The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-06-03

after all the preparations don't know
how it can be helped. But you shall
rest until 8, and not even Paul shall
see YOU before that time"
Refreshed by cup of tea and a
bath, Natalie lay upon her bed. The
pictures she had known since child
hood, the very figures on the wall-pa-
per seemed to pity her, and she wept
like child, feeling a sorrow for her.
self as she might have felt it for an
another. Then she slept.
She was aroused by her aunt's voice,
saying. Il declare, feel positively
wicked; but time is up, and can you
dress and come DOWN."
Everything came back to Natalie,
and nerving herself as best she might.
she said:
Dear aunt, I'm sorry l oversight;
how stupid l must seem to YOU! l can
dress in almost no time. See, I laid
out everything ready" and rejecting
how little she would care henceforth to
look well in any ones eyes, she dress
ed hastily and, summoning all her
fortitude, descended the stairs.
There is little surprise for you,''
said her aunt, gotten up by Miss
Chick and your friends; they will be-
gin at once. leaving their greetings
until afterward. fear the whole af-
fair will appear absurd to you. How
ever Miss Chick is going tomorrow.
and we shall have peace"
80 she has yielded" was Natalie's
mental comment. ''Aunt does not
know that Paul is going too"
The next thing that Natalie saw did
4
room. rows of well-flled chairs and
curtain that presently rose to disclose
the word Welcome" i'll garland flow
ers. Then Paul and a dark young lady
appeared in a duet, in which about
half the words were Welcome; some
! times snapped out in a scream by the
figure whom Natalie knew to be Miss
Chick. and sometimes labored with a
syllable at time, by Paul, who, after
a good deal of "Wel-wel-well-
would be supported by Miss Chick
with the remaining syllable, when they
would shout welcome" together, as
if, having once fairly got hold of the
word, they would never let it go.
Then there were tableaux. In and
through them all appeared Miss Chick.
Then the curtain fell. There was
great deal of buzzing behind it, and
pleasant expectation on the part of the
audience. A comedy was announced,
and the curtain rose. Natalie remem-
bered nothing of the words until she
heard these addressed by Paul to Miss
Chick
Dearest, the hour is coming that
must rob me of you unless you consent
to flight. Shall we doom such love as
ours to conventionality? l feel my
brain is giving way. Be mine! be
minew
1t was we'll that the piece was bur-
lesque; that an impossible father en-
tered, and everything took turn that
permitted laughter, else Natalie's emo
ton might have causSd remark. But
she laughed and cried alternately. un-
til when the curtain finally fell and
Paul reached her side, she was sob
bing Historically.
Don't cry, Natalie, darling" he
said. eff you knew how l have suf-
fered learning that thing when l was
SO full of your coming home that 1
couldn't get the wretched lines into
my head, write them over or study
them as l would; and oh. the martyr
dom have suffered under the rule of
Miss Chick. But she is going to-mor-
row. Oh, here she comes!' and Nata-
lie was formally introduced to Miss
Chick. who said gushingly:
Wasn't it just splendid? But you've
no idea of the task had with the ma
terial had to work with. Paul was
such poor study. If hadn't persist
ed until made myself odious he could
not have learned his part even as we'll
as he did, and the prompter gave him
half of his lines as it was"
During this speech Natalie was be-
ing kissed and welcomed by her friends.
among whom she had always been a
favorite.
Natalie resolved that night never to
tell of her mental suffering; but on the
very next day, when Miss Chick disap-
peared with her baggage, she felt that
she must unload her mind of its Sc
cret before the mental atmosphere
could be quite clear.
'.And you know, Paul" said Natalie,
sit would have been too much happi-
ness for earth if we had not both suf-
fered so at the hands of Miss Chick. :"
m Y Weekly.