The record-union., 1899-05-02

pedigree makers--than there has been
in England for a long time past.-Cor-
respondence Boston Transcript
A RED-HEADED BLUEBEARD.
Unexpected Ending of an Inn
promptu Amateur Play.
"An Impromptu" is the slightly am
biguous title of a story by Bertha w.
Kennedy in .'St. Nicholas This i'm
promptu was play. The stage was
| in the back parlor and "Bluebeard''
was to be produced for the first time
by home talent. The young perform
ers required only a very short time to
make all their preparation and arrange
/ their costumes including the manufac-
ture of the very important blue beard.
First, scrap was torn from the old
white fur rug in the playroom, dipped
! into strong blueing water, and laid on
/ the register to dry. This made a beau
tiful blue beard a trife stiff, perhaps,
but all the more fearsome looking for
that. While this was drying there was
time for a hurried search in the attic
| for dresses. Fatima found an old pink
cambria gown, which she tucked up a
little in front and left to trail majes-
tically behind. Sister Anne arrayed
herself in a white Mother Hubbard, and
tied the sash well up on her waist to
! give it an Empire effect. Bluebeard
was helped into his baggy trousers Gold
| golfing trousers were just the thing), a
carving-knife was stuck under his belt,
then the beard, with a great deal of
care and very little mucilage, was
properly adjusted, and all were ready to
go before the footlights.
| When the curtain was drawn, and
! Bluebeard came on with awful strides,
/ it must be confessed that the fair Fati-
ma trembled-or did she shudder?-as
she watched his imposing approach.
Truly he did look fire. The bright
blue of his beard seemed to cast scorn
upon the brilliant red of his hair-she
| had not noticed this beforehand each
individual freckle stood out boldly, in
dignantly protesting against the insult
offered to, or, more properly speaking,
glued on to- his pink cheeks. And then,
he carried such a frown!
Wife, he roared-and she trembled
still more-"I am going on a journey,
and l leave my keys with you. You
may open all the doors in the castle, but
don't you open this one!" And he
carefully selected and savagely shook
one of the keys in her face She took
them, and was evidently relieved when
| her believing spouse departed.
! Now Sister Anne came tripping in,
and F'atima quickly recovered herself.
/ Here was this huge castle to be ex-
/ plored, and all its fabulous treasures to
be examined. Together. they tiptoed
around the room, turning keys in i'm
aginary locks, and exclaiming with ad-
miration over each familiar rocking
chair and picture. AT last they stood
before bookcase with its doors closed
and locked.
Let's just peep intd this room, Fa-
tima,' suggested Anne.
He said I mustn't unlock it,
"Pshaw I wouldn't be afraid of my
husband" (That is the advantage of
an impromptu, you know; you make
your own lines and can speak your own
mind)
Slowly and with trembling fingers
Fatima turned the key, in the real lock,
this time-it was all getting very real
to her now-and slowly she opened the
bookcase door A row of poets in red
bindings met her eye, and with a hor-
rified shrek she fell back into her sis
ter's arms. The careful Anne whisp-
cred to her to drop the key; then she
too shrieked aloud, and the curtain fell
on the end of act l.
When the storm of the applause had
ceased, and the audience had some
what recovered itself, the curtain. was
lifted once more, and act II. began. A
basin stood on the piano stool in the
center of the stage. Fatima and Sister
Anne were busy scrubbing the telltale
key-With care lest they should rub off
the red ink. Loud steps were heard
approaching. Fatima started and slim
ped the key into her pocket lust as
Bluebeard appeared in the door.
How d ye do?" he said, with a cheer
full smile. Then, suddenly remembering
himself, he dropped his voice to its for
mer awful tone and demanded: 'Wife.
give me my keys"
Fatima tremblingly held out the
punch. Without even a glance at them
he frowned an awful frown, and said:
They are not all here; get me the
other one''
1t was useless to stammer out any ex-
cuses; she was too much frightened.
i Looking genuinely guilty, she took from
her pocket the blood stained key. He
glanced al it-for the sake of appear
ance only-and said briefly: Now you
| have got to die"
Then-according to the picture in his
! book-he seized her and held her bv the
| hair.
20 Sister Anne, go up into the tower
and see if our brother is coming." CThey
could afford only one brother)
Sister Anne promptly mounted the
back of large library chair in one
corner of the room, and bent her eager
gaze far off upon the wall paper.
In three minutes you must diei"
roared the awful Bluebeard.
Sister Anne, Sister Anne. do you see
any one coming?" called Fatima. as she
knelt trembling before her slayer.
Only the grass in the fields, sister
dear" replied Anne, in a mournful tone.
| Only two minutes morel" warned
Bluebeard-who, in spite of his ferocity,
seemed, after all, rather accommo dat-
ing, and willing to give the delayed
brother chance.
20 Sister Anne, Sister Annel don't
you see any one coming?"
"Only the dust in the road replied
Anne. in the same sad tone.
Are you ready?" Numbered Blue
beard, as he f1ourished the carving
knife. This was too much. Poor little
Fatima lost faith in the coming
brother Goe never was ON time), lost
| faith in the blue bearded brother Che
had never been like this before), and
| b,,r into n aoo1 of faorc che ,.,,el