The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-07-28

ana went about softly with sorrow
stricken faces. The very bells-and
there We're good many of them-seemed
to have lost their offensive hilarity For
the deans daughter had gone on the
stage, and the shadow of her unholinesS
had fallen upon the city.
To the cathedral society in which she
had moved with so much sweetness and
success, the stage was only another name
for the lower regions 1t is true that the
lyceum was sometimes patronized under
protest during the May meetings, and it
was whispered that one ,giddy young
minor canon had been seen in the Sa.
voy-a rumor,t that nearly caused an nc
ton for LIBEL but the ordinary WORLDLY
theatre, where people went rather for
amusement than instruction, and where
actresses occasionally showed more than
their ankles, could not even be mentioned
without offense.
And now the daughter of the dean,
their brightest ecclesiasticsm and learn
ing, had left the fold of sanctity where
she had so long been nurtured and burst
forth as a burlesque actress in London.
burless actress, We shades of st. Peter
Not walking lady in a modern drama,
but lieutenant in tights. What Won
der that MUdcastle bowed its head and
blushed with shame. ..
Yet it would be unjust TO say that
every one in the town was Frustrated with
grief. The minor canons indeed who,
confident in their goo year and sing
song voices, had regarded themselves as
possible suitors for her hand, went about
with longer faces than usual. But the
young ladies of the place were filled with
Il secret JOY, and began to show redoubled
attention to good works and their per
sonal appearances, for Elsie Milton. the
most beautiful girl in the town and per-
haps in the county, was out of their way,
and the hope OF their earthly reward
shone more brigl tly on the horizon.
On one point. however, everyone in
Mudcastle was agreed Her conduct was
both inexplcable and dsgraceful. We,
of the outside world. the outer darkness
Mudcastle might call it, may have our
doubts about the disgrace, but we are
obliged to admit that she had acted in a
very extraordinary manner.
For an explanation let us return to
Elsie herself. She is in her dressing room
of the Jollity Theatre, putting the last
touches to her personal appearance and
talking TO her friend, Lottie Legge, the
skirt dancer. The room is half filled with
sprays and bouquets of the rarest flowers
One or two open jewel cases with cards in
side flash like rainbows in the electric
light But more lovely than flower or
jewel case is the girl who is standing be-
fore the pier glass, softening the effect of
the paint on her face with powder. and
arranging her sword TO the utmost arts.
tic advantage. Her figure is magnificent
and Is shown to perfection by her cos
tune. Her violet eyes and dark auburn
hair produce that wonderful effect which
is so rarely seen, but once seen is never
forgotten; and even the paint and powder
cannot take away the sweetness and re-
off hot
the expression of that wonderful mouth
Though her part in the burlesque is only
subordinate one all London is traving
over her, and the manager has had to
raise her salary to that of II bishop to re-
tain her. Night after night bouquets
and jewelry are throw at her feet.
Night after night notes are brought to
her dressing room, only 10 he tossed con-
temptuously aside Invitations pour
upon her from every quarter. They are
all refused. No breath OF suspicion has
ever been allowed to rest"supon her name
The flowers are not worn. the iewelrv is
returned. They call her sthe Queen of
Snow, yet no one who ever looked upon
her face could doubt ssthat though she
might be pure snow, she was as pas
sionate and perhaps as mischievous as
fire Her acting is Indifferent, her dane
ing more natural than skillful, her sing
ing remarkable for nothing but express
sion. Her triumph has been entirely the
triumph of beauty. There have been
many such in these days
This, this is life, Lotte she said,
turning from her glass 30 her compan-
ion. You, to whom have told my story
tonight, have no idea what il is to
breathe the fresh air after the stufiiness
of Mudcastle
1T must have leen bit slow dear,
replied Lottie, doing up one of her shoes,
but still, girls of your position don't
throw II up without a very good reason.
It's different with me | never was any
body, and have my living to earn
Position? Rubbish. am being paid
twice the salary my father receives: and
if popularity is fame he..isn't ..in it with
me. For one who has heard of him, a
hundred know my name. As for my
reason, the fact is, l could not stand it
any longer"
Were you unhappy, Elsie? The home
you have described TO me must have been
very beautiful
Unhappy? I was miserable To he
penncd up in that little narrow ecclesias-
tical world, from which the 'faintest
breath of life is kept lest it should con-
taminate it, is a living death You. who
have lived in London ali your life have
10 idea what Mudca, tie is what Mud
castle society thinks and talks about.
You would laugh, Lottie, ii you could see
the dignitaries of the church Their dig
nifty consists largely in the size of their
persons and the slowness of their speech
The poor curate, shaving in his populous
parish has more true dignity about him
than the whole lot put together. He j.
"a. M -.-1-