Year: 1873

u luoIS0 Will GlC oOCASb VI NY wv
for Dora and, in the hope of draw
ing me out of my moody silence,
prattled on about number of un-
important matters. She was inter
rupted by knock at the door, fol
lowed by the entrance of our land
lady. The good soul-apologized for
coming in at so late an hour, but the
postman had brought letter for me
just after we had left for the theatre,
and as it bore a foreign postmark,
she thought it might be important |
should get it that evening. thank
ed her mechanically, but glance at
the postmark caused me to tear the
letter open with eager and trembling
fingers for / had often heard my
father speak of an only brother who
had settled in England in early
youth, and from whom vague reports
came, from time to time, of a sue
cessful mercantile career. The let
ter was postmarked London, and
the heavy black border lines told the
story before the seal was broken.
My uncle was dead. He had never
married, and on his death-bed, re-
membering his only brother, he had
left all his wealth to him or his chill
dren. For a moment | felt stunned
and faint and Ada, throwing her
arms about my neck, begged me to
tell her what bad news was in my
letter to make me look so strange
and pale. took her on my knee,
and told her we were rich, and
would have no more need to act in
the theatre. We would leave this
miserable little town and 90 to Berlin.


To my surprise. Ada again put her
arms about my neck, and whispered
softly, ''Ned we leave the theatre
Immediately, dear brother?'


mo, child,' said /, wondering
what she could mean; "but tell me
why you should want to stay anoth-
er day, when you can leave at once
and be free from this slavery ?"


''Because, dear brother" she an
swered, hesitating and blushing.-
''Fraulein Dora told me was a great
deal prettier than she was, and a
better dancer; and that l should
have the first place in the new dance
they are to put on the stage next
week. Oh, L would like to have
such triumph once 1t would be
such a pleasant way to say good-hy
to the stage"


l could deny her nothing, my
little sister; and though for me it
was like going into the torture-room
of the Inquisition to enter the the
atre and see Count Ernest on such
familiar terms with Dora, I consent
ed for the present to conceal my
good fortune from our friends, and
go on just the same as if nothing had
happened.


The eventful evening came at
length. The play was interspersed
with ballet-dancing, and was to end
with a grand transformation scene
in which Ada and Dora were to rise
as sea nymphs. in q shell-like car,
from the waters Of a mimic lake.
1t so happened that, just before the
last scene, went into the room un-
derneath the stage, where the ma
chinery for raising the car was plac-
ed, impelled by a strange forebod-
ing of impending misfortune, to
assure myself that everything was
in order; and that no precaution
against accident had been neglected.
There 1 found the master machinist.
a dark and gloomy visaged man,
standing by the car, muttering to
himself in an undertone. "Better
she should die than marry the count.
He has bewitched her, as he does all
women. A little slit would


"What are you muttering to your.
self" 1 asked him. suddenly; land
what do you mean by these myster.
ious words?''


He faced me. as if struck by an
unexpected blow.


Il was only examining the machin.
cry to see that everything was right, $
he answered, sullenly, and turned
away.


I carefully examined the cords
by which the car was raised. Every.
thing appeared to be secure and in
good order; and / went back to
my place. trying to laugh myself out
of my apprehensions But though
it was easy to argue that all was
right, and that my fears arose mere
ly from some expIicable disorder OF
the brain. I could not feel secure.
was positive that some frightful
misadventure would occur before
the play was over; and every nerve
was strained in the effort to main
tain a calm exterior.


The play progressed. The cur
tain rose upon the magnificent trans
formation scene; and the plaudits
of the audience grew tumultuous as
the Snlandors unroIlad before them.