Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-03-30
PRIVATE THEATRICALS.
Aunt Martha's Story OF an Inter.
esting Drama

not do at all. II is stupid"
"Stupid!' Jennie cried. as that all?
All the rest are too long, or too short,
or have too many parts, or some other
insurmountable objection. But mere
stupidity"
Don't be sarcastic, Jennie" Dollie
said, looking up from her book. There
were six of the girls, and on table,
chairs and even the floor were sixty, at
least, of the books
1t was just as Dollie spoke that Aunt
Martha came in; tall, prim and stately,
but as sweet as rose for all that, aud
prettier at sixty than half the women
of this world are at twenty.
What are you doing?" she asked,
with mild astonishment
Selecting play for private theatre
calls We want TO help the fund for the
sufferers at the R. street fire." said
Tassie, collecting scattered books in
one great pile.
Private theatricalsl" said Aunt
Martha, with a very odd smile. at
is long time since ! took n part in
private theatricals. Forty years and
more"
"You2" we all cried in chorus, for
Aunt Martha, although she never in
terfered with MS, was we'll known to
disapprovc Of thcaters and all that be-
longed to them.
1.-THE audience was very small" said
Aunt Martha, still with that puzzling
smile, land there were few perform
ers Still l tell you about it?"
what was the play?" asked Edna,
perhaps hoping for aid in her perplex-
tiles.
1.-THE Midnight Alarm" said Aun
Martha
Can get it9"
~ think not 1t was composed for
the occasion and never written out"
By this time we had deserted the ta-
BILE and array of "acting copies" of
popular dramatic works, and were
| drawn up in u circle near Aunt Martha's
chair, kcenly interested in hearing all
about 1t.
ut was when | was a young girl,
said Aunt Martha, land had been in
vited to be bridesmaid for my very
dear friend, Dora Burke. She was the
only child Of very wealthy widow
who lived in Willow Banks, and had
one of the most luxurious homes ever
visited. But II was in the country, ten
miles from large city, where Mrs.
Burke owned another house in which
her winters were passed, but which
was rented 10 lady who took Mrs.
Burke and Dora Us boarders for the
winter
$50, when IL was decided to have n
grand wedding, IL was also arranged
that il should be at Willow Banks,
where there were many spare bed
rooms, and which could be reached by
carriages from the city. One peculiar
ity of the domestic life / must mention
here. Years before, Mrs. Burke had
been robbed by burglars, admitted to
the house by dishonest servant, and
from that time she would have no serv-
ant sleep in the house. A separate
building for their use was connected
by covered way and fitted up COM
fortably Here Mrs. Jones, wife Of
the head gardener, kept house for the
gardeners, stablcmen and maid serv-
ants, who were summoned when want
ed by n bell from Mrs. Burke's room.
A second bell. also connected with her
her room. was an alarm, only to be
pulled IL the men should be wanted at
night for fire or burglary.
1.-THE wedding was very grand, but,
while the festivities were at their
height, | was taken i'll with severe
pain that / was subject TO. tried in
vain TO conceal my suffering, and final
ly whispered to Dora's cousin, Mollie
Burke, that must go to my room and
| a 4 20 ttJit Ia ma
but that would not allow, as she was
filing Dora's usual place in assisting
Mrs Burke.
"T will come in before go TO bed,
she said, and slipped away unnoticed
"My room was at the end OF a long
entry, a room liked because IL com
manded a magnificent view, but II
seemed lonely TO me that night, going
there from all the light, gayety and mu-
sic in the drawing-room. There was an
immense closet in 1t, as large as many
modern bathrooms, and in that wa
slowed much Of the rubbish that most
families own, odds and ends whose use
fulness is over, but which are too gooC
to throw away. In this, / carefully
hung up my fine dress, slipped on {
wooden wrapper and crept TO the bed
having only the bright moonlight L
guide me. could not sleep, but the
pain wore away and lay quiet, won
dering how soon the guests would
leave. Already Dora and her HUSBAND
had driven away to the city, TO star
upon their wedding trip, but the room
had been still filed when ! left them.
~ cannot tell what made me think
then of the temptation for burglars
there would be in the house that night
The family plate, usually stored in
bank vault in the city, and only dis
played on great occasions, was al
spread in the supper'room. In tho
library were Dora's presents, valuable
Jewels, silver. lace and other costly OF
ferings.
"As IL in answer TO my fears, sud
denly became aware that some on
moved softly along the entry, creel
ing, creeping, 10 my door, and so acros
the room 10 the closet As the hgur
crossed the window, / could see tina
the intruder was a tall, powerfully
built man. He entered the closet, an
I could hea him stealthily crouch dow
in the corner, probably pulling owe
him some of the articles on the floor
81 dared not move Alone, a wea
, girl, far fro IN the other inmates Of III
house, | was afraid he would Inurds