Rocky Ford enterprise., 1901-06-07

o'''.'Hs at the son-ln-law whom she
would 30 gladly have welcomed. sighed
disappointed sigh with all sincerity.
We must give ball. or something.
before their departure" whispered Sir
"eorse to his wife: and. after much
arguing. the something" In the shape
OF tableaux vivants, with a dance after
"afd. won the day.
"heh at length the night arrived,
Kings Abbott was In a state OF con-
fusion impossible and hopeless to de-
Serioe. the most remarkable feature In
the whole case being that nobody
seemed In proper frame OF mind. the
sp'fits OF all being either too high or
100 low to suit the part allotted them.
30 that sensation OF mingled terror
ana delight prevailed through every
dressing room In the house.
Ihere had been numerous meetings
ana rehearsals. for the most part pleas
ufable. although here and there dis
pates had arisen about triiles light as
air. and everything had been arranged
on the most approved principles.
The guests Were assembled in the
drawing-room. facing the folding
doors. behind which. in a small back
apartment. the stage had been erected.
Already were the younger members OF
the audience showing evident signs OF
lmpatlence. when the doors were
thrown open. the curtain rose. and In
the center OF the stage Mildred Ire
Hanlon as Marguerite stood revealed.
Denzil-who begged hard to be al
lowed To withdraw from the entire
thing. but whose petition had been
sconci At by Mabel and Miss Syiyerton
as Faust. and Lord Lyndon Us Me-
phistophclcs. enlivcnci the back
ground. Mildred herself. with her long
fair hair. plated and falling far below
her waist. with the inevitable flower
In her hand with which she vainiy
seeks to learn her fate. and with soft
innocent smile of expectation on her
lips. formed a picture at once tender
and perfect In every detail. Al least
so thought the spectators. who. as the
curtain fell. eoncsaiins her from their
View. applauded ions and heartily.
After this followed Miss Sylycr,on
and Charlie In the Black BrunNwlck-
cT." and Mabel and Roy Biount as
i.aneelot and Elaine. which also were
much admired and applaud.d.
Then came The United Kingdom"
when Frances Syivcr;oa. aS "Irc-
land" undoubtedly carried OF the
crown OF Victory. Perhaps altogether
Miss syiverion might have been termed
the grca, success OF the evening.
The ;ablcau terminated with n scene
from the court OF Louis XIV. the drcHs-
cs for which. "a for most OF the others.
were sent from London.
After the tabicaux followed a bail.
TO effect a change OF raimont for which
soon caused the rapid cmpiylng Of the
imprompiu ;hea,cr.
DcnEii. who scarcely felt In humor
for balls or any other sort of amuSe-
mcnt Just then. passed through tho
library door which opened on the la;d
scene o. mcrrImcni. and sunk wcarily
| into an armchair.
lie was feeling sadly dIspiri;cd and
out of place amidst all the gaycty sur
rounding him: sense OF miserable
depression was weighing him down.
His one thought was Mildred: his one
deep abiding pain. the fear of hearing
her engagement to Lyndon openly ac-
knowlcdEcd.
For the past week this pain had been
growing almost past endurance. as he
witnessed the apparently satisfied man
rcr In which she accepted his lord
ships marked attentions. He hated
himself for this fatuity-this mean
ness. rs Il appeared to hlm-tha, COM
PEELED him TO love and long for n wom-
an who showed him plainly every hour
OF the day how little shc valued either
him or his devotion. Still he could
not conquer II.
As these thoughts rose once moro
unbiddcn TO his mind and took posses
sion OF him. he reused himself deter
minedly. and getting up from his chair
threw out his arms with a quick i'm
pulse from him. as though resolved
upon the moment to be free.
ITO be continued)