Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1911-04-18


graduated myself that when staged
the realism there was in it would
make Ii great success. Whenever
notified Miss Withers that the lovers
had gone forth on u stroll she would
leave whatever she might he doing TO
accompany me- We would shadow
them. keeping out of sight so far as
possible. yet where we could observe
them. One thing confess with some
shame 1t was absolutely necessary
to my purpose that | should catch bits
of their conversation. There was
bench backed by bushes on which
they often sat together. Miss With
ers and by taking a circuilaus course
found 1t possible without being OBJ
served to conceal ourselves in these
bushes and hear all they said. II was
eavesdropping. but | considered that
the end justified the means. These
loving interviews would in my play
touch the hearts of many persons. |
considered Miss Withers also justified
since she was my assistant
Two persons wrapped In a common
work are very liable 10 become wrap
ped in each other. And the more alb
sorbed they are in the former the
more unconscious they are liable to be
with regard TO the latter. Miss With
ers was called away for few days.
during which period l was surprised
that was unable to do any work In
deed. l discovered that she was Mt
least thief even If this was her only
iniquity, for she had stolen my heart.
But | was by no means ready TO yield
to such enthrallment and when she
returned went on with my play with
out showing any signs-at least any
Intentional signs-of my own heart
interest"
One day when Miss Withers and
were passing the barn on the Powell
farm she expressed a desire to go up
In the hayloft. We entered the barn,
mounted to the upper potion by
means of ladder. lifted hapdoor
sufficiently to let us on to the second
floor and found ourselves in with the
sweet smelling hay. Cupid delights in
odd places for forcing avowals. The
hay was very inviting to sit on. Re-
clining on the fragrant lounge, ! yield
ed to the influence of both the subdued
light and the delicious resting place
and poured forth. like the bird In the
poem, my unprecedented lay"
| had scarcely finished when we
heard a smoker Immediately under the
trapdoor and persons scurrying down
the ladder.
We looked at each other with GRIM
son faces.
Then, springing up, rushed to the
| trapdoor and attempted to raise 1t. 1t
| had been bolted beneath.
Another play than the one l was at
work on was being enacted. The lovers
we had spied upon had detected us and
| turned the tables on us. We were
locked In a hayloft and could not get
| out until we were let out Here was a
| pretty how -de-do. When some one
came in to feed the stock we could at
| tract attention. the door would be un-
bolted and we could go free. But how
would we be thereafter looked upon?
| Bribery and corruption could not avail
us, even if practiced by one so adept
| in chicanery as my heavy woman"
| What was to be done? Nothing. We
awaited the inevitable. and surmised
what that inevitable would be.
Within half an hour Age heard per-
sons below. The two lovers were there
and several others. We heard them
rummaging about. and presently some
one said, Lets 60 up and sit on the
hay" All agreed and began to ascend
the ladder Then the bolt in the trap
was shot, the door was lifted and the
head of Emily Powell appeared. See
ing us, she put on pretended look of
surprise, exclaimed, "Oh. excuse me"
and disappeared. In a few moments
we heard the party leaving the barn.
and there was nothing left for US but
to de the same
| 1t was fortunate that 1 had offered
myself to my companion, for 1t ena-
bled me to do the only thing to save
us from obloquy IL not from ridicule,
which latter nothing could save us
from. The eavesdroppers said moth
ing of what they had heard. but |
boldly avowed that Miss Withers and
/ were engaged She neither affirmed
nor denied my statement to me or any
one else and looked as though love
was the furthest thing from her heart.
However, before we parted she bad so
far recovered from the misadventure
as to give an undemonstrative con-
sent.
On returning to the city l completed
my play and bad no difficulty in put
ting 1t on the boards. took my fan
Gee and others of her family to the
theater when the piece was put on for
the first time and. leaving them In
their seats went behind the curtain.
1t was soon evident that the produc.
ton would be a great success The
interest was accumulative till the eli
max In the third act. and at the fall OF
the curtain | was called on for q
speech. While making 1t / glanced
, down to where l had left Miss With
} ers, expecting a congratulatory smile
was astonished to find her seat va
cant. As soon as possible I went Il
. the orchestra chairs and asked Mrs
: Withers what had become Of hel
. daughter.
What was my horror to learn tina
. she had recognized herself as the fe
male villain of the play and had gon'
! out during the third act In high dudg
con
} followed her. but was not admitte'
to see her. / called the next day an
, the next with no better success. Blu
! did not give her up until hear,
that she had gone away. no one knew
where. / cursed my folly in takin
the woman I loved for a model, espe