Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-09-12
fore you wear them"
"Ah," said Charles sadly, as we walked
up stairs, '.if only hud known Sir
.JOhnl"
CHAPTER VII.

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Look ut CarH acaltzt,,H lcltla Aurclto.'
It was nearly 8 O'clock when came
down. The play was to begin at 8. The
hall, which was brilliantly lighted, was
one moving mass of black coats, with
here and there red one, and evening
dresses many colored, the people in them
chatting, bowling, laughing, being ush-
cred to their places. Lady Mary and
Sir George Danvers, side by side, re-
ceived their guests at the foot of the
grand staircase, Lady Mary Respondent
in diamond tiara and riviere, smiling rs
if she could never frown; Sir George
upright, courteous, trife stiff, as most
English country gentlemen feel it in
cumbent on themselves to be on such
occasions.
Presently the continual roll of the car
riages outside ceased, the lamps were
toned down, tho orchestra struck up, and
Sir George and Lady Mary took their
| seats, looking around with anxious salts
faction at the hall crowded with people.
| People lined the walls; chairs were be-
ing lifted over the heads of the sitting
for some who We're still standing; cush-
ions were being arranged on the billiard
table Mt the back for Il covey of white
waistcoats who arrived late; the stair
case was already crowded with servants;
the whole place was crammed.
wondered how they We're getting on
behind the scenes, and slipping out of
the hall l traversed the great gold and
white drawing room, which with the adj
| joining library had been given up to the
actors. They were all assembled in the
morning room, however, waiting for one
of the elder ladies who had not come,
down. The pro,npter was getting fidgety
and walking about. The two scene shift
ers pale, weary looking men, who had
come down with the scenery, We're sit
ting in the wings, perfectly apathetic
amid the general excitement.
Charles and several other actors were
| ,%n
opening champagne bottles at a surpris-
ing rate. l saw Charles take glass to
Evelyn, who was shivering in an arm
chair with IL sharp attack of stage fever,
looking over her part. She smiled CRATE
fully, but as she did SO her eyes wan
dered to the other side Of the room, where
Ralph, on his knees before Aurelia, was
fastening a diamond star in her dress.
Diamonds, rubies and emeralds flashed
In her hair, and ON her white neck and
arms. Ralph was fixing the last orna-
ment on to her shoulder with wire off
champagne bottle, there being no clasp
to hold it in its place. saw Evelyn
turn away again, and Charles, who was
watching her, suddenly went of to the
fire and began to complain of the cold,
and of the thinness of his silk stockings
The elder lady-"the heavy mother"
as Charles irreverently called her-now
arrived; the orchestra, which was giving
a final flourish, was begged in a hoarse
whisper to keep going few minutes
longer; eyes were applied to the hole In
the curtain, and then, every one being
assembled, it was felt by all that the
awful moment had come at last. A more
miserable looking set of people I never
saw. always imagined that the actors
behind the scenes were as gay off the
stage as on it, but found to my aston
ish1nent that they were all suffering
more or less from severe mental depres-
sion.
Ralph and Aurelia were now sitting
ruefully together on an ottoman beside
the painting table, Uttered with Its vari-
Gus rouges and creams and stage appli-
ances. Even Charles, who had estah-
lished Evelyn on chair in the wings at
the side she had to come on from, and
was now drinking champagne with due
regard to his paint-eyen Charles owned
to being nervous.
II wish to goodness Mrs. Wright
would begin" he said "Ah! there she
| goes" as she assembled the stage steps,
"There goes the bell. We are in for it
now. She starts, and come on next.
Up goes the curtain. Where the devil
has my book got to?"
In another moment he was in the
wings intent on his part; then saw him
throw down his book and go jauntily
forward. A moment more and there
was thunder of applause. All the act
ors looked at each other and smiled
feeble smile.
"He will do" said Gen. Marston, the
Indian officer, who, now In the dress Of
an old fashioned livery servant, proceed
ed to mount the steps. It dawned upon
me that was missing the play, and 1
hurried back to find Charles convulsing
the audience with the utmost GOODNESS,
and evidently enjoying himself exceed
ingly. Then Evelyn came on But
who cares to read description of
play? 1t is sufficient to say that Aurelia
looked charming, and many We're the
whispered comments on her magnificent
| jewels; but on the stage Evelyn sur
passed her as much as Aurelia surpassed
Evelyn off it.
Ralph and Carr did well, but Charles
was the favorite with every one, from
the Duchess of Crushington in the front
seat to the scullery maid on the stair
case. He.was so bold, SO wicked. so in
sinuating, in his plurned cap and short
cloak, so elegantly refined when he
wiped his sword upon his seconds hand
kerchief. He took every ones heart by
storm. Ralph, who represented all
the virtues, with rather thick ankles
and a false mustache, was nowhere.
When the curtain fell for the last time,
amid great and continued applause, the
"heayy mother" Ralph, Aurelia-all
We're well received rs they passed before
it; but Charles, who appeared last, was
the hero of the evening.
HE is engaged to his cousin, Miss
4