coach," and Mr.. Ryer was of sma
account at that moment
For handsome and self-assured job
Liddell OF sudden lost control of hin
self.
There had been previous occasion
when it had seemed to Hetty that
was in danger of it.
Now he caught her hand and presst
Il in his own, with an unintelligib
word or two, whose import was n
mysterious, and held it
MIR. Liddellr' she whispered.
"Hetty!" said Mr.. Liddell, maste
fully.
And then Mr.. Ryer, who had turn'
his bald head considerably away, RAJ
a little bell, and the next minu
Hetty's lover, as Christopher Peabod
was sitting in tall-backed chair. al
making his first shy speech
Dorothy Jefferson in the coloni
kitchen.
Hetty shrauk back into the Wi
and pressed her hot cheek against {
boards. Her pretty dark eyes we
half shut She heard and saw not
ing.
1T has comet has GOMEZ" s
kept saying to herself. blissfully. u
pox that II had come she realized h'