The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-04-24

r
hall 1 traversed the great gold and white
drawing-room. prepared FOR danclhe s,, anu
peeped Into the tr1o-ning-room. which,
with the adjoining library. had heen
given UP to the actors. They were all
assembled in the 1nornng-room. however,
waiting for one OF the elder ladies who
had not come down. The prompter was
getting fldgety. and walking about. Tho
two scene-shifters. pale. weary-lookins
men. who had come down with tho
scenery. were sitting in the wings, por-
fectly apathe!ic amid the general excite
ment. Charles and several other actors
were standing round q footman who was
opening champagne bottles at surprls-
Ing rate I saw Charles take a glass to
Evelyn. who was shlvering with n sharp
attack OF stage-fever in an armchair,
looking over her part. She smiled grate-
fully, but as she did so her eyes wan
dered to tho other side OF the room.
where Ralph. on his knees before Aure-
la. was fastening n 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 ornament on to her shoulder with
wire off champagne bottle there being
no clasp to hold 1t in It's place l 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 tho thnness OF his silk
stockings
The elder lady--"the heavy mother"
MS Charles irrevcrently called her-now
arrived: the orchestra, which was CIV
ing final flourish, YVES begged. in q
hoarse whisper. TO keep going few min,
utes longer; eyes were applied to tho noie
In the curtain, and then. every one being
assembled. It was fe,t by all that tho
awful moment had como at last A
more MISUNDERSTANDING set OF people
never saw. I always imagined tho ac-
tors behind tho scenes were as gay Oft
tho stage rs on II; but ] found to my
establishment that they were all suffer-
ing more or less from severe mental de-
preston. Ralph and Aurel!a were now
sitting ruefully together on an ottoman
beside the painting table. Uttered with
Its various rouges and creams and stage
appliances. Even Charles. who had es-
tablished Evelyn on chair in the wings
at the side she had TO come on FROM and
was now drinking champagne with duo
regard to his paint-cven Charles owned
to being nervous,
II wish to goodness Mrs. Wright would
begIn!" he said. "Ah! there she gocs!"
as she assembled the stage steps. There
goes the bell. We are in for It now.
She starts. and I come on next. Up goes
the curtain. Where the evil has my book
got to-"
Tn another moment he was In tina
wings, intent on his part; then I saw him
throw down his book and go jauntlly for
ward. A moment more and there was a
thunder OF applause. All the actors
looked at each otiler and smiled a feebla
smile.
ZIG Will do" said General a1arston.
the Indian officer. who. now In the dress
of an old-fasilioned livery servant. pro-
ceeded to mount tho steps It dawned
upon mo that was missing the play,
and hurried back to find Charles con-
vulaing the audience with tho utmost
coolness. and evidently enjoying himself
exceedingly Then Evelyn came on-But
who cares to read Il description of
play7 II Is sufficient to say that Aurella
looked charming, and many were the
whispered comments on her magnificent
Jewels: but on tho stage Evelyn sur
passed her, rs much as Aurclia surpassed
| Evelyn off 1t.
Ralph and Carr did well. but Charles
was tho 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 plumed cap and abort
cloak, 70 elegantly refined when he wiped
his sword upon his seconds handkerchief.
; Ho took every ones heart by storm.
| Ralph, who represented nll the virtues,
with rather thick ankles and falsa
mustache was nowhere When the cur
| tain fell for the last time. amid great
| and continued applause, the heavy
| MOTHER Ralph. Aureia-all were we'll
received as they passed before It; but
| Charles, who appeared last. was the hero
| Of the evening.
"He IS engaged to his cousin. Miss Der.
rick, isn't he?" said lady near mo in
| loud whisper to a friend.
| mo, Charles can't marry. Head over
ears In debt They say she Is attached to
one OF her cousins, but I forget which.
i am not sure 1t was not the other one"
| Then 1t Is the second son who is going
| to be married. Is it7 ] know heard
something about one OF them being en-
4 gagged
yes, the second son Is engaged to that
I good-lool.ing girl In diamonds who acted
| Florence Mordaunt. a lot OF money l
! believe. but not much IN the way OF fam
lily. Grandfather sold mouse-traps In
Birmingham, so people say
She looks IT." replied the other, who
had daughters out. and could not afford
to let any praise of other girls pass.
mo breeding or refinement; and She
Will be stout later, you will see"
The play being over, a general move.
| ment now set In toward the drawing
room, where the band was already in
stalled and making Its presence known
by an inspiriting waltz tune. In a few
moments twenty, thirty, forty couples
were swaying to the music; Aurelia IN
her acting costume was dancing away
with Ralph IN his red stockings; Carr
with the heavy mother" and Charles,
In prosaic evening dress, was flying past
with Evelyn. who. now that she had eff
faced her beautiful stage complexion
looked pale and grave as ever.
7 suppose 1t was a capital ball! Every
one seemed to enjoy 1t. did not dance
myself, but liked watching the othersI
and, after time. Charles. who had been
dancing indefatigably with two schools
room girls with pigtails, came and luna
himself down on the other half of the
4 ottoman on which was sitting.
"Three times with eachl' he said, In
voice of extreme exhaustion. mo fay.
ortisnl. I have done for tonight now"
what! Are yon not going to dance
\ any more?'