The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-02-18
CHAPTER VII.
BEFORE THE FoOTLIGHTS,

their way homeward, 1t was bright
Saturday afternoon in November, and
the girls were passing through the
centre Of the village when their atten-
ton was drawn to the hill.poster VINO
was at work on the large boarding
which stood opposite The White Crow
The man had just completed the post
ing Of very large very glaring, and
very melo-dramatic pictorial sheet
which was supposed TO give repre-
sentation Of one OF the most striking
scenes in the drama Of "'The Sins OF
London'-a play OF the most sensational
and realistic kind produced for twenty
years." SO the letterpress OF the poster
announced-w which was then on tour
through the provinces, and which was
TO DO given during the following week
at the Theasre Royal, Earlstord.
Salome and Nell paused for few mo-
ments, and scanned with interest the
spirited picture hung up before them.
"The villain Of the piece" was, OF course,
denouncing the hero Of the play az. a
murderer, andthe minions OF the law
Just on the point OF giving the sus-
pected man while the heroine was
depicted as falling horror-stricken into
tho outstretched arms OF benevolent
looking old gentleman, her father
"Seelns to DO q good place, Salome,
doe4n't itT Nell remarked. III yo'
lahke, wen goo an see 1t sometahme
mex week. Come on, lass, for aim
ready for my dinner"
Nell turned away and took pace or
two forward, but Salome neither an
swered her companion's observations
nor followed her example as to turning
homeward. The White Gipsy's eyes
were bent upon large poster In vivid
scarlet and deep blue colors which an
nouncod that grand performance OF
''Ingomar," the Son OF the Wilderness,
would be given at the Theatre Boyal,
Earsiord, on the following Friday, in
aid OF the local inhrmary, on which oc-
casion the show would be under the
distinguished patronage OF Sir sydney
and Lady Carsland, Paul Meredith,
Esq, his worship the mayor OF Earls-
ford, Alderman this, Councillor that
and lot OF other local celebrities.
Salome's eyes were fixed on one
name only Of the many names the pos
ter contained, and that was the name Of
the baronet's ward. She had never
seen her lover since they had parted so
abruptly over week ago-and had
heard nothing OF him save the astound-
ing intelligence Hugh Eastwood had re-
lated that night after the visit to the
Thorrell Moor School.
Her reflections since that time had
often been centred on the man she
loved, and she had continually Won
dered II were not possible that East
wood was mistaken in thinking and
stating that Milfred Cunlitie was in
reality Mr.. Paul Meredith.
1t was impossible for her to contro.
vert Hugh's deliberate assertions on
that point, much as she desired to do
80, but she had resolved to discover the
truth for herself. II Paul Meredith
lived at Carsland Hall it would, she ar
gued, be no difficult matter to get
glimpse OF him, and she had been busy
arranging some plan which would en-
able her to see Sir Sydney Carsland's
ward, aud herself remain unseen, when
the announcement respecting the In
Urinary programme met her gaze.
She gave q last, lingering look at Paul
Meredith's name, and then followed her
companion, who was waiting at the cor
ner OF Sponsors Lane. Salome's mind
was already made up on one point. She
intended going to the theatre on Friday
evening next No matter what the
truth might be it was best that she
should know it forthwith.
There is no occasion to dwell upon
the short interval of six days which
elapsed ere Salome went to the theatre
to confirm her fears or clear her mind OF
suspicion. When Friday evening came
she and Nell were among the first dozen
who presented themselvesat the Theatre
Royal for admission.
Nell had wished to 20 into the pit
whore u modest sixpence each would
have gained them admission, but Sal
ONE, after much persuasion, had in
duced her friend to accompany her into
the eide circle.
Selecting d good seat in the second
row near the middle OF the side circle,
the girls seated themselves. Nell i'm
mediately drew forth the current num-
Der OF her favorite journal and was
Soon deeply Interested In its love stories,
while Salome leaned back in her cush-
toned seat and glanced slowly around
the house.
The gas jets were turned low yet, but
the light was sufficient to enable her to
see clearly enough. A thin stream OF
respectfully dressed men and women
was pouring into the pit below, n thick
or stream OF moro roughly attirod work
ing mon, youths and lads, with here
aud there n female amongst them, were
flowing into tho gallery above; while
tradosmen and their wives and cons and
daughters were beginning to fill the side
circlos.
AS yet the dress circle was untenan.
ted. But after the lapse OF quarter Of
an hour the fashionable people OF Earls-
ford, who had como there simply be.
cause ID was show night, that they
might See and DO seen, began to arrive
In knots OF twos, and throes and fours.
BY this time tho seats before, behind
and on each hand Of salome and Noll
were occupied, and tho people around
them wero talking about and pointing
out the various local celebrities aa they
took their goats In tho fashionable part
Of the house.
Presently tho musicians filed into the
orchestra, and tho lights were turned
up. CHANGING at the dress circle, Salomo
saw no one there that she know, but
she noticed about dozen seats In the
very front and centre were still unoc.
cupled, and she heard someone near ut
hand Whispering that tho big people
had not yet arrived, although they