The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-02-26
PRIVATE THEATRICALS.
Aunt Ma-tha's Story OF al Iator.
oSci;lg Drama.

insur:nountablc objection. Eut mere
Stupidity"
Don't be sarcastic, Jennie" Dollic
said. looking up from her book. There
were six of the girls, and on table,
chairs and even the floor were sixty, n,
least, Of the books.
1t was just us Dollic spoke that Aunt
Martha camo in; tall, prim and stately,
but rs sweet as 4 rose for all that. and
Prctticr 1T sixty than half the women
of this world arc at twenty.
What arc you doing?" she asked,
with mild establishment
Selecting 4 play for private thcatri-
Gals. We want to help the fund for the
sufferers ut the Is street fire." said
Tassic, collecting scattered books ia
one great pile.
Private thcatricals." said Aunt
Martha, with very odd smile st
is ~ long time since l took IL part in
private thea:ricals. Forty years ard
more"
"You?" we all cried in chorus, for
Aunt Martha. although she never in
tcrfcrcd with MS, was we'll known to
disapprovc of thcaters and all that he
longcd to them.
The audience was very small" said
Aunt Martha, still with that puzzling
smile, "and there were few perform
crs Still tell you about it,"
"What was the play?" asked Edna,
perhaps hoping for aid in her pcrplcx-
tiles.
Tho Midnight Alarm" sail Aun t
Martha
Can get it?'
81 think not. It was composed for
the occasion and never written out"
j., this time we had deserted tho la
bic and array OF acting copies" OF
popular dramatic works, and were
drawn up in circle near Aunt Martha's
chair, kccnly Interested in hearing all
about it.
1T was when I was young girl, :"
said Aunt Martha, land had been in
vtcd 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 it was in the country, ten
miles from 4 large city, where Mrs.
Burke owned another house in which
her winters were passed, but which
was rented to u lady who took Mrs.
Burke and Dora as boarders for the
winter
$50. when it was decided to have
grand wedding, it was also arranged
that it 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 I 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 scrv-
ant sleep in the house. separate
building for their use was connected
by 4 covered way and fitted up COM
fortably. Here Mrs. Jones, wife Of
the head gardener. kept house for the
gardeners, stablcmcn and maid serv-
ants, who were summoned when want
cd by bell from Mrs. Burlse's room.
n second bell, also connected with her
her room. was an alarm, only to be
pulled if the men should be wanted at
night for FIRE or burglary.
1.-The wedding was very grand, but,
while the festivities were ut their
height, l was taken i'll with severe
pain that l 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
lie down. She wanted to go with me.
but that would not allow, as she was
filling Dora's usual place in assisting
Mrs. Burke.
"I will come in before go to bed,
ch cni1 III CT;
''My room was ut the end OF Il long
entry, n room liked because it com
manded magnificent view, but it
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 it, as large as many
modern bathrooms. and in that was
slowed much OF the rubbish that most
families own, odds and ends whose lis,
fulness is over, but which are too good
to throw away. In this. l carefully
hung up my fine dress. slipped on a
wooden wrapper and crcpt to the bed,
having only the bright moonlight to
guide me. l could not sleep, but the
pain wore away and l lay quiet, won
dcring how soon the guests would
leave. Already Dora and her husband
had driven away to the city, to start
upon their wedding trip, but the rooms
had been still filled when left them
II cannot ten what made me think
then of the temptation for burglars
there would be in the house that night
The family plate, usually stored in Il
bank vault in the city, and only dis
played on great occasions, was all
spread in the srpp>r-roon. In the
library were Dpra's presents. valuable
jewels, Silver, lacc ana other costly Of
fcrngs.
"As if in answer to my fears, sud-
denly became aware that some ono
moved softly along the entry. Green