Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-07-02

followed this pregnant interjection |
| humbly withdrew.
The evening of the 18th came and
great was the roll of carriages through
ont Aberdeen. st. Glllian's Hall was
glitter of lights and bloom OF flowers.
The floor was a plain OF glass meet Tor
the tripping OF fairy feet which soft
music volum ptuously invited. Every
appointment was worthy OF naboo.
noticed, however, one oddly. The
static was carefully yelled by a curtain
of spotiess white. On reference TO the
order of dancing, I found at its con-
clusion the announcement: "a Rem
iniscence OF Olden Days" Perhaps,
after all, there was truth in the rumor
about an exhibition of Oriental magic.
Eli Effendi, arrayed in a robe gor-
geous with gold thread and jewels, and
for the first time 10 my acquaintance
separate from his narghile. received his
guests with an aplomo which spoke
volumes for Eastern fatalism. For all
Aberdeen was present, besides my ilttle
self that properly could not be included
in so exalted classification, the Bull
ions, the Schenks, the Van Diemens,
the Stuynes, and the Van Etens. Even
the Bishop with his shovel-crowned nat
in hand, stood in corner and beamed
as il such a gathering OF such people
must be both goodly and cody. L
strove several times to gain my poor
Patty. but she was well guarded by the
female grenadiers OF the alliance, so she
could only smile wanly and turn toward
m =
emily as his lips did to the cane to which
he was subsidiary.
The evening passed tamely for me.
Eli Effendi was engrossed with hospita-
BILE duties. Once he winked signih-
cantly, but how significantly l could
not imagine. 1t is depressing to watch
a whirl in which one has no part, to
behold gayety from the tower of isola-
ton and to hear laughter but not its
provoking jest. Truly, l was alone In
nv meloncholy-I and my little Patty,
think, for those who paused to COM
ment pronounced 1t the most enjoyable
occasion Of their lives. And such lives!
so rife with the highest delights! How
could praise be more extravagant.
And this exurbance increased when
the banquet was served. Verify, Vitel-
Illus, who consumed an empire, knew
no like luxury. The rarest viands, the
richest wines. Those who cared to dis
cuss the subject af:erward, and they
were few, blamed these celestial bever-
ages for the unnatural glamour OF the
concluding event. For when the strains
of the last waltz had died away and
one looked at another In wonder as to
what would follow, the lights grew
dim, yet iridescent.
Servants placed divans facing the
stage, on which the guests instructive
" arranged themselves with graces not
their own. A delicious incense per-
meated the air, bringing dreamy sloth
and contententment. Reality yielded
to ldeality; yet the mind acquired new
perceptions, and each one realized that
"a "Reminiscences of Olden Days" would
reveal affairs as they were, not as they
might have been.
Softly foated the simple rhythms OF
"Auld Lang Syne," and then slowly
the spotless curtain faded away. What
scene of desolation! A broad, sulen,
swiftly-fowing river, sandy shore
sparsely-cleared fields more dun than
green; and still beyond, the endless
sweep of gloomy forest. But the peo-
Pile, the gaunt, haggard wretches, who
were watching on that shore full OF
longing and regret and hate, signing
for the land from which they had
been banished for its good, despising
one another and begrudging each his
share of the expected supplies! Was
this the founding OF Utopian State?
Were these the forerunnerS OF an ex-
alted. civilization?
Scene succeeded scene; but always
the one dull, cherries hue. Gradually
the settlement grew; but ah! how mean.
how meagre. how petty. Hoyels, not
homes; necessities, not comforts. The
sun glared upon clay. The rain fell
upon mire. Swine walowed In the pub
lie places, and through the lanes dogs
worried drunken natives who had bar
tered Their possessions for baubles,
Nothing noble, nothing aspiring; a
stupid folk accepting the inevitable
with growl, and finding in selfshness
and envy the only amelioration Of their
misery.
Gradually, too, the spectators began
to recognize their ancestors, and then
what downcast glances, what burning
cheeks, what fierce hopes that worse
might come to others. A Schenck toll
ed by with pack OF furs on his back,
savagely chewing on the band pressed
against his chin. A Stats fastened
on with tnker's brasier. The strag-
glers around the tavern, on whose post
was scrawed the name OF Bullion,
skunk away as the Bishops fore-father
hustled through the narrow entrance
with great boots and clanking side
arms, for be was buccaneer in whose
very glance there was violence. But
who is he who plods doggedly along,
looking neither to the right nor to tho
left, as IL appreciating his disgrace and
meaning TO endure it? Even the little
children point at him and cry, "Stuyn,"
"Stuyn," for his name has become q
synonym for his degrading offlce-that
Of hangman.
Mrs Van Etten gasps and shudders
and looks with scorn at her late grena-
der companion, while she draws Patty
closer to her. Rudolph, in MS conster-
nation, tastes the ferrule OF his cane.
Oh. brief triumph! Oh, scorn, soon to
yearn for sympathy At the very next
change In the phantasmagoria Van
Etten is seen bound to the whipping
post. on whose barred back the "Stuyn"
Justify plies bis cat. And all the people