Mexico weekly ledger., 1890-09-11
P VI.

A~ES@%
/ brought up Carr, hdrtng bp this time
presented him to Sir George.
But far from being better the follow
ing morning, Denis was much worse.
Charles, who had sat up most Of the
night with him, and who came down to
breakfast more cool and indifferent than
ever, at once extinguished any hope that
still remained that he would be able to
take his part that night.
Great was the CONSERVATION Of the
whole party. A vague feeling Of resent
ment against Denis prevailed among the
womankind, who, having all preserved
their own healths intact for the occasion
land each by her own account was a
chronic invalid), felt it was extremely
inconsiderate, not to say indelicate, of
"a great man like him" to spoil every
thing by being laid up at the wrong
moment.
But what was to be done? Denis was
i'll, and without Denis the play could not
proceed. Must the whole thing be given
up? There was a general chorus of lam
entation.
II see no alternative" said Charles,
unless some Curtius will leap into the
gulf and go through the piece, reading
the part; and that is always Il failure at
the best of times"
At that moment l had an idea. 1t
broke upon me like u flash of lightning.
Valentine Carr! 1 had seen him act in
the theatricals on the steamer the very
part Denis was to have taken. How Won
derfully fortunate that it should have
occurred to me!
l told Charles that I had a friend who
had acted that part only the week be-
fore. your cried Charles, losing all
his customary apathy. "You don't say
30. Great heavens! where ID he? Out
with him! Where is he at this moment?
England, Ireland, Scotland or Wales?
Where Is this treasure concealed"
"Oh, Col. Middletonl Oh, how de-
iightfulr cried a number Of gentle
voices; and I was instantly surrounded
and all M Of questions put to me.
Would he come? Was he tall? And oh,
had he a beard? He had not a beard,
had he? because it would not do for the
part. Did he act well? When had he
acted? Where had he acted?
Sir George interrupted the torrent of
Interrogation.
"Do you think he would Gomez he
asked.
II am almost sure he would" I said;
she is a great friend of mine.'
1T would be an exceedingly good nat
ured and friendly act" said Sir George.
"Charles-no, l mean Ralph-bring a
telegraph form, and if you will write q
telegram at once, Middleton, I will send
it to the station directly. We shall
have an answer by 10 o'clock, and until
b we Will not give up all hope, though
OF we must not count on your
friend being able to come at such short
notice."
The telegram was written and de.
spatched, Carr having given me an ad-
dress where letters would find him,
though he said he did not put up there.
sincerely hoped he would not be out Of
the way on this occasion, and I was not
. little pleased when, a few hours later, ]
received a telegram in reply, saying that
he would come, and should arrive by the
afternoon train, which had brought me
the day before.
The spirits of the whole party revived.
I las is often the case) was in high favor
with all. Even poor Denis, who had
been very much depressed, was suR.
GENTLY relieved by the news, so Charles
said, to smile over his beef tea. Lady
Mary, who appeared at luncheon time,
treated me with marked consideration.
had already laid them under an obliga-
ton, she said, ~graciously, by undertak.
ing the care of the jewels, and now they
were indebted to me q second time. Was
MI. Carr one Of Lord Barrantyne's Sons
or was he n Of the Crampshire Carrsi
She had known Lady Caroline Carr in
her youth, but had not met her of late
years.
She seemed surprised when 1 told he,
that Carr was an American, and he sank,
I could see, at once in her estimation,
but she was kind enough to say that she
We not a person who was prejudiced In
any way by a mans nationality, and that
abe believed that very respectable people
might be found among the Americans.
The day passed in the usual prepare,
tions for an entertainment. If l went
into the hall I was sure to run agains,
gardeners carrying in quantities of hot
house plants, with which the front o.
the stage was being hidden from the
footlights to the floor; if / wandered into
the library l interrupted Aurelia and
Ralph rehearsing their parts alone, with
their heads very close together; If / has.
hly withdrew into the morning room, II
was only to find Charles upon his knees,
Turing Evelyn to immediate flight, In
soul stirring accents, before an admirina
audience of not u~nenvious young lady.
hood.
Now, Evelyn, I ask you as a favor
said Charles, as I came in, moving to-
ward her on his knees, ''wiIl you come
little closer when / am down? ] don't
mind wearing out my knees the least IL
sgood cause; but l owe it to myself, az
wicked baron in hired tights, not te
Cross the stage in that position. ANY
impression / make will be quite lost II !
do; and unless you keep closer / shall
never be able to reach your hand and
clasp 1t to a heart at least two yardl
away. Now" rising and crossing owe,
to the other side, II shall begin again.
'Ah! but my souls adored'"-
SIS Middleton here?' asked a voice
In the doorway. 1t was Sir George Dan.
vers who had put his head into the room,
and I went to him.
81 say, Middleton" he began, twirlins
his stick, and looking rather annoyed,
cit is excessively provoking. 1 neve,
thought Of it before, but / find there il
not a bed in the house. Every Granny
has been filed. II never occurred to me
that we had not a room for your friend,
now that he is kind enough to come.
And 1t looks 20 rude, when it is 80 ex-
ceedingly good natured Of him to come
ct all"
"Oh, dearl anywhere viii dol" I said.
There is not wen room for Ralph In
the house." continued Sir George. 81
have put him up at the lodge" pointing
to q small hor.se at the end Of the drive,
near the great entrance gates. There
q another nice little room leading out OF
his" he added, hesitating-"but really
Idnn't like 70 suggest"-
"Oh, that win do perfectly" I broke
tm. 'sCarr IN not the sort of fellow to
care . straw how he is put M. He viii