The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1901-02-13
4 REAL BIT on ACTING.

Won't You give US some Of your act
ing this evening, dear Mrs. Sterling?"
The time was 4 p. m. Through the
window we could see the rain sweeping
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 sec, the truth was, in the days OF
her maidenhood, the wife Of the Hon.
Felix Sterling had toured three years as
leading lady or Weii-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 hlstrlonlc
art as she possessed.
On this occasion the request that
should employ my poor talents to divert
NV guests was received with acclama-
ton. -
"Oh, yes. Please act for u.s. came
in chorus from all parts of the hall.
And young Charlie Fleetwood excitedly
.sprang up and offered to improyise tenn
porary stage if | would consent to per-
form on 1t.
/ would not make any rash promises,
being doubtful, indeed, whether my some
what limited repertoire included anything
4
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 matter of satisfying the cray
ings of physical nature.
= - s. -
Over the sodden lawn, battling with the
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 III the big III
matte asylum which stands, grim and ST.
lent, about q league from Winston lodge.
This mana burly. hard-faced York
shirelnan-walked straight into the hall,
after knocking. and asked to see Mr..
Sterling. NV husband lazily rose and
The keeper Immediately commenced to
talk to him in loud, excited yoice-so
loud, in fact, that we could not avoid
oyelhearing part of what he said. And
that had the effect of throwing my guests
into something like panic, for the keeper
spoke of lunatic wlro 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 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 a shudder.
Il shall certainly look under the bed
and in the wardrobe tonight asserted
the blonde widow; whereupon Charlie
Fleetwood expressed his firm belief that
ladies always did thatr' which sally
only raised a rather feeble laugh.
what sort of chap is hep we heard
Felix asking the keeper.
Tall chap. Sir. Thin, snOw-white
hair. face deathly pale, eyes like fire"
lymph! Well. from what you say, l
fancy the sooner you get him under lock
and 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 dt Oucc.
1t was with rather Il 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, ii was some time be-
fore the more nervous members Of our
circle quite recovered their equanimity;
he f<,, -,
dress for dinner, that lunatic was still
the leading topic of, conversation.
''Well, have you prepared your pro-
gramme for tonight. Mrs. Sterling?"
Charne Fleetwood asked when we met
in the dining room.
s'Don't ask questions" I answered.
4'Let it be a pleasant surprise for you
Afterward both question and answer
proved to have strange significance.
We were sitting in the drawing room
after dinner. Felix was talking to the
blonde widow about a curious book of
heraldry he had been reading He said
he would show her the volume in cues
tion, 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
ly, we only occupied the center Of the
west wing. But it was into the east
wing that my husband had now gone
the library being situated there.
He had scarcely left the room when
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.
| crossed the hall and plunged down
the narrow oak-paneled corridor leading
TO the east wing. My course was unii-
lumined save for the dim moonlight that
penetrated the mulioned 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.
Suddenly, as | was grouping my way
along, | saw a slight movement in front