The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1899-11-23

Ing tn8t allOWeu only teW minutes 10
elapse between the slum and the palace
scenes The dialogue continued. the
actors came and went in their various
roles. but upon Felicia the play made
but one distinct impression In reality
the scenes ON the bridge and in the
-lum We're only incidents in the story
of the play. but Felicia found herself
living those scenes over and over She
mad never philosophical about the
causes Of human misery She was not
old enough She had not the tempera
meEt that philos"phizes But she felt
intensely. and this was not the first
time she had felt the contrast thrust
into her feeling between the upper and
the lower conditions of human life II
had been growing upon her until it had
made her what Rose called "queer" and
the other people in her circle Of wealthy
acquaintance called every unusual
1t WAS simply the human problem in
its extremes Of riches and poverty. its
refinement and its vileness which was
in spite Of her unconscious attempts to
struggle against the facts. burning into
her life the impression that would in
the end transform her into either a
woman Of rare love and self sacrifice
for the world OF miserable enigma to
herself and all who knew her
Come Felicia Aren't you going
homer said Rose The play was over.
the curtain down. and people were go.
ing noisily out. laughing and gossiping
rs if 1.-The Shadows of London was
simply good diversion. as it was put on
the stage SO effectively
Felicia rose and went out with the
rest quietly and with the absorbed feel,
ing that had actually left her in her
seat oblivious of the plays ending She
was never absentminded. but often
thought herself into u condition tina,
left her alone in the midst of crowd.
We'll what did you think Of itr
asked Rose when the sisters had reached
home and were in the drawing room
Rose really had considerable respect for
Felicias Judgment Of play
II thought it was pretty picture OF
real life"
Il mean the acting" said Rose. an
uoyed
"The bridge scene was well acted.
especially the woman's part ] thought
the man overdid the sentiment little.
Ibid your enjoyed that. And
wasn 4 the scene between tho two cous.
ins funny when they first learned tina,
they were relatedr But the slum scene
was horrible think they ought not to
show such things In play They are
too painful" "
"They must be painful in real life.
too. " replied Felicia.
"Yea but we don't have to look q,
the real thing It's bad enough ut the
thsatsr. where we pay for It
Rose went into the drawing room
and began to eat from plate Of fruit
and cakes ON the sideboard.
'Are you going up to see mothcrf
asked Felicia after awhile. She had re-
mained in front Of the drawing room
fire.
"No." replied Rose from the Other
room; II won't trouble her tonight II
you go in. tell her l am too tired to be
agreeable.
So Felicia turned into her mother
room As she went up the great stair
case and down the upper hall the light
was burning there. and the servant who
always waited on Mrs Sterling wa
beckoning Felicia to come in
"Tell Clara to go out" exclaimed
Mrs Sterling rs Felicia came up to the
bed and kneeled by 1t.
Felicia was surprised. but she did a'
her mother babe her and then inquired
how she was feeling.
"Felicia." said her mother. "cau
you prayr"
The question was so unlike any her
mother had ever asked before that Fe-
licia was startled. but she answered:
"Why. yes. mother. What makes
vou ask such question:"
HclACAds uAA AAAsheohVu AouA -"
ther-I have had such strange fear.
about him all day. Something is wrong
with him. l want you to pray"
"Nowi Here, motherr"
"Yes Pray. Felicia.
Felicia reached out her hand and tool
her mother's 1t was trembling. Mrs
Sterling had never shown much tender
ness for her younger daughter. and he,
strange demand now was the first rea
sign Of any confidence in Felicia'i
character.
The girl still kneeled. holding hel
mothers trembling hand, and prayed.
It was doubtful if she had ever prayed
aloud before. She must have said in
her prayer the words that her mother
needed. for when it was silent in the
room the invalid was weeping softly.
and her nervous tension was over
Felicia staid some time. When she
was assured that her mother would moi
need her any longer. she rose to 90.
"Good night. mother. You must LEI
Clara call me il you feel bad in the
night"