The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1890-03-19
The Haunted Chamber.
A,tlor Of Monica" Mona ScaNy,
'.Phyllis," etc., etc.
BY THE DUCHESS"
CHAPTER. ",

6NUlOT OJ HO1ItC(L, MORO SC&tSS,
Phyllis" ETC., etc.
CHAPTER. ".
1t is the evening of the theatricals
and in one of the larger drawing rooms
at the castle, where the stage has beer
erected, and also in another room be.
hind connected with it by folding,
doors, everybody of note in the county
is a!ready assembled. Fans are fiutter
inn-so are many hearts behind ths
suaneS-and low buzz of converse
tian is being carried on among the com
l'anv.
Then the curtain rises; the fans stop
rustling, the conversation ceases, and
all faces turn curiouSly to the small but
perfect stage that the London work
men have erected
Every one is very anxious to see what
his or her neighbor is going to do when
brought before 4 critical audience. No
body, Of course, hopes openly for 8
breakdown, but secretly there are s
few who would be glad to see Such-and-
such a ones pride lowered.
No mischaNce, however. occurs. The
inSipid Tony speaks his lines perfectly,
if he fails to grasp the idea that a little
acting thrown in would be an improve
ment; very charming cousin Con is
made ont Of Miss NilGerS; rather
Stilt2,i bat strictly correct old lady out
ot,l.ady Gertrude Fining. But Flor
ence Delmaine, ;iS Kate HardcaStle,
leaves nothing to be desired. and many
are the complimentary speeches uttered
from time to time by the audience.
Arthur DynecoUre too had not over
praised his own powers 1t is palpable
20 every ore that he has often trod the
boards, and the pathos he throws into
his performance aSJoniSaeS the au-
dience. Is it only acting in the final
scene when he makes love to Miss
;IardcaStle, or is there some real senti-
ment in it?
The question arises in many breasts.
They note how his color Changes as he
takes her hand. how his voice trembles;
they notice too bow she grows cold, in
spite Of her desire to carry out her part
:. t3e end. us he grows warmer, and
ROW instinctively she shrinks from his
touch. Then ii is all over 3;.l the cur
tain talls amidst loud s2p! :se. Flor
e.: comes before the curtain in re-
S.t2use to treaueAt calls, gracefully,
half reluctantly, with soft warm blush
upon her cheeks and 3 light in her. eyes
that renders her remarkable loveliness
only more apparent. Sir Adrian,
watching her with a heart faint and
cold with grief and disappointment, ac-
knowledges sadly to himself that never
has he seen her look so beautiful. She
advances and bows to the audience,
and only loses her Self-posSeSSlon a
very little when bouquet directed at
her feet by an enthusiastic young man
aights upon her shoulder instead.
Arthur Dynecourt, who has accom-
panied her to the footlii:Ats, and who
Joins in her triumph, picks up the bou-
Quet and presents it to her.
As he does so the audience again be-
comes aware that she receives it from
him IN spirit that suggests detesta-
ton of the one that hands it, and that
her smile witherS as she does so, and
her great eyes lose their happy light OF
moment before.
Sir Adrian sees all this too, but per-
suades himself that she is now acting
another part-the part shown him by
Mrs. Talbot. His eyes are blinded by
jealousy: he can not see tie purity and
truth reflected in hers; he misconstrues
the panied expression that Of late has
sadtsened her face.
Fer the last few days, ever since her
momentous interview with Arthur
Dynecourt il the gallery, she has been
tITnid and reserved with Sir Adrian,
and has endeavored to avoid his secle-
tv. She is oppressed with the thought
that he has read her secret love for him
and seeks, b. an assumed cotdneSS OF
demeanor and a studied avoidance OF
him, to induce MIN to believe himself
mistaken.
D. A IL ;co 1r- roN
miserable by this avoidance. in the
thought that probably Mrs. Talbot has
told Florence of his discovery Of her
attachment TO Arthur, and that she
breads his taxing her with her duplici-
tv. and so makes strenuous efforts to
Keep herself apart from him. They
have already drifted so far apart that
tonight. when the play has come to an
end. :ind Florence has refined from the
dressing-room. Sir Adrian does not
dream of approaching her to offer the
congratulations on her success that he
wa"ld have showered upon her IN a
iaaDier hour.
Florence. feeling lonely and de-
pressed. having liStleSSly submitted to
her maids guidance and changed her
stage gown for pale blue ball-dress of
satin and pearls-aS dancing rs to sue
ceeG the earlier amusement Of the
evering-gccs silently downstairs, but,
instead of pursuing her way to the ball
room. where dancing has already COM
menced. she turns aside, and, entering
q small, drnly lighted antechamber:
sinks weariiy upon a satln-covered
lounge.
From distance the sweet strains Of
/. German waltz comes to her ears.
There is deep sadness and melancholy
in the music that attunes itself to her
own sorrowful reflections. Presently
the tears steal down her cheeks. She
feels lonely and neglected, and, bury
ing her head in the cushions OF the
lounge. Sobs aload.
She does not hear the haSty approach
OF footsteps until they stop close beside
her, and ayoice that makes her pulse
throb madly says, in deep agitation
"Florence-MiSS Delmaine- what has
happened9 What has occurred to dis
ssess YOU"
Sir Adrian Is bending over her, cyl
IDENTITY in deep distress himself. AS she
starts, he places his arn round her and
raises her to sitting posture; this he
does so gently that, as she remembers
all she has heard, and his cousins as
surance that he has almost pledged
himself to another, her tears flow
afresh. BY supreme effort, however,
She controls herself, and says, in =
faint voice
4 am very foolish; it was the heat, I
suppose, or the nervousness of acting
before SO many strangers. that has up
set me. It is over now. beg you will
not remember it, Sir Adrian, or speak
Of it to any one"
All this time she has not allowed her
self to glance even in his direction,
SO fearful is she Of further betraying
the mental agony she is enduring.
rs it likeIr should speak of it!' re-
turns Sir Adrian reproachfully. NO;
anything connected with you shall be
sacred to me. But-pardon mel still
think you are in grief, and, believe me,
i'm spite of everything, would deem it