The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-19
CHAPTER VII.
~ ~ Ia 80
BEFORE THE FOOTLIGHTS.

passing through the center Of the village
when their attention was drawn to the bill
poster who was at work on the large hoard
ing which stood opposite the White Crow.
The man had just completed the posting
of a very large, very glaring and very
melodramatic pictorial Sheet which was sup
posed to give g representation of one Of the
most striking scenes in the drama of The
Sins of London'-a play of the most sensa-
tional and realistic kind prod uced for
years, so the letterpress Of the poster an
nounced-which was then on a tour
thrcSgh the provinces, and which was 20
be given during the coming week at the
Thester Royal, Earlsford.
Salome and Nell paused for a few mo-
ments, and scanned with interest the
spirited picture hung up before them. The
villain of the piece was. OF course, de-
nouucing the hero of the play as a murderer,
and the minions OF the law were just on the
point OF giving the suspected man;
while the heroine was depicted as falling
horror sticken into the outstretched arms
OF a white-haired and most benevolent look
ing old gentleman, her father.
"Seems to be good piece, Salome, doesn't
ttT Nell remarked. IF yo' lahke, Wen
goo an see it sometahme mex week. Come
Nell turned away and took pace or two
forward but Salome neither answered her
companions observations nor followed her
example as to turning homeward. The
White Gipsy's eyes were bent upon a large
poster in vivid scarlet aud deep blue oolors
which announced that grand performance
Of "Ingomar," the "Son of the Wilderness"
would be given at the Theater Royal, Earls-
ford, on the following Friday. in aid OF the
local inhrmary, on which occasion the show
would be under the distinguished patronage
of Sir Sydney and Lady Carsland. Paul
Meredith, ESQ.,, his worship the mayor of
Earlsford, alderman this, councillor that
and lot of other local celebrities.
Salome's eyes were fixed on one name
only of the many names the poster 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
aRo-had heard nothing Of him save the
astounding intelligence Hugh Eastwood had
related that night after the visit to the
Thorrell Moor School
Her reflections since that time had often
been conferred on the man she loved, and she
had continually wondered il 1t were not pos
sible Eastwood was mistaken In thinking
and stating that Wilfred Cuuliffs was in
reality Paul Meredith.
IL was impossible for her to controvert
Highs deliberate assertions on that point,
much as she desired to do 50, but she had
resolved to discover the truth for herself. IL
Paul Meredith lived at Carslsnd ball it
would, she argued be no difficult matter to
get glimpse Of him, and she had been busy
arranging some plan which would enable
her to see Sir Sydney Carsland's ward aud
herself remain unseen, when the announce
ment respecting the inirmary programme
met her gaze.
She gave last, lingering look at Paul
Meredith's name, and then followed her
companion, who was waiting at the corner
of Sponsors lane. Salome's mind was al
ready made up on one point She intended
going 20 the theater on Friday evening
next. No matter what the truth might be
IL was best that abe should know it forth
with.
There is no occasion to dwell upon the
short interval of six days which elapsed ere
Salome went to the theater to confirm her
fears or clear her mind of suspicion. When
Friday evening came she and Nell were
among the first dozen who presented them
selves at the Thester Royal for admission.
Nell had wished TO go into the pit where
a modest sixpence each would have gained
them admission, but Salone, after much
percussion, had induced her friend TO ac-
company her into the side circle.
Selecting a good seat in the second row
near the middle of the side circle, the girls
seated themselves. Nell Immediately drew
forth the current number of her favorite
journal and was soon deeply interested in
its love stories. while Salome leaned back in
her cushioned 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 repect-
ably dressed men and women was pouring
into the pit below, thicker stream Of more
roughly attired workiugmen, youths and
lads, with here add there female amongst
them, we're flowing into the gallery above,
while tradesmen and their wives and sons
and daughters were beginning to fill the
side circles.
AS yet the dress circle was untenanted.
But after the lapse of a quarter of an hour
the fashionable people Of Earlsford, who
had come there simply because it was q
show night. that they might see and be seen,
began TO arrive ii knots of twoS and threes
and fours. By this time the seats before,
behind and on each hand of Salome and
Nell were occupied, and the people around
them were talking about and pointing out
the various local celebrities as they took
their seats in the fashionable part of the
house.
Presently the musicians fled into the
orchestra, and the lights were turned up.
CHANGING at the dress circle, Salome saw no
that about dozen seats in the very front
aud center we're still unoccupied, and she
heard some one near at hand whispering
that the big people had not yet arrived,
although they might be expected at any
moment.
The band began TO play selection from
one of the Gilbert~0ullivan operas. and just
at that moment all eyes were bent upon the
doorway, which gave access to the circle.
The folding doors had just been cast open
by the obsequious manager, and down the
scarlet carpeted steps to the front of the
circle came half-a-dozsn pairs of ladies and
gentlemen, all sttired in evening costume.
SaioTne's eyes followed the rest OF the
house, aud her heart gave great throb as
she recognized her lover, who had just
seated himself, smiling and talking at the
side of his beautiful companion, Miss Cor
della Carsland.
She was too agitated TO divert her gaze
from the man ehe loved so madly-and
hopelessly, it appeared-and all she could
do for a time was TO sit there, staring at
him and the girl Behind she could hear
some one saying;
"That is Sir Sydney Carsland with the
scarlet handkerchief showed between his
shirt front and his vest, and the lady on hi:
right is Lady Carsland. The other lady
on his left, is the baronet's daughter-Misf
CordeLa, believe they call her-and the
gentleman who Is paying such marked at
tention to her is Sir Sydney's ward, Mr.
Paul Meredith. What a finely matched
pair they are, are they notl And people dc
say that their engagement is on the eve Of