San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-09-15


1t was nearly s O'clock when | came
down. The play was to begin at s. The
hall, which was brilliantly lighted, was
one moving mass of black coats, with
here and there 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 riviere, smiling as
if she could never frown; Sir George
upright, courteous, trifie stiff, as most
English country gentlemen feel. it in
cumbent on themselves to DE 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 We're 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 covey of white
waistcoats who arrived late; the stair
case was already crowded with servants;
the whole place was crammed.
wondered how they were getting on
behind the scenes, and slipping out Of
the hall | 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 tidgety
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 footman who was
opening champagne bottles at a surpris-
ing rate. / saw Charles take 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 4 diamond star in her dress.
Diamonds, rubies and emeralds flashed
In her hair, and on her white neck and
arms. Ralph was fixing the last orns-
ment on to her shoulder with wire off
champagne bottle, there being no clasp
to hold it in its place. l saw Evelyn
turn away again, and Charles, who was
watching her, suddenly went off to the
fire and began 20 complain of the cold,
and of the thinness of his silk stockings.
The elder lady-"the heavy mother"
as Charles irreverently called her-now
arrived; the orchestra, which was giving
a final flourish, was begged in hoarse
whisper to keep going few minutes
longer: eyes were applied to the hole in
the curtain, and then, every one being
assembled, it was felt by All that the
awful moment had come at last. A more
miserable looking set of people l never
saw. | always imagined that the actors
behind the scenes Were as gay off the
stage as on it, but found to my aston
ishment that they were all suffering
more or less from severe mental depres-
sion.
Ralph and Aurelia were now sitting
rnefullv togsther on an ottoman beside
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