The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-09-14

III OOoSo 11ietLiy COlOIctA, Iuo people III Ul6nl
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 resplendent
in diamond tiara and riviere, smiling as
if she could never frown; Sir George
upright, courteous, q trihe 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 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 fdgety
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 surpris-
ing rate. saw Charles take glass to
Evelyn, who was shivering III an ann
chair with a sharp attack of stage fever,
looking over her part. She smiled CRATE
fully, but as she did so her eyes wall
dered to the other side Of the room, where
Ralph, on his knees before Aurelia, was
fastening diamond star in her Gxess
Diamonds, rubies and emeralds flashed
in her hair, and on her white neck and
arnaL Ralph was fixing the last orna-
mens on to her shoulder with wire off a
champagne bottle, there being no clasp
to hold it in it's 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"
as Charles irreverently called her-now
arrived; the orchestra, which was giving
a final flourish, was begged in hoarse
whisper to keep going a 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 I never
saw. l 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. - 80 tt<t
Ralph and Aurelia were now sitting
ruefully together on an ottoman beside
the painting table, Uttered with it's vari-
GUS rouges and creams and stage appli-
ances. Even Charles, who had estab-
llshed Evelyn on chair in the wings at
the side she had to come on from, and
was now drinking champagne with due
regard to his paint Charles owned
to being nervous
81 wish to goodness Mrs. Wright
would begin" he said "Ah! there she
goes!" as she assembled the stage steps.
There goes the bell. We are in for it
now. She starts, and / come on next.
Up goes the curtain. Where the devil
has my book got tor I'll
In another moment he was in the
wings intent ON his part; then saw him
throw down his book and go iauntilv
forward. A moment more and there
was a thunder of applause. All the act
ors looked at each other and smiled a
feeble smile.
"He will do" said Gen. Marston. the
Indian officer, who, now in the dress of
an old fashioned livery servant, proceed
ed to mount the steps. 1t dawned upon
me that was missing the play, and
hurried back to find Charles convulsing
the audience with the utmost GOODNESS.
and evidently enjoying himself exceed
lngly. Then Evelyn came Oh But
who cares to read a description of
play? 1t is sufficient to say that Aurelia
looked charming, and many were the
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 Charles
was the favorite with every one. from
The Duchess of Crushington in the front
seat to the scullery maid on the stair
case. He was so bold, 80 wicked, SO in
in his plumed cap and short
cloak, so elegantly refined when he
wiped his sword upon his seconds hand
serchief. He took every ones heart by
storm. Ralph, who represented all
he virtues, with rather thick ankles
Ind false mustache, was nowhere.
When the curtain fell for the last time.
mid great and continued applause, the
heavy mother" Ralph, Aurelia-all
we're well received as they passed before
t; but Charles, who appeared last, was
he hero of the evening.
He is engaged to his cousin, Miss
Derrick. isn't he?" said lady near me in
loud whisper to friend.
Hush! No. Charles can't marry.
lead over ears in debt. They say she is
,ttached to one of her cousins, but for
Jet which. l am not sure it was not the
ther one"
Then it is the second son who is go
ng to be married, is it? I know heard