Mexico weekly ledger., 1890-09-18

"Look at Carr! ndttzing ,ctth AurettGr
Il was nearly 8 o'clock when I came
down. The play was to begin at 8. The
hall, which was brilliantly lighted, was
one moving mass of black coats, with
here and there Il red one, and evening
dresses many colored, the people in them
chatting, bowling, laughing, being ush-
cred to their places. Lady Mary and
Sir George Danvers, side by side, re-
ceived their guests at the foot of the
grand staircase. Lady Mary respondent
in diamond tiara and r~iviere, smiling Is
If she could never frown; Sir George
upright, courteous, a trife stiff, as most
English country gentlemen feel it in
cumbent on themselves to be on such
occasions.
Presently the continual roll of the car
riages outside ceased, the lamps were
toned down, the orchestra struck up, and
Sir George and Lady Mary took their
seats, looking around with anxious salts
faction at the hall crowded with people.
People lined the walls; chairs were be-
ing lifted over the heads of the sitting
for some who were still standing; cush-
ions were being arranged on the billiard
table at the back for a covey of white
waistcoats who arrived late; the stair
case was already crowded with servants:
the whole place was crammed.
l wondered how they were getting on
behind the scenes, and slipping out of
the hall l traversed the great gold and
white drawing room, which with the adj
joining library had been given up to the
actors. They were all assembled in the
morning room, however, waiting for one
of the elder ladies who had not come
down. The prompter was getting hdgety
and walking about. The Two scene shift
ers, pale, weary looking men, who had
come down with the scenery, were sit
ting in the wings, perfectly apathetic
amid the general excitement.
Charles and several other actors were
standing round a footman who was
opening champagne bottles at a surpris-
ing rate. saw Charles take a glass to
Evelyn, who was shivering in an arm
chair with a sharp attack of stage fever,
looking over her part. She smiled CRATE
fully, but as she did SO her eyes wan
dered to the other side of the room, where
Ralph, on his knees before Aurelia, was
fastening a diamond star in her dress.
Diamonds, rubiN and emeralds flashed
In her hair, and on her white neck and
arms. Ralph was fixing the last orna-
ment on to her shoulder with wire off a
champagne bottle, there being no clasp
to hold it in its place. I saw Evelyn
turn away again, and Charles, who was
watching her, suddenly went off to the
fire and began to complain Of the cold,
and Of the thinness Of his silk stockings.
The elder lady-''the heavy mother
a Charles irreverently called her-now
arrived; the orchestra, which was giving
q final flourish, was begged In q hoarse
whisper to keep going q few minutes
longer; eyes were applied to the hole in
the curtain, and then, every n being
assembled, it was felt by all hat the
awful moment had come at last. A NOR.
miserable looking set Of people 1 never
saw. always imagined that the actor
behind the enc were as gay off thu
stage as on it, but I found to my aston
Ehment that they were all suffering
more or less from severe mental depres
ston.
Ralph and Aurelia were now sitting
ruefully together on an ottoman beside
the painting table, Uttered with its vari
ous rouges and and stage appli
ances. Even Charles, who had estab
lished Evelyn on a chair in the wings a
the side she had to come on from, ant
was nov drinking champagne with du,
regard to his paint-even Charles owned
to being nervous.
81 wish to goodness Mrs. Wrigh
would begin" he said. "Ah! there sh'
goesr' as she assembled the stage steps
"There goes the bell. We are in for i
now. She starts, and / come on next
Up goes the curtain. Where the devi
has my book got to-"
In another moment he was in tn
wings intent on his part; then ! saw hin
throw down his book and 80 %jauntil,
forward. A moment more and Their
was a thunder of applause. All the act
ors looked at each other and smiled
feeble smile.
"He will do" said Gen. Marston, tn,
Indian officer, who, now in the dress o
an old fashioned livery servant, proceed
ed to mount the steps. 1t dawned upo1
me that l was missing the play, and
hurried back to find Charles convulsine
the audience with the utmost GOODNESS
and evidently enjoying himself exceed
ingly. Then Evelyn came OH Blu
who cares to read a description of l.;
play? It is sufficient to say that Aureli;
looked charming, and many were tn,
whispered comments on her magnificent
jewels; but on the stage Evelyn sur
passed her as much as Aurelia surpassed
Evelyn off it.
Ralph and Carr did well, but Charlie.
was the favorite with every one, from
the Duchess OF Crushington in the from
seat to the scullery maid on the stair
case. He was so bold, so wicked, so in
sinuating, in his plumed cap and shor
cloak, so elegantly refined when h,
wiped his sword upon his seconds hand
kerchief. He took every ones heart b.
storm. Ralph. who represented al
the virtues, with rather thick ankle
and q false mustache, was nowhere
When the curtain fell for the last time
amid great and continued applause. tn,
''heavy mother" Ralph, Aurelia-al
were well received as they passed befor'
It; but Charles, who appeared last, wa
the hero Of the evening.
"He Is engaged to his cousin, Mis-
Derrick, isn't hep said a Lady neal me i,
. loud whisper to a friend.
'Hush! No. Charles can't marry
Head over ears in debt. They say she
attached to one of her cousins, but l for
get which. am not sure it was not tn
other one"
''Then Ii Is the second son who is 60
ing to be married, is 1t? I know I heart
something about M Of them being en-
gagged"
"Yes, the second SON Is engaged t
that good looking girl in diamonds VIII
acted Florence Mordaunt. A lot o
money, I believe, but not much in tn
way Of family. Grandfather sold nous
traps in Birmingham, so people say"
"She looks like it." replied the other
who had daughters out, and could no
afford to let any praise Of other girl
paas. mo breeding or refinement; an'
she viii DO stout later, you viii see."
The play being over . general move
weut now ret In toward the drNwipl