El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-09-15

Look at Carr IrdItziDg NTH ureii0i"
1t was nearly s o'clock when 1 came
down. The play was to begin at s. The
hall. which was brilliantly lighted. was
one moving mass of black coats, with
here and there a 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 as
if she could never frown; Sir George
upright, courteous, a trif1e 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 We're
toned down, h 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 at the back for a covey of white
w~aistcoats who arrived late: the stair
case was already crowded with servants:
the whole place was crammed.
L wondered how they were getting on
behind the scenes. IL slipping ont of
the hall l traversed the great gold and
white drawing room. which with the ad-
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 cone
down. The prompter was getting fidgety
and walking about. The two scene shift
ers, pale, weary looking men, who had
come down with the scenery, were sit
ting in the wings, perfectly a%pathetic
amid the general excitement.
Charles snd several other actors were
standing round IA footman who was
opening champagne bottles at a surpris-
ing rate. L saw Charles take a glass to
Evelyn, who was shiveriny in an arm
chair with q sharp attack of stage fever,
looking over her part. She smiled CRATE
fully, but as she did so her ewes wan
dered TO the other side of the room, where
Ralph. on his knees before Aurelia, was
fastening a diamond star in her dress.
rubies and emeralds dAshed
~ ACi udiT, IA oh hCI WWtC hCCA di0
INNS. Ralph was fixing the last orna-
lent pm to her shoulder with wire off a
bottle, there being no clasp
o hold it in its place. L saw Evelyn
urn away again. and Charles, who was |
Watching her, suddenly went off to the
ire and began to complain of the cold.
md of the thinness of his silk stockings.
The elder lady-.'the heavy mother" !
s Charles irreverently called her-now 4,
the orchestra, which was giving
final flourish, WAS begged in a hoarsc
whisper to keep going a few minute ,
onger; eyes were applied to the hole il
he curtain. and then, every one beinc ,
.ssembled, it was felt by all that tn.
'wful moment had come at last. A NOR,
looking set Of people 1 never
l always imagined that the actor
'ehind h scene were as gay off tn.
tage as on it, but 1 found to my aston
that they were all sufferinc
nore Or less from severe mental depres
ion.
Ralph and Aurelia were now sitting
uefully together on an ottoman beside
he painting table, Uttered with its vari-
us rouges and creams and stage appli
Even Charles, who had estub-
lshed Evelyn on a chair in the wings ii
he side she had to come on from, and
vas now drinking champagne with due
egard to his paint-even Charles owned
o being nervous.
Il wish to goodness Mrs. Wright
you'd begin" he said. All. there she
oes!" as she assembled the stage steps.
There goes the bell. We are in for it
ow. She starts and I come on ue~+