The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1901-02-15
A REAL BIT OF ACTING.

over the lawn, as it had never ceased to
do for the last forty-eight hours; and my
guests lounged about the big, uncomfort-
able hall in various stages of ennui.
They had been discussing the vital
question OF how the evening was to be
got through. Music, suggested by our
Wagner enthusiast; dancing, by the
Waiting girl, had been gloomily rejected
And then suddenly, as though smitten by
an inspiration, the little blonde widow
had turned on me. and burst out:
won't you give us some Of your act
ing tonight, Mrs. Sterling?"
You see, the truth was, in the days of
her maidenhood. the wife Of the Hon.
Felix Sterling had toured three years as
leading lady OF well-known provincial
comedy company. And now, having re-
signed the plaudits Of the tickle multi
tude for the love and admiration of one,
she still occasionally amused her friends
with such smatterings Of the Eistrionic
art as she possessed.
On this occasion the request that l
should employ my poor talents to divert
my guests was received with acclama-
ton.
"Oh, yes. Please act for u.s. came
in a chorus from all parts of the hall
And young Charlie Fleetwood excitedly
sprang up and offered to improvise tens
porary stage if would consent to per-
form OH it.
would not make any rash promises,
being doubtful, indeed, whether my some
what limited repertoire included anything
that would serve as a monologue. And
the subject was still under discussion
when tea was brought in, and with its
fragrant presence carried our thoughts
away from things theatrical to the more
important ma tier of satisfying the cray
ings of physical nature.
wind and rain, half dozen eager-looking
men advanced, and steered straight for
the entrance porch.
We watched their progress in mild sur
prise, and then suddenly my curiosity was
whetted by recognizing the foremost Of
the six as one of the keepers at the big lu-
natic asylum which stands, grim and ST.,
lent. about a league from Winston lodge.
This mana burly, hard-faced York
after knocking, and asked to see Mr..
Sterling. My husband lazily rose and
went with him to the door.
The keeper Immediately commenced to
talk to him in loud. excited voice-so
loud, in fact, that we could not avoid
overhearing part of what he said. And
that had the effect of throwing my guests
into something like panic, for the keeper
spoke of lunatic who had escaped from
the asylum that morning after nearly
numbering an attendant. The lunatic
was still at large, and had been seen, not
half an hour ago, lurking in a plantation
near our horse.
Mercy on us! He may come here at
any moment!' exclaimed my Aunt Mar
gerry, in a state of high terror.
Hadn't we-hadn't we better have all
the doors locked and bolted?' the waltz
ing girl suggested with shudder.
II shall certainly look under the bed
and in the wardrobe tonight!' asserted
Fleetwood expressed his firm belief that
ladies always did that!'' which sally
only raised rather feeble laugh.
what sort of chap is he?" We heard
Felix asking the keeper.
''Tall chap sir. Thin, snow-white
hair. face deathly pale, eyes like fire.
"Umph! Well, from what you say, I
fancy the sooner you get HIM under lock
end key again the better it will be for
the community. No, we have not seen
Or heard anything of him. If we do, we
will let you know at once"
1t was with rather n grave face that
my husband returned to us. But he
spoke some words to allay our alarm.
Nothing to be frightened about. He
would soon be caught. They were now
securing the countryside in search Of
him.
But, nevertheless, it was some time. be-
circle quite recovered their eQuanimity;
and when the time came for retiring to
dress for dinner, that lunatic was still
the leading topic of conversation.
"Well, have. you prepared your pro-
gramme for tonight. Mrs. Sterling ?''
Charlle Fleetwood asked when we met
in the dining room.>
Don't ask questions" I answered.
LET it be a pleasant surprise for you"
Afterward both question and answer
proved to have a strange significance.
We were sitting in the drawing room
after dinner Felix was talking to the
blonde widow about curious book of
heraldry he had been reading. He said
he would show her the volume in cues
ton, and rose to go to the library to
fetch it.
Now, Winston lodge, which we have
been accustomed to take each year for
the shooting season, consists of an i'm
posing central pile, with two long wings
extending east and west. The house was
too big for our requirements consequent
~, we only occupied the center of the
wing that my husband had now gone,
the library being situated there.
He had scarcely left the room when 1
recollected that the book he wanted was
not in the library at all. and. to save him
the futile task of looking for it, l ran
after him.
: l crossed the hall and plunged down
the narrow oak-paneled corridor leading
to the east wing. My course was unit
lumined. save for the dim moonlight that
penetrated the mullioned windows; but {
knew my way well enough, and marched
along without hesitation. -
- passed through the lofty picture gal
lery. with its rows of Old World faces
and grim guardian suits Of armor Out
into the second passage went-a- low,
tortuous passage, very dark, and smell
ing Of musty tapestry. y =s
4 suddenly. as was grouping my way
along. saw SLIGHT Increment In front