Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-04-16

, had turned away and was gently strokins
the head Of Mrs. Mayt's pet greyhound.
When the song was concluded Sally came
and took a seat In the aicove beside me.
and while ! chatted with Nr. Venable. a
dear friend OF ours, / noticed that James
was talking earnestly to her. He was
! begging her to stay away from the play
that evening, as II would be his last at
home and he had hoped TO spend 1t with
her. But she had just accepted the offer
OF the young Englishman's escort and
could not break the engagement. Pro-
baby she had taken this step from pique
but II so / could see how much she re-
gretted 1t and how panied James was.
heard him say 10 her very gently that ne
did not desire to deprive her Of any plea
sure. at which her face flushed and her
eyes filed with tears. Colonel Hamilton
was praising the performance OF the
Bleeding Nun. as he had seen 1t played In
| Norfolk, and presently the company broke
| Up. all having agreed 10 go 20 the play.
When Bess and 1 arrived at home and
had changed our dress and had cup or
! tea we went across the street 10 Mrs.
Gallego's. according 10 some arrangement
that had been made about carriages. we
found Miss Louisa Mayo and Miss Con-
yers still at their toilettes. and the lat
| terS maid was just clasping a necklace
Of pearls about her young mistress's
! throat. / saw that Sally had been weep
| ing. and her first words 10 me were, ~
low tone, TO Inquire if James were going
to the play. l replied. rather sarcastical-
ly, that as she had chosen an escort he
| would remain at home with father. She
whispered in low tone that was almost
piteous, II wish l had not TO gow Just
then her aunt came in and remarked that
the pearls did not suit her dress, and |
suggested that she and Bess should eX-
change ornaments. This was agreed TO,
and with my own hands / clasped my
sisters gold-and-iet beads around Sally's
beautiful neck and arms All, those beads.
The theatre that night was crowded to
overlooking. All the fashion Of the city,
young and old alike, was present. Every
standing space was filed, some of the
gentlemen being compelled 70 go into the
pit We noticed Governor Smith stand
ing. his box being full, and we sent to
invite him TO a seat I'm our own. Colonel
Archibald Bolts. with his wife and two
pretty nieces, were in the box next Us,
and the Mayos opposite. l remember that
Mrs Mayo was wearing a yellow gauze
turban with plumes. | noticed Mr.. and
Mrs. Nelson, and Miss Page, from Will
lamsburg; and young Mrs. Girardin, with
her two lovely children, and ex-Congress-
man Clay and his daughter. There was
one young girl, about 16 who attracted !
attention by her sweet and joyous face |
and ner eager enjoyment of the scene, |
seeming the very type Of youth and hap |
piness She was a Miss Gatewood. Of |
Norfolk. and was on her way home after /
finishing her education IN Baltimore. 1t |
was remarked what a brilliant assem-
blage it was. with the dignifed matrons |
and lovely young faces. and the rich |
dresses and fash OF jewery on every
side. Colonel Hamilton amused US by |
comparing It 10 a pasture of flowers, rep
resenting each face as symboical Of some
particular flower. and his friend, in at
tendance upon Mss Conyers, remarked
that the American ladies' excelled the
English in grace and the French in
beauty.
THE FATAL AFTER-PIECE.
The last act Of Hamlet" was in pro-
gress when ! was surprised 10 see James
quietly enter our box. He stood by the
door with folded arms until some one
made room for him behind mother and
Miss Conyers. and just in front of me.
Sally blushed and smiled when he benz
over and spoke 10 her; but I saw that her
heart was full. and that she could with
difficulty restrain her tears. 50 their little
seemed made UP in that
smile and the few low-spoken words, and
| felt heartily glad that IL was so.
The play Of Hamlet was concluded
and the orchestra commenced an overture
TO the performance Of the Bleeding |
Nun" Just then James whispered quietly, |
but with some excitement:
Mother. look at that man in the pit
he one who is looking this way over Mr..
Adamss shoulder That is the face that I
saw in my dream" !
She could not discern TO whom he al
uded but whispered behind her fan. beg '
sing that he would not think Of such Z
hinss. lie answered agitatedly: q
Il am going out, but viii wait for you 1
outside"
He bent and whispered something 10 +
Mss Conyers and this time she looked1 [
up. and again smiled. as If in assent TO I
0me request. We all noticed how pale Z
lie looked and our impression was that I
he had found the air OF the crowded y
building too close. At the bOx-d0Or ne I
laused and glanced back. Mother felt q
lneasy at his strange look and manner G
md remarked to Mrs Gallego that she v
lcped he was not going TO be III.
The curtain now rose on the first act of +
he bleeding Nun That is il rose half I
'ay then was lowered and again raised v
hough not high enough to show the fes- ,
ooned dfapery above. Evidently some Il
hing was wrong with the machinery. The o
lay went on till Mrs. Young appeared on a
he stage as the Bleeding Nun, when all C
yes were upon her After awhile / h
oticed several small fiery sparks falling b
rom behind the curtain 20 the stage and "
emarked upon 1t TO Mr.. Venable. He
lughed and replied that IL was probably ! h
)me new scenic effect; but Colonel Ham I,
ton arose and leaned forward for u \
etter view.
There was nothing of the kind i'm the b
erformance at Norfolk said he. What in
an il mean? There must lie fire behind a
ne curtain" a
At that moment a voice I'm the pit "
ricd: Fire. The house is on hre.' ii
Many persons started up. The rest as II "a
OF crediting the alarm. kept their seats n
ut Mrs. Young, looking ". shrieked: p
My God! the roof is on hrew al
Now the whole house arose and some mi
the women commenced screaming. On
IT. Piacide came forward and begged the 81
uGlence TO keep their places and not be M
iarmed The short inner draI S, he l.
lid, had caught fire from one of the @,
landeliers which illum.ned the stage, but b,
ould be extiasuished Immediately by the tc
zen who had gone into the loft for the N
lrpose. The actors however, were al Ia
ady hurrying from the stage, and see GO
y this Alr. Venable urged US 20 get out fr
the house Immediately before there I'm
lould be "A rush. Colonel Hamilton also "a
assed Mrs. CALICO 10 leave at once 81
lt she was searching on the floor for an
'mething-her fan or bracelet. it might OF
=. As we left the box mother grasped In
ily's arm and impiored her 10 come ca
it'll us, as aid also her escort, but she ne
emed not 10 hear or notice any one. ca